What's happening in New Orleans?

[cynatnite]

I never hear anything about how things are going there after Katrina. New Orleans is still there, right?

[devilgrrl]

1. I hear that nothing has happened in regard to reconstruction...

I also hear that crime is out of control.

[cynatnite]

3. I was starting to wonder if people forgot Katrina...

Corporate media sure has.

I was watching the news tonight and it occured to me nothing's been said for quite a while.

[devilgrrl]

6. I also hear that Mississippi is in even worse shape...

a friend was in the area recently and said the coastline was utterly trashed and stuff was still all over the place. :-(

[Selatius]

12. The small businesses have not recovered. Only large firms have been able to come back so far.

Most economic activity in the economy originates with the small business sector, and they were largely wiped out. Recovery in this area is slow. The only firms that have really been able to bounce back in short time are the big casinos and a few condominium developers. Unlike small businesses, they have access to the capital necessary to rebuild quickly.

[cynatnite]

13. That's horrible...

I guess there's more money to be made in Iraq rather than rebuilding the gulf coast. *sigh*

[melissinha]

17. its worse than that in Mississippi, people still living in tents

in f*ing MASH tents.... Coworker's sister has seen it with her own eyes.... yeah it makes no difference if your Governor is a Republican or Democrat.

I think attention needs to be paid to the Gulf Coast as a whole.... oh yeah and I have been to New Orleans, its really sickening.... Houses just left open to the elements many are torn down as well as many trees gutted.

[blues90]

2. I hear very little

other than the efforts by Sarge and a few others .

It seems to be well hidden since it happened other than the one year return to the scene of the crime .

It should be a priority but then people who are doing fine would have to think about this and soil their beautiful minds .

[kerry-is-my-prez]

4. Ask in a few months. The new hurricane season starts in June and ends in Nov.

And since they've done very little to prevent what happened the last time - be sure to cross your fingers.

In addition to screwing over the residents where the hurricane hits - the entire gulf states are screwed over due to the real estate market going belly up. Katrina hurt Florida a lot even though it didn't hit us. Real Estate AND tourism are what keeps our economy going.

I make sure every Republican Realtor and business owner is aware of the impact of global warming on THEIR pocketbooks (the only thing they care about mostly).

[Swamp Rat]

8. We are sitting ducks

Meanwhile that brown-noser David Vitter is siding with Bushler on Iraq, yet the dumb-ass-in-chief DOES NOT EVEN MENTION NEW ORLEANS in his SOTU! :grr:

[Wizard777]

5. They're having problems finding teachers. Hey wait a minute!

Isn't Laura Bush a Teacher?

[Inkyfuzzbottom]

7. and if I'm not mistaken,

so is little Jenna.

[Swamp Rat]

9. No, teachers HAVE NO JOBS!

Like my mother, who has been an unemployed teacher since Katrina.

[Wizard777]

16. God Bless Your Mom. Is she receiving unemployment benefits?

I know you can't really live on that. But it's better than nothing.

[RB TexLa]

10. Nothing is going to happen for Louisiana or New Orleans

at least nothing from America, or the American government. Democrats and republicans both gave their speeches right after Katrina, and that was all we expected.

[drthais]

11. well, let's see

those who never left and those who went back to re-build
(including my sister)
are making their way
but it's tough
everyone's a little insane and greatly depressed
finally waking up to the fact
that their beloved city is never going to be what it was.
ever.
that is gone
and whether or not they have the fortitude to stick it out
remains to be seen

it's just plain weird

I personally don't like to drive into the city
(we're north of Baton Rouge)
it's creepy and dangerous - well, it always WAS
but this is different

mostly it's sad, very sad
you can drive down Carrollton Avenue to Mid-City
and every single store is empty
and all of the houses are abandoned
so what you have is pockets, ust pockets
the Quarter, downtown, and uptown
but that's just a small piece of New Orleans
and it's basically all that's left


you know, 50 years from now
that city just isn't going to be there anymore anyway

[nosmokes]

14. sshhh you're not sposed to think about new orleans

because although billions of dollars are budgeted and being *spent,* somehow none of it seems to make it's way to New orleans or the louisiana bayous or the gulf coast. apparently it stops in the bank accounts of certain companies that have contracts to rebuild, but which so far have only performed the demolition portions oftheir contracts or are in the process of doing so. in cluding evicting folks from HUD housing that HUD's own studies show would be cheaper to rehab than demolish and rebuild, by some 25to30%. and since the folks have lived there for 10, 20, 30 years, like the locale, know their neighbors and the neighbohood they'd like to stay. but it's also prime real estate for upscale condos pr mixed use development. guess who's gonna get the short end of the stick on this one?

[WI_DEM]

15. That shipment of fresh water should be arriving next week

[uppityperson]

18. Here is link to the local newspaper, has lots of photos also.

nola.com
Here is a link to the Biloxi SunHerald for coastal Mississippi news also. It is good to check in with the rest of the areas hit by Katrina also.
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/

[blues90]

19. I often thought of moving out there to help out

I know they need hands and I have woodworking experience .I sent a few hundred to Randis change for change , that was when I had a job .

I emailed habitate for humanity and asked about this and they emailed me back saying there was no housing available and I imagine this is true .

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

20. Didn't shrub give an extensive update on the situation in his SOTU speech?

:sarcasm:

Perhaps the relative lack of meaningful action was considered an embarrassment, and they'd prefer to try and let the whole rest of the nation forget anything ever happened there...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050915-8.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 15, 2005

President Discusses Hurricane Relief in Address to the Nation
Jackson Square
New Orleans, Louisiana


8:02 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:

...



Tonight so many victims of the hurricane and the flood are far from home and friends and familiar things. You need to know that our whole nation cares about you, and in the journey ahead you're not alone. To all who carry a burden of loss, I extend the deepest sympathy of our country. To every person who has served and sacrificed in this emergency, I offer the gratitude of our country. And tonight I also offer this pledge of the American people: Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives. And all who question the future of the Crescent City need to know there is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again.


...

And the federal government will undertake a close partnership with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, the city of New Orleans, and other Gulf Coast cities, so they can rebuild in a sensible, well-planned way. Federal funds will cover the great majority of the costs of repairing public infrastructure in the disaster zone, from roads and bridges to schools and water systems. Our goal is to get the work done quickly. And taxpayers expect this work to be done honestly and wisely -- so we'll have a team of inspectors general reviewing all expenditures.