Pitt-Jolie move family to New Orleans

[npincus]

http://www.usmagazine.com/i_us_i_exclusive_jolie_confirms_she_and_pitts_move_to_new_orleans



Normally, I don't give a rat's ass about celebs' comings and goings BUT, this can only bring more attention to the plight and abandonment of NOLA by the federal gov't. Good for them. I heard on AAR they'd bought a place int he French Quarter.

What I'd love: Pitt-Jolie to assemble some press, and call for a redirection of the "Surge": take the 21,000 bound for Iraq and send them to NOLA instead. Have them remove the debris rotting in the streets and restore the broken infrastructure, assist in rebuilding the levees, whatever they can do to help.


Angelina Jolie tells Us Weekly that she and Brad Pitt have moved their three children, Maddox,5, Zahara, 2, and 7-month-old Shiloh, to New Orleans.

“We love it there,” Jolie told Us at the Golden Globe Awards after confirming the move. “The kids are going to go to school there. We're really looking forward to it.”

On January 12, just a day after moving to The Big Easy, Jolie was already mixing with the locals at restaurant Angeli on Decatur.

Diner Jorge Palacios tells Us the star – clad in an ivory dress over white pants – blended right in: “No one at my table believed me when I told them it was her.” And that’s just what she wants.

[pitohui]

well good for her and i agree

that's exactly what i thought when i heard of the surge, what a waste to send those people to iraq when we need them so badly right here in new orleans and here they would be welcomed and thanked for doing their job

i understand pitt is looking into funding some alternative housing, could get very interesting

[rodeodance]

6. yes, good for them

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I'd be more impressed had they moved into the Ninth Ward and

helped to start a revitalization of that part of the City.

[pitohui]

2. no one should be living in the lowest part of the city

either we believe that there is a global climate change issue or we don't

if we do believe it, we do not entice poor people to again live in the lowest, least safe part of the city, instead we direct them to higher ground and to the areas where the traditional levees held

in my humble opinion everyone who lived in new orleans east or the lower ninth ward or chalmette should be HANDSOMELY compensated and moved elsewhere, no one should be living in those places again

but that would cost real money and even put some of the money into black hands, so it won't ever happen or even be allowed to enter into discussion

instead we have so-called activists wanting to again put people in hellholes like st. bernard housing projects

we would never live in such places but we sure don't seem to mind other people living there

[Leopolds Ghost]

31. Even on DU, some believe only the rich should pay the high enviro cost of living on the coast.

Because that is the effect of stealing land from poor 9th Ward residents (most of whom are homeowners) bundling it, and reselling it to "someone"
because "poor people shouldn't have to live in that hellhole..."

Guess who that someone is?

It works the same in every major US city where an "inner city hellhole in a polluted area where no one should have to live" gets gentrified... to provide the funding needed to better the lives of its former residents, of course... the few who are allowed to remain... come to DC some time, we can switch places, I'm going down to NOLA soon.

Urban theorist Andre Duany, who has been hired to redesign the Gulf Coast, made the philosophy of "green gentrification" explicit... only the rich should live south of the Sunset Limited RR tracks, he says, because "those people" were endangering the environment with their poorly-built shotgun houses, even if it was their only posession, so penalize future buyers until only the rich can afford it.

On edit: This is not a reference to Brad Pitt, it's a reference to "green gentrification" advocates, many of whom are my neighbors. I live in a big environmental community and you are constantly hearing people say "tear down the high-rise apartments, they are bad for the environment and nobody should have to live like that."

They believe that if poor people live in the flood-plain, too damn bad, they should be penalized for society's transgressions, or to protect "the children" from their parents' bad choice to live in that city.

I don't see them picketing mansions in Vail...

[Horse with no Name]

3. That is exactly where they are revitalizing the city.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3134964

[npincus]

5. thanks, I missed your post.

they really rock.

