[BR Today]

Thursday, BREC signed a 20 year lease with LSU to continue operating Baton Rouge Beach. BREC Chairman Collis Temple states that "I think we need to strongly consider naming this facility for Pat Screen, because I know he worked very hard to get Baton Rouge Beach created". Pat Screen was mayor of Baton Rouge from 1981-88. He died at 51 in 1994 from a drug and alcohol overdose.

How do you feel about the proposal to change the name of the beach to reflect the name of ex Mayor Pat Screen?

[Sunny]

When I think beach party, I think Pat Screen.

[BR Today]

When I heard this on the JBO morning show today, i couldnt help but laugh and recall a famous Chris Rock skit talking about Marion Barry, the ex mayor of Washington DC, getting busted for crack. The skit goes on to imitate a mother telling her son "Dont do drugs, you wont grow up to be nothing".. the kid replies with, "I could be mayor".

The last thing Pat Screen was remembered for was the way he died. Sad as it may seem thats the way it is. If they name this Pat Screen Beach, everyone will ask "who was pat screen" and the answer will always be "the ex mayor who died of a drug overdose". That being said, I dont think baton rouge needs the bad publicity of associating his name with the beach.