A Fortress within a Modern City: What is St. George?

Event Type: 
MS/PhD Defense
Date: 
Friday, March 8, 2024 - 11:00am
UMass EGCS
Location: 
Morrill 245 (former DML) and Zoom

Zoom Link

Abstract: Baton Rouge, Louisiana is home to over 400,000 residents, of which 80,000 might become residents of a new city: St. George. In October 2019, a majority voted to incorporate their portion of East Baton Rouge Parish into a city which would become the richest and whitest city in Louisiana. The organizers of the incorporation say it was because of reasons such as the need for a better public school system and for financial sovereignty from the city of Baton Rouge, but it goes deeper than that. With a survey and personal interviews, this research suggests that residents were misled about the creation of this new city, as well as how much of an impact it would have on all of the surrounding areas. Residents were confused about how they would receive city services, and how long it would take to get the new public schools operational. While the creation of this city should have happened and was legal, a lawsuit set it back and the incorporation has been denied on multiple technicalities. They are currently awaiting a decision from the Louisiana Supreme Court.