Comments on: The ignored nonrecovery of New Orleans

While tourist-friendly districts like the French Quarter and the Garden District flourish, many areas of the city are still disaster zones.

[cgruin]

Daniel,

For comparison, here are some photos of the Lower 9th Ward I took while on assignment with Reuters News providing them with technical and operational support.

http://www.gruin.com/NewOrleans

Cheers.

c.g

[i_am_still_wade]

Let me get this straight, some people actually think it is a good idea to build in an area where the only thing keeping a lake away is a concrete wall and a pump. The city is sinking, literally. Part of the reason Katrina was so bad was because of the destruction of wetlands from the efforts to keep water out of New Orleans. Another hurricane is inevitable. The next one may be a Cat 4 or Cat 5 when it hits (Katrina was a Cat 3 at landfall). Despite what Al Gore says, it has happened before and it will happen again. That is just the way of things.

Let it stay deserted! If I built my house beside an active volcano, you would have no pity when lava destroyed my home. Why should I have pity for your house which is a danger zone and has nature working against you? You are free to spend your money in way you want, but don't drag my money into a boondoggle.

[doctorj2u]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsn2mADGmUo

[kristianna Thomas]

It is a disgrace and a shame that the oppressed working class communities of New Orleans are still suffering from the devastation of a disaster that has occured some years ago, while the money has been flowing into the more affulent communities. When China has its devasting earthquack, it did not hesitate one bit to give aid to all of the communities affected. At the time of Katrina, the administration stated that there to many poor people in New Orleans, to many people of color or just poor people, and that the city would have to change; does this mean less poor communities? People complain about poverty and there has been an on-going war against poverty. Kennedy had a war on poverty that was the highlight of his 1960's campaign. This war on poverty extended itself to other administrations, which, also, included Ford and Nixon. It always seemd odd that for something that is contaantly refered to as a war, there seems to be no V Day in sight. Why? Why can't this country win the war on poverty, as is it seem to not have the ability to win the war on drugs? Poverty and drugs seems to go hand and hand. Some time after the Katrina a community in the Mid_west was devastated by a tornado that wiped out a whole community, like that of New Orleans. Although there are similarities between, whast is now being called Greenburg, the two communities, they have vastly different outcomes. There is this place called Greenburg where a town that was devasted by a tornado is being rebuilt on green technology, but the city of New Orleans is left to fend for itself. It is a tale of two cities. Why is that they can give hope to one community and not do the same to the other? Why not have a Green New New Orleans? A city that can provide jobs, training and security to all of the people of New Orleans without displacing them to all of the four corners of the world. If I was president I would create a new city that could be the shining example for the future of the green revolution. If we are serious about preventing global warming, why not start with a place that is a fresh canvas, that can be built on new technologies based on solar, wind, energy conservation, ecologically sustainable resources, mass transit, and enviornmentally compatable designs; that should be the cornerstones of the real futuristic cities. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander.

[Penguinisto]

One is only oppressed in this country if one chooses to be. If NO wants to be 'green', it will have to live in harmony with nature, not battle against it (e.g. levees are not 'green' by any stretch). The rest is a political laundry list that seems to be based on sound bites and ill-information.

[snapelicious]

Years ago, Anne Rice said that the reason there are so many historic buildings in New Orleans is that they simply never got around to tearing them down. This has always been the mentality in southern Louisiana - just the the mess behind. Louisianans have been trashing their own state for years. It was the most littered place I have ever had the misfortune to live in. BTW, the ninth ward is huge - it may all still be a mess, but not all the people there were "poverty stricken."

[benjaminstraight]

What a shame this cultural location is still in ruins.

[Captseadog]

It is apparent the CBS now has control of C net. I do not see what this story has to do with technology. CBS has been caught many times lying and will continue to lie to move its agenda forward. I read the news.....right now I want to read about technology, not CBS propaganda.

[optiger92]

Don't read it then

[doctorj2u]

So in today's world, the TRUTH is considered propaganda.

[Penguinisto]

Propaganda is truth skewed, half-omitted, and bolstered with bad ideals in order to promote an agenda. It also disregards inconvenient facts. It also appeals to emotion in spite of logic and in spite of viable alternatives. Think on that for awhile...

[shadowstalkersb]

I live in St. Bernard - a close community to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. We are coming back stronger than ever, better than ever before. This is home and anything will be done to keep it alive. I am opening my own small business here for the first time because i believe this place is worth the effort...as do many who came back. New Orleans has one of the richest histories - to much to be forgotten and left alone.

[Renegade Knight]

While I don't agree with rebuilding NOLA in general. I very much like your attitude. That's what will rebuild NOLA. Nothing else.

[optiger92]

I think thats great. Didnt they tear down the st. bernard projects around last month?

[ckordahi]

Come on folks, it was the worst natural disaster in American history! Don't compare the midwest floods to this! Over 2,000 people died, some who I knew personally. The flood waters didn't reced for 3 weeks! That causes some serious damage.

As to not rebuilding there, or folks not living there in the first place because it's below sea level, I don't know. But California is on a fault line, so should everyone move away from there too? And when it's the only place you've known all your life, it's not that easy to relocate.

I do agree with some of the accusations, though. The welfare mentality of many residents, etc. The low income housing places that were supposed to be temporary and became permanent residences. The people who didn't carry flood insurance were wrong too. The government did setup programs to bail them out, but those have been super slow and so poorly run.

The silver lining for this area should've been that a fresh start was possible. An opportunity to improve on so many areas of New Orleans. But they re-elected Nagin and I'm sad to say that it seems to be the same old song and dance around here. We're still last place in the good polls and first place in the bad ones...