[pitohui]

7. well it's their choice i suppose

since i know people who drowned and don't want it to happen again, i have a different view

unfortunately we all have to play to popularity in this life and what is the most wise thing to do is usually the most unpopular

[Horse with no Name]

9. While I agree with what you say

nobody is going to give these people golden parachutes or relocation costs.
This is all they've got left.
Some choose to stay for that reason and that reason alone.

[pitohui]

18. i know but the thing is...

new orleans east and the lower ninth were totally destroyed, clearly they've been living somewhere else for over a year, why don't they make a better life for themselves in that somewhere else

seems a hell of a lot more productive than doing the same thing that didn't work the first time and thinking it's ever going to get any better

i can't help but think the reason they have to come back to the lower ninth is prejudice, pure and simple, houston doesn't want 'em, atlanta doesn't want 'em, this is why the new communities are not rebuilding on higher ground and in safer areas because, plain and simple, society wouldn't
accept these people on higher ground or in their communities :-(

the lower 9th is not going to be any higher the next time the storms come, and resettling new orleans east is even worse, because not only are those people back in danger but the lack of swamp/trees there is one of the reasons that the main city was damaged so badly -- we have lost our barrier

i know people are just doing the best they can, but it's depressing when it isn't even close to being any good

it's all so depressing and futile sometimes

oh well, i'm depressing myself and that isn't very useful, time to log off now!

[LynneSin]

27. Actually Brad Pitt has several projects to help rebuild in the Ninth Ward

:D

[porphyrian]

4. Cool, I guess. I don't know either of them. - n/t

[LSparkle]

8. They've just gone up a little bit on my "tote board"

N.O. was always friendly to and accepting of artists; more artistic types ought to follow suit (Sean Penn, are you listening?).

[Cha]

10. This is good! They're the ones

who said they wouldn't get married until it was legal for EVERYONE to get married!

I know Pitt was down in New Orleans last year saying he couldn't believe how devastated it still was.

They can certainly bring awareness..there are few that the paparazzi follow and snap as much as Pitt-Jolie.

[npincus]

11. perhaps it will inspire a trend

and more well-known folks can move there and bring attention to the neglect of the city. It's a sad commentary on our society that saving a city may depend in part on Hollywood, that our elected representatives have done very little.

[Cha]

30. Yeah, well, "Hollywood" has people who

care a hell of lot more what happens to our country than most of the so-called politicians.

[shireen]

12. two celebrities who have earned my deep respect and admiration

they are cleverly using their celebrity status to bring attention to NOLA. They will have papparazzi chasing them thru the 9th ward!

[Swamp Rat]

13. Great, but I wish they had moved to an elevated house in the 9th Ward or Gentilly,

thereby increasing the property values of people who really REALLY need it - not the wealthy property owners of the Quarter. I also fear the unintended consequences of their residence in the Quarter and the ensuing paparazzi making it a Hellish place for longtime residents and locals who want to, but can no longer afford to stay there.

Brad Pitt talked and talked about making 'green' homes. Why doesn't he walk the walk now, and BUILD one instead of buying prime realestate?

[Horse with no Name]

20. Not being snarky because I know you have been through it

but how long would it take to have a home built there? From what I understand...people are still having difficulty having their land cleared because of lack of manpower.
I've actually thought of going down and doing a stint at their hospitals...but was told it wouldn't be a good idea because of my asthma.

[Swamp Rat]

24. I believe Angelina and Brad have the money and means to have a lot cleared in one day,

and are capable of building a mansion inside a few weeks... I used to build houses here in New Orleans for a living (framing/drywall/painting), so I know for a fact it is possible. Those two actors are extremely wealthy and have the financial capability to hire 100s carpenters and builders - they can buy the manpower. Most of us native New Orleanians, not living in the Garden District, cannot.

I am glad they are coming to live here - it is in honor for them and hopefully a pleasure for us. Let's hope we all benefit. I'll be more than happy to help Brad knock around a few paparazzi. :D

[Pachamama]

42. And both are pretty hot looking....

:hi:

So while they hopefully do a lot of good for the town, they look good too....

