better luck tomorrow
February 16, 2007 6:04 AM Subscribe
In Setback for New Orleans, Fed-Up Residents Give Up. After nearly a decade in the city of their dreams, Kasandra Larsen and her fiancé, Dylan Langlois, climbed into a rented moving truck on Marais Street last Sunday, pointed it toward New Hampshire, and said goodbye.
Not because of some great betrayal but a series of escalating indignities: the attempted carjacking of a pregnant friend; the human feces deposited on their roof; the two burglaries in the space of a week; and the overnight wait for the police to respond.
Not because of some great betrayal but a series of escalating indignities: the attempted carjacking of a pregnant friend; the human feces deposited on their roof; the two burglaries in the space of a week; and the overnight wait for the police to respond.
Their reasons include high crime, high rents, soaring insurance premiums and what many call a lack of leadership, competence, money and progress.
Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
posted by ColdChef at 6:15 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
posted by ColdChef at 6:15 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
Sounds like an experiment in the deconstruction of civilization. The Mayor and City Council should bear at least some of the blame. I know that the situation is difficult, but this sounds like a third world country.
posted by boots77 at 6:20 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by boots77 at 6:20 AM on February 16, 2007
Looks like Mayor Nagin is succeeding.
posted by inturnaround at 6:39 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by inturnaround at 6:39 AM on February 16, 2007
I've got a buddy that was born and raised in New Orleans. That town was such a part of him you could feel it. His name is Mike, but everyone, including his wife and mother, call him Cajun.
He lost everything down there- house, truck, land , the whole shooting match. Insurance bailed on him, and for the last two year's he, his wife, and two kids have been living with the in-laws in Virginia.
He used to be a funny, easygoing, "laissez les bon temp roulez" guy. Now he's so knocked down and stressed, sometimes I think he's just gonna stroke out. Multiply his condition by all the people who are going through this and I think the devastation is greater than the media can possibly describe.
Very sad.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:40 AM on February 16, 2007
He lost everything down there- house, truck, land , the whole shooting match. Insurance bailed on him, and for the last two year's he, his wife, and two kids have been living with the in-laws in Virginia.
He used to be a funny, easygoing, "laissez les bon temp roulez" guy. Now he's so knocked down and stressed, sometimes I think he's just gonna stroke out. Multiply his condition by all the people who are going through this and I think the devastation is greater than the media can possibly describe.
Very sad.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:40 AM on February 16, 2007
On another occasion, Ms. Brite said, “If a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don’t desert it just because it can kill you. There are some things more valuable than life.”
Ummmm...what?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:52 AM on February 16, 2007
Ummmm...what?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:52 AM on February 16, 2007
The Family and I were on the parade route last night for Babylon, Chaos and Muses parades @ Napoleon and Magazine Streets. I had a Charles Daly 45 ACP w/ an inside the pants holster and 10 rounds of silvertips and never had to use it once. Wake up this AM and the local news said there were 9 shootings last night, in SEVEN hours, 6 in a bar/nightclub and 3 in a triple shooting in the "hood".
Read about it here,
It really is a jungle. I normally dont "allow" or "prohibit" my wife from doing anything, she is an adult. But, when it comes to the city, I put my foot down. We go but, we go armed. We also know enough to not venture into dangerous areas. I don't plan on going down without a fight. Now do YOU want to live there?
I've fallen out of love with the city along time ago, we still see each other but, like an old flame, my sentiments are mostly customary.
posted by winks007 at 6:58 AM on February 16, 2007
Read about it here,
It really is a jungle. I normally dont "allow" or "prohibit" my wife from doing anything, she is an adult. But, when it comes to the city, I put my foot down. We go but, we go armed. We also know enough to not venture into dangerous areas. I don't plan on going down without a fight. Now do YOU want to live there?
I've fallen out of love with the city along time ago, we still see each other but, like an old flame, my sentiments are mostly customary.
posted by winks007 at 6:58 AM on February 16, 2007
If anyone had the chance to catch last week's BBC "Top Gear" episode where the crew took a Southern US roadtrip (and I almost puked from laughing so hard for 45 minutes straight), their final stop was New Orleans. Until I watched this, I honestly did not get a true picture of just how utterly devastated the town is. It was not only pathetic, but I have to agree with Jeremy Clarkson who said, "I don't know how this could happen in the world's richest country. I don't know how other Americans can sleep at night knowing about this." (not a direct quote).