[Lerianis]

I have to agree that this is most likely a once in a lifetime thing. And this time, the levees will be BUILT TO THE STANDARDS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT TO. Everyone agrees that at the time Katrina went through.... the levees were crap. They were NOT built to the standards that the ACoE said they should be built to, and that was the federal governments responsibility to improve them, because New Orleans was and still IS a viable American port of call for trading ships.

[neile45]

Guys, I live here, and this is real. Sure, why do we rebuild in an area that is prone to flooding? Sure it's low income areas. But, if you drive around the city and see the amount of homeless, you would be bothered. I firmly believe you need to work to get somewhere, but it is truly disheartning to see a mom sitting on the sidewalk with a 7 year old sleeping in her lap. New Orleans' homeless is "homeless homeowners". It is bothersome to know in our wonderful country that this is happening.

[Lerianis]

It's mainly happening because of the Repukians in this country who laud getting extreme amounts of money for doing basically nothing (cough.... CEO's, CFO's, other high management in a company).
If we would stop allowing those people to punk our system and get these EXTREME amounts of reward for basically doing nothing..... I bet our country would improve because we would FINALLY have enough money for companies to IMPROVE EMPLOYEE WAGES.... like they don't really have enough money right now, even though we are in 'lean' times because of the price fixing and manipulation on oil prices.

[Penguinisto]

Lerianis - the Democrats control Congress last I checked. What have they done that differs? Oil prices are rising due to obvious mechanisms (the demand side of "supply and demand"). Employee wages are controlled by negotiation between employee and employer - if they're not high enough, then either the skills are not valuable enough, or the employee is willing to work for the lower wage. None of that stops an employee from founding his or her own business. Please look around before you blindly spew some political party's (any party's) trope.

[tbbaot]

Interesting how the cameras and reporters always show the 9th ward and areas of New Orleans with little progress. In the areas where people move to places like Houston Texas and Shreveport LA. there is plenty of progress to see.
The reason you don't see much in the 9th ward is because the residents moved out and didn't return. They got free housing, food and other generous assistance in other cities. They simply have it better in big city Houston than back here in New Orleans. Nothing needs to be learned from that....its just a fact.

[doctorj2u]

tbbat,
Those are your "facts". I am sure for some it is true. But the truth for many others is that there is no home to return to and the cost of living increases after the storm prohits their return to their HOME. I think that is a word many Americans have lost the meaning of. We have not in New Orleans.

[Penguinisto]

This is the United States... there is no such thing as "home" here. Our country was founded on folks who move often in their lives, calling many, many places "home" before they find a place they like. It's been that way since the nation's founding. It's how we got to the size we are.

You went to the Ninth Ward and did see Fats Domino's house. Shame on you.

[HVIP]

WHY REBUILD PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE LIVED THEIR TO START WITH...

IF THEY REBUILD THE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT WENT UNDER WATER YOUR JUST ASKING FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN...

[ElDudde]

New Orleans and especially the ninth ward was a cesspool long before the liberal media decided to make it their cause celebre. No one ever mentions the shootings and killings and looting that many of these people participated in. No, this is a cause which rich, over paid egotists embrace to make themselves fell good about their endless guilt for acheiving so much success for doing nothing more than being born attractive. Brad Pitt epitomizes this.

Did you ever walk down Canal Street on a Sunday afternoon? Probably not, because it was a dangerous thing in broad daylight. You park by the river and walk to the Saenger, down Canal Street, and you would be accosted by the dregs of society, not to mention the hostile predators in their chains and obliquely turned hats, just waiting to pick off the weakest member of the pack. New Orleans was the murder capital of the world. It was the pits and you saw the pits with the looting and behavoir at the Superdome during Katrina. Do you think something similar would have happened in Salt Lake or Seattle or Chicago or New York? New Orleans was a pustule on the face of America and you liberal idiots - who have to excuse everything in order to make yourselves feel superior - are morons.

You think the ninth ward is worth saving. That underwater hell hole - then get your self righteous ***** down their and put your stupid words to actions. Good luck and I would recommend you pack some heat.

[mcallery]

How many areas of this country have been affected by earthquakes, floods and tornadoes? Do those of you who feel certain areas of New Orleans also feel that these areas of our country should also not be re-built? If you do, they I can respect your position. If you do not, they who are you to criticize New Orleans for not getting their well deserved.

Many of you feel that the majority of this damage was from Katrina, and certainly much was, but there were also many, many areas that were devastated because pumps did not operated, because levees did not hold, because barges broke loose and broke through some levees. All of the later were man-made crisis due to the poor construction by the Army Coor or by simply negligence of some contractor.

I feel sorry for those who still are trying to re-build and are making an honest effort. The government has done little to help us and New Orleans has taken care of it's own, as best it can.

To those who feel we deserve any less, shame on you. Go back to your comfy little recliner and watch the rest of the world from the comforts of your living room. In the meantime, remember the people starving from thirst outside the Superdome when our almighty powerful government couldn't even drop water to them with a helicopter, but we can help other countries pretty well can't we??

[bkedersha]

NO has three important things, the port, the stadium and hotels, and Bourbon Street. Everything else is extraneous. Neither party gives a damn. The Democrats do not have to rebuild the city to live there without problems, and the citizens will vote Democratic anyway, and they won't vote for the GOP so why would they bother?

[thaluckyspoon]

If there is not money to be made from rebuilding the area than it shouldn't, and won't, be rebuilt.

[doctorj2u]

Happy 4th of July America! From your fellow American and a New Orleanian. "One nation, under God, indivisable." Remember those words? There is no asterisk about elevation, or party, or color, or income. Remember the true meaning of patriotism and loving your country, my country. Take the hate out of your heart and help OUR country rebuild.