[Leopolds Ghost]

36. They could have purchased an older home and fixed it up.

Perhaps one of the larger, railroad flat apartment buildings where multi unit tenants are no longer allowed because it is below sea level.

(i.e. not in a rich area where the tenants can be assured to be not-poor -- and builders can and will continue to make such assurances to the few who have returned, and are worried about crime spreading out of the "restricted zones" where vacant apartment houses sit, perfect for turning into single family mansions by families who can afford the upgrade -- but we got to keep the poor people out, so we criminalize poverty, and only the criminals return).

[Horse with no Name]

38. What about the mold?

:shrug:

[pitohui]

21. well i don't agree swamp altho i see why you say this

it's a valid point of view in a way, but in another way, i don't see anything good that comes long term of enticing people back into the lowest part of the city in the lower ninth ward -- apparently pitt does plan to build experimental homes there but i just don't see this as a good area to encourage people to live

as far as rebuilding gentilly, the rents in the higher areas on the gentilly ridge, where houses have been repaired, are already too high for new orleans incomes, so raising them even more would hurt a lot of people

i would never live in gentilly again, i could never trust the floodwalls again, i don't know how they can fairly ask people to, people i know who have returned to gentilly the only reason is pure and simple that they can't afford to go somewhere better

i'm not sure how many more unsafe slums we need to build, not saying gentilly is a slum but unsafe it surely is until the london avenue floodwall issues are figured out

well kind of a stupid wandering post, my point is, it isn't that simple

it would be better if all people could afford to live on the highest ground of the city, french quarter, uptown, northshore (but not slidell) and in my opinion if people can't live in safe places it would be better to stay in their new location

otherwise they could be faced by being dislocated every decade or so (instead of every 40 years or so) if more of these superstorms are truly in our future

[Swamp Rat]

28. I do volunteer work in Gentilly and get quite a different viewpoint from my friends

who were born in New Orleans and raised in Gentilly (not necessarily the ridge). So, it is not a matter of enticement - people want to come home and are doing so, levee protection or not.

I was not talking about raising property values for people on Gentilly Ridge but in other areas like 9th Ward, Gentilly Terrace, near where the St. Bernard housing project was, etc. The property owners in the Garden District and FQ do not need the additional help/star power... I'm talking about evening-out the assistance, that's all. Just a wish on my part. Of course I cannot TELL them where to buy, but I thought it would be a real magnanimous gesture to buy in an area that is worse off and then help that area develop.

It's not like Brad and Angelina's lives would be at stake if another hurricane came. They would just leave in their brazillion dollar flying saucer or get beamed out. :D

[Leopolds Ghost]

Have they already torn down the projects? Interesting.

And they complain about crime, after displacing thousands of the poorest -- from buildings that were the least affected.

And the residents will cheer: public housing is universally despised by all who aspire to live in a rich neighborhood, unaffected by the problems of people they think are poorer than them, like most Americans.

So what group are you working with? I'm supposed to be in New Orleans already.

[Leopolds Ghost]

35. Pitohui, I thought you lived on low ground in Lakeshore before the storm

Lowest ground in the city, where construction of McMansions is proceeding apace.

If you live on high ground, perhaps you can tell me what are the city's plans for building 300,000 homes for the poor in the historical, expensive, high ground areas, to replace the entire areas that some feel should be condemned?

We can't put them in "unsafe high rises", "we" tore them down.

Only rich people can live in high rises in America, they are "unsafe" for anyone else.

We can't put them in Lakeshore, that would be criminal. Poor (and let's face it, black) children should not have to grow up in such a dangerous area below sea level, right? Gretna and Metairie are out for the same reason.

But people with money can continue to live in Lakeshore and Metairie, since our supposedly "libertarian" society allows them to take the risk and pay the new premiums -- which they're willing to do, since their insurico did not redline them after Katrina.