It's unreal.
posted by tgrundke at 6:59 AM on February 16, 2007
It's unreal.
posted by tgrundke at 6:59 AM on February 16, 2007
I don't think there's any city in the country that could recover from this kind of thing without help. They needed strong Federal direction; the reconstruction of New Orleans should have been our top national priority. And we needed to go and freaking rip that local government out by the roots.
When people say "it's like a third world country", they are exactly right. More than any other single thing, it's corruption in government that causes that kind of collapse, and you can see it everywhere in New Orleans. And I know perfectly well I'm just catching the faintest whiff of the real rot in the state and local governments down there.
This is a failure on every level in this country, and I am deeply ashamed that we have chosen such execrable leadership.
posted by Malor at 6:59 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
When people say "it's like a third world country", they are exactly right. More than any other single thing, it's corruption in government that causes that kind of collapse, and you can see it everywhere in New Orleans. And I know perfectly well I'm just catching the faintest whiff of the real rot in the state and local governments down there.
This is a failure on every level in this country, and I am deeply ashamed that we have chosen such execrable leadership.
posted by Malor at 6:59 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
The "read it here" is supposed to be a link for www.wwltv.com
I don't think I have ever sucessfully "linked" to anything. No help please, one day it will be imporant enough for me to finally get it right.
posted by winks007 at 7:00 AM on February 16, 2007
I don't think I have ever sucessfully "linked" to anything. No help please, one day it will be imporant enough for me to finally get it right.
posted by winks007 at 7:00 AM on February 16, 2007
What a fucking sensationalist and unhelpful article! Can we have the story about people in Salt Lake City who had friends or family killed at the mall giving up or something? It's not Fallujah, I'm not using my (non-existent) mad martial arts skills to kick the thugs off the stoop every morning, or whatever the hell you think everyone does here.
What's with this story when the very demographer quoted says that more people are now moving in then out? Do others agree? Doesn't the article say yes? Are there reasons for more homes being for sale? Easy possible explanation: Yes--many more are now gutted from the flood, finally readied for sale. But the number for sale has remained fairly steady since November or so.
Also, why would your friend be called "Cajun" when he's a New Orleans native? Because he's so very New Orleans? News flash: Cajun Country does not take in New Orleans.
posted by raysmj at 7:00 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
What's with this story when the very demographer quoted says that more people are now moving in then out? Do others agree? Doesn't the article say yes? Are there reasons for more homes being for sale? Easy possible explanation: Yes--many more are now gutted from the flood, finally readied for sale. But the number for sale has remained fairly steady since November or so.
Also, why would your friend be called "Cajun" when he's a New Orleans native? Because he's so very New Orleans? News flash: Cajun Country does not take in New Orleans.
posted by raysmj at 7:00 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
raysmj, so you disagree with the article and you DON' T see some educated New Orleanians cutting and running? I live in Metairie and I am still going to farewell parties once a month for lifelong friends that are moving to Austin, Kentucky, and other areas they deem safer and better than New Orleans?
posted by winks007 at 7:05 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 7:05 AM on February 16, 2007
Glad to see the NY Times is still covering the aftermath.
It's too bad Anna Nicole Smith didn't die in New Orleans. At least that way the "media" would have had a reason to focus on N.O. for at least a token story or two before moving on to the next celebrity flame-out.
posted by photoslob at 7:08 AM on February 16, 2007
It's too bad Anna Nicole Smith didn't die in New Orleans. At least that way the "media" would have had a reason to focus on N.O. for at least a token story or two before moving on to the next celebrity flame-out.
posted by photoslob at 7:08 AM on February 16, 2007
Also, why would your friend be called "Cajun" when he's a New Orleans native? Because he's so very New Orleans? News flash: Cajun Country does not take in New Orleans.
Duh.
His family roots actually go back to Acadia. Sorry he's not 200 years old, or anything. He was actually born near Port Sulfur, but grew up near Palmer Park, FWIW.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:10 AM on February 16, 2007
Duh.
His family roots actually go back to Acadia. Sorry he's not 200 years old, or anything. He was actually born near Port Sulfur, but grew up near Palmer Park, FWIW.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:10 AM on February 16, 2007
If I lived in New Orleans, I would have moved long ago. I'm sure Halliburton and the new owners of all the real estate will put it to good use. Perhaps Disney will build "Frenchquarterland" to satisfy the tourists - they can have Mardis Gras every day!
Seriously - it's obvious that the Federal government is not going to do anything to help the people of the city, beyond efforts that enrich corporations. It's the same model they are applying to the rest of the country, if you haven't noticed.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:10 AM on February 16, 2007
Seriously - it's obvious that the Federal government is not going to do anything to help the people of the city, beyond efforts that enrich corporations. It's the same model they are applying to the rest of the country, if you haven't noticed.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:10 AM on February 16, 2007
And as much as some people hate to hear this, the killing of Helen Hill (whose husband had never wanted to come back here, not that his leaving would represent a greater trend in the first place) does not represent a criminal trend. How many white middle class people--active and well known in their communities, and not involved in any questionable or dubious activities--have been murdered in New Orleans since? How many were murdered in the year before and this year, in total? How about in cities that are more affluent and homogeneous than NOLA? I'm thinking the totals would come out around the same, which is partly (along with her being well-known in the arts community) why Hill's murder garnered so much media attention.
posted by raysmj at 7:15 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by raysmj at 7:15 AM on February 16, 2007
You live in Metairie? Metairie isn't New Orleans proper, and as far as I can tell the article doesn't discuss demographic trends in Jefferson Parish. And who's to say I disagree completely with the article? Its quotes from demographers and information from U-Haul, etc., do not support the greater conclusions. Anecdotal information from you or about a couple moving to New Hampshire does not say much about larger trends.
posted by raysmj at 7:21 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by raysmj at 7:21 AM on February 16, 2007
Here is my friend Brian's story about getting an AK-47 pulled on him (for the $6 in his wallet) last month.
posted by mattbucher at 7:35 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by mattbucher at 7:35 AM on February 16, 2007
The idea of a "chocolate city" makes my stomach growl.
posted by deern the headlice at 7:37 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by deern the headlice at 7:37 AM on February 16, 2007
If Metairie were NO proper, I for one, would already be North of I-12. And if it weren't for my disabled Mother-in-law, we would be on the Northshore. My wife won't leave because her mother will not leave Metairie. I have no tangible investment in New Orleans. Born there, went to school there, lived there and got out. I took everyting with me when I left. Personally, I go to New Orleans about 5 times a year (concerts, sports, parades and the occasional trip to the Quarter) f'rinstance, when my wife's Tx. relatives come down and say " Hey Yall Lets Go Down To The Quarter". I cringe when they announce their impending arrival.
posted by winks007 at 7:39 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 7:39 AM on February 16, 2007
Uh...that's not chocolate.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:49 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by kirkaracha at 7:49 AM on February 16, 2007
The idea of a "chocolate city" makes my stomach growl.
I've got nothing against cannibalism per se, but man, there's no need to be racist about it.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:55 AM on February 16, 2007
I've got nothing against cannibalism per se, but man, there's no need to be racist about it.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:55 AM on February 16, 2007
winks007: Interestingly, in the UNO survey cited, respondents from Jefferson Parish (including of course Metairie, which is unincorporated) were just as likely to say they were thinking or had thought about leaving as people in New Orleans proper/Orleans Parish, despite being considerably more satisfied with local government and service delivery, etc. Why? Your speculation would be as good as mine, since that result was not anticipated and no questions were aimed at cracking that case. Traffic? A lack of good jobs for the better educated? Who know?