As for the historic, low-lying areas, they're historic for one reason -- poor people were allowed to wn homes there, dating back to the 1800s, because it was marshland. We'll put a stop to that.

[Marrah_G]

23. the ninth ward isnt cleaned up enough yet

If you own a house there and thats all you have I could see having your family there while you rebuild. These people have the opportunity and means to move thier family there and do what they can to assist in rebuilding NO. I wouldn't choose to move my children to the ninth ward they way it is now either. Its simply not safe.

Why come down on people trying to help just because they aren't doing it exactly the way you want them to? Is it not enough that they are helping? I suppose it would be better if they just ignored it like most people of means in the country are.

[Swamp Rat]

25. Your last paragraph sucks

:)

[Marrah_G]

26. Thanks.

By the way, I really love those graphics you do.

[Swamp Rat]

29. Thanks

I did agree with your 1st paragraph though. :hi:

The 2nd one made me feel bad because I DO appreciate their help. :(

[Leopolds Ghost]

33. So, are they tearing down everything that's there now?

I'm sure most Gentilly residents can't afford to "elevate" their house, unless jacking them up and building a sub-level is an option that the state included in their fascist, insurance-friendly, and ahistorical code strengthening ordenance.

In any case, requiring every new house in the old parts of the city (outside the theme-park St. Charles corridor) to be elevated will create
a city of snout houses, like parts of LA, where the garage is on the ground floor in front.

[Swamp Rat]

39. You should see the few that have been elevated already...

:eyes: :wtf:

No, a lot has NOT been torn down, including the projects... you should see NO East. It still looks like October 2005. :mad:

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

37. The Famille Joli will be there awhile, I imagine.

I would reward them for approximating the desired behaviour, and engage them to do as you suggest - Perhaps they will encourage some of their associates to do likewise. We know Hollywood and celebrity culture - if someone has a good idea, most of the players will go along.

Frankly, the rebirth of New Oleans depends now on the People of America. I wish someone could build two tall things there so Phillippe Petit might have another big idea...

[Swamp Rat]

40. Actually, I think it depends on us here in NOLA

We are not going to receive the necessary outside help. Most of America has forsaken us, especially the poor folks. :(

[shireen]

41. if you run into pitt-jolie ...

if anyone in NOLA runs into them, please thank them for us, and ask them to set up a personal website to chronicle the rebuilding projects they're working on. I think a personal website is more effective for attracting people than a website by an organization.

I saw a bit of the Brad green home on tv, and wished they have a similar program in Baltimore!

[GreenTea]

14. Ya think the needy will be invited to their pool parties at their 3.6 million dollar home in NO?

[mondo joe]

15. Is anything anyone can do enough for you?

Would they have to give away everything they own and live in a trailer to even count the good they're doing?

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. They do have a LOT of money to spend in NO. Think it may help the economy there?

They also spend their lives helping the poor. Pitt has been trying to get GREEN homes built in NO. I think their being there will only help. JMCPO.

[Horse with no Name]

19. In between their missions to Africa, participating in their livelihoods,

raising their family, and now helping to rebuild the 9th ward...One has to wonder how many pool parties that they have time to have?

[pitohui]

22. how many needy are invited to your pool parties?

should they do nothing because they can't do everything?

[roguevalley]

34. I don't care. They're trying to help. They are doing good. Contrast

that with 99% of the rest of us. They could be fooling around but they are doing good. Good for them.

[Kerrytravelers]

17. I already loved both of them... now even more!

:bounce:

[earth mom]

32. This is great news!

Now I :loveya: them both even more! This WILL keep the spotlight on New Orleans which is what the city needs now more than anything!

Also, I don't fault them whatsoever with buying a ready made house. They have 3 kids to think about and may also want to see how they like living there first before they put down roots and build a place of their own. Frankly, I see Brad & Angelina more as nomads-going around the world to help where they can.

Brad & Angie: :yourock:

[dysfunctional press]

43. it's all an exercise in futility...

NOLA will NOT survive global warming and the accompanying ocean rise.