But there is good basis to believe it's as much economics as anything else, along with ongoing concerns about sustainability and that old stand-by, crime. For instance, the line about "hubby's employer announced it was leaving for Nashville" caught my eye, and is probably a better indicator as to why the family finally took off to New Hampshire. The economy in the New Orleans metro area needs to be vastly more diversified, and needed to be before Katrina (and the crime rate wasn't particularly low then either). That the newly hired local recovery czar, Ed Blakeley, has stated repeatedly that tourism is a lousy foundation for a sustainable metropolitan economy is heartening, but that has to be more widely recognized and worked on.
Please also note that the Feb. Katrina Index report from Brookings (in which housing for sale totals in Orleans AND Jefferson Parish are at practically the same level as they were in October), the Katrina Index, also suggests a need for: a) less red tape, a common complaint, even more so in the post-Katrina effort and said to be slowing down the pace of recovery as of late and b) more assistance in the recovery effort, which the Democrats have promised in the past week.
posted by raysmj at 7:58 AM on February 16, 2007
But there is good basis to believe it's as much economics as anything else, along with ongoing concerns about sustainability and that old stand-by, crime. For instance, the line about "hubby's employer announced it was leaving for Nashville" caught my eye, and is probably a better indicator as to why the family finally took off to New Hampshire. The economy in the New Orleans metro area needs to be vastly more diversified, and needed to be before Katrina (and the crime rate wasn't particularly low then either). That the newly hired local recovery czar, Ed Blakeley, has stated repeatedly that tourism is a lousy foundation for a sustainable metropolitan economy is heartening, but that has to be more widely recognized and worked on.
Please also note that the Feb. Katrina Index report from Brookings (in which housing for sale totals in Orleans AND Jefferson Parish are at practically the same level as they were in October), the Katrina Index, also suggests a need for: a) less red tape, a common complaint, even more so in the post-Katrina effort and said to be slowing down the pace of recovery as of late and b) more assistance in the recovery effort, which the Democrats have promised in the past week.
posted by raysmj at 7:58 AM on February 16, 2007
tgrundke: I too saw the programme and was as shocked at just how bad things still were. clarkson nailed it when he asked How can Americans sleep at night knowing this is here?
posted by quarsan at 7:58 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by quarsan at 7:58 AM on February 16, 2007
docpops: I live here, you live in Oregon. Stop shitting on my right to comment.
posted by raysmj at 7:59 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by raysmj at 7:59 AM on February 16, 2007
How can Americans sleep at night knowing this is here?
My guess is they don't.
and I'm talking about the "knowing" bit, not the "sleeping" bit
posted by DreamerFi at 8:04 AM on February 16, 2007
My guess is they don't.
and I'm talking about the "knowing" bit, not the "sleeping" bit
posted by DreamerFi at 8:04 AM on February 16, 2007
I haveno doubt that things are horrible now, but my sister lived in New Orleans for years, but the series of escalating indignities such as "the attempted carjacking of a pregnant friend; the human feces deposited on their roof; the two burglaries in the space of a week; and the overnight wait for the police to respond" sounds like par for the course in that town, long before Katrina.
My question is -- what's happening with the relief money. What were they promised? 50-100$ Billion? Seriously. What are they doing with it?
posted by Heminator at 8:10 AM on February 16, 2007
My question is -- what's happening with the relief money. What were they promised? 50-100$ Billion? Seriously. What are they doing with it?
posted by Heminator at 8:10 AM on February 16, 2007
Fuck this shit...how's Trent Lott's new house coming along???
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
New Orleans, excepting the tiny wealthy and tourist areas, was a cesspool long before Katrina. I don't even know why we bother trying to rebuild a place that has no future prospects for employment. Time to move on folks.
posted by acetonic at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by acetonic at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2007
The UNO quality of lilfe survey I was just talking about and which is cited in the article, from Oct. 2006: Percent reporting a likelihood of leaving in the next two years: Very likely (Orleans Parish, 17 percent; Jefferson Parish, 17 percent), somewhat likely (Orleans, 15 percent; Jefferson, 15 percent); not very likely (Orleans, 65 percent; Jefferson, 67 percent); don't know (Orleans, one percent; Jefferson, three percent).
Crime and public safety were mentioned as the No. 1 issue among those thinking about leaving in both Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. "Action from government," "fixing levees and preventing flooding," fixing infrastructure" and "jobs" came in afterward.
Curiously, though, those who were thinking about leaving Jefferson Parish were more likely to cite crime as a factor than those thinking about leaving Orleans Parish (31 percent to 45 percent).
posted by raysmj at 8:20 AM on February 16, 2007
Crime and public safety were mentioned as the No. 1 issue among those thinking about leaving in both Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. "Action from government," "fixing levees and preventing flooding," fixing infrastructure" and "jobs" came in afterward.
Curiously, though, those who were thinking about leaving Jefferson Parish were more likely to cite crime as a factor than those thinking about leaving Orleans Parish (31 percent to 45 percent).
posted by raysmj at 8:20 AM on February 16, 2007
We all gave to the NO Disaster relief funds. So why should we lose sleep over it?. (kidding).
The funds are there, the leadership isn't. The article came just this short of using the term "White Flight", but the implications are that NO's best and brightest are heading for the greener grass on the other side. This as the article says will lead to a brain drain, and more of the same as the same old leadership will be voted in again and again. So is the NYT saying that the chocolate citizens of NO are'nt smart enough to know when they've been taken, or is it that they just don't care?
posted by Gungho at 8:20 AM on February 16, 2007
The funds are there, the leadership isn't. The article came just this short of using the term "White Flight", but the implications are that NO's best and brightest are heading for the greener grass on the other side. This as the article says will lead to a brain drain, and more of the same as the same old leadership will be voted in again and again. So is the NYT saying that the chocolate citizens of NO are'nt smart enough to know when they've been taken, or is it that they just don't care?
posted by Gungho at 8:20 AM on February 16, 2007
Gungho: Actually, the funds aren't here! They have trickled in, just trickled. A hundred million or so is being held up by the state and federal govt. Meanwhile, the Bush admin. is proposing to transfer monies for strengthening levees on the east bank of the Miss. and transferring it to the west bank (in other words, to protect the areas not flooded during Katrina). And there has been no money, as far as know, alloted for for coastal wetlands restoration.
posted by raysmj at 8:34 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by raysmj at 8:34 AM on February 16, 2007
We seem to be having a bit of a fray about demogaphics but it is clear that many many had moved out and have not returned, and now we learn that many more are movi ng out. Now the city mayh not be empty or close to it, but an indication also is the number of businesses thatg close down or move out--and I do not mean the bars and restaurants. As for crime, New Orleans has long been a bad spot for crime, education, poverty, corruption--in excess of most other American cities, and there is no indication that this will turn around soon. Orek took his vacum company out
and I imagine that with the diffiuclty of getting insurance (let alone collecting what is owed) . many others will find it not worth staying for the music and the booze...Let the good times roll indeed.
posted by Postroad at 8:43 AM on February 16, 2007
and I imagine that with the diffiuclty of getting insurance (let alone collecting what is owed) . many others will find it not worth staying for the music and the booze...Let the good times roll indeed.
posted by Postroad at 8:43 AM on February 16, 2007
Orek took his vaccum company out of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, not New Orleans--specifically, Long Beach MS.
posted by raysmj at 8:58 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by raysmj at 8:58 AM on February 16, 2007
Sounds like a great time to buy New Orleans real estate.
posted by bicyclefish at 8:58 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by bicyclefish at 8:58 AM on February 16, 2007
Oreck is still located @ 100 Plantation Road. I pass it during lunch in Elmwood occasionally. If you want to see a big hole left by Kuntrina, look at MECO's website. Prolly one of the bigger OEM's in the area, and we don't have many OEM's. When that customer got 13-18 ft of H20 on France Road by the industrial canal, they took the insurance money and moved to Sugarland Tx. If you're in sales, (as am I), you will miss even 1 OEM leaving the area. Since they left the orders have dropped off considerably. They manufacture portable reverse-osmosis(de-salinization?) equip for bio-pharm and the military. They are missed by other local distributors in the area too.
And we are watching others leave or plan to leave as well.
Add to the fact that the police can't get the criminals, the state can't prosecute them and they are back on the street within days, you really cannot paint a pretty picture of life in New Orleans.
Pre-storm:
Poverty exists. Crime is running rampant.
The education system is broke and in shambles
Neighborhoods are terroroized by uneducated, inner-city youths.
The law is somewhat powerless.
State is powerless and has the worst response time.
EVAR.
Politicians here don't do anthing unless it benefits them directly.
To top it off, Gov Blanco, after the 2 tornados the other night, said "we don't know what we did to deserve these horrible storms." She also stated that we needed to pray and possibly a day of FASTING, yeah, thats, what I'm gonna do, NOT EAT FOR A DAY. Right, I'll laughing all the way to Copelands Cheesecake Bistro.
Post storm:
Less people, everything else is pretty much the same.
AND...Crime decided that there are more opportunities in Jefferson Parish.
posted by winks007 at 9:09 AM on February 16, 2007
And we are watching others leave or plan to leave as well.
Add to the fact that the police can't get the criminals, the state can't prosecute them and they are back on the street within days, you really cannot paint a pretty picture of life in New Orleans.
Pre-storm:
Poverty exists. Crime is running rampant.
The education system is broke and in shambles
Neighborhoods are terroroized by uneducated, inner-city youths.
The law is somewhat powerless.
State is powerless and has the worst response time.
EVAR.
Politicians here don't do anthing unless it benefits them directly.
To top it off, Gov Blanco, after the 2 tornados the other night, said "we don't know what we did to deserve these horrible storms." She also stated that we needed to pray and possibly a day of FASTING, yeah, thats, what I'm gonna do, NOT EAT FOR A DAY. Right, I'll laughing all the way to Copelands Cheesecake Bistro.
Post storm:
Less people, everything else is pretty much the same.
AND...Crime decided that there are more opportunities in Jefferson Parish.
posted by winks007 at 9:09 AM on February 16, 2007
Bibyblefish, try my neighborhood, you won't sell unless you're willing to take a loss. Predominatly white neighborhood, walking distance to 4 GREAT schools and shopping. Close to Zephyr Staduim. I have seen houses on the market since Kuntrina and they still are today. Not 200K and up houses, little 100k - 140k raised 2-3 bedroom cottages on 50'-168' property. The people that are leaving NOLA are not going a mere 6 miles from NOLA, they are moving great distances.
posted by winks007 at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2007
bicyclefish, sorry, fingers havent fully defrosted form last night.
posted by winks007 at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2007
*does a little salute to raysmj*
I don't even know why we bother trying to rebuild a place that has no future prospects for employment. Time to move on folks.
Bullshit. Seriously dude, that's bullshit. I'm sorry, acetonic, because I'm sure you mean well, but I'm so tired of this attitude because it's based on such huge misconceptions about the state of the city.
There are more construction, demolition, trash-collection, and landscaping jobs available than anyone knows what to do with, and that will probably be true for a couple years. The problem is that there's no affordable housing. And abysmal public services. And people don't feel that the police and city government give a shit about them. And until more low-income and middle class people can return to their homes, there's no consituency for the service industry and small businesses. Bringing people home and the rise of a sustainable economy have to happen simultaneously.
And they're not coming back to nothing. The week after I was in the Lower Ninth Ward doing structural assessments, researchers at Cornell, Columbia, and U-Illinois released a study concluding that 80% of structures in the Ninth Ward "suffered no terminal structural damage" in the flood. The buildings are there. Their owners want to come back.
The city is there waiting. All that's missing is money and political will.
Here's another view of the Lower Ninth, filmed in January 2006. As of January 2007, there are new streetlights on Deslonde, two blocks from the levee. People are living there, carving out little spaces of humanity.
posted by hippugeek at 9:17 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
I don't even know why we bother trying to rebuild a place that has no future prospects for employment. Time to move on folks.
Bullshit. Seriously dude, that's bullshit. I'm sorry, acetonic, because I'm sure you mean well, but I'm so tired of this attitude because it's based on such huge misconceptions about the state of the city.
There are more construction, demolition, trash-collection, and landscaping jobs available than anyone knows what to do with, and that will probably be true for a couple years. The problem is that there's no affordable housing. And abysmal public services. And people don't feel that the police and city government give a shit about them. And until more low-income and middle class people can return to their homes, there's no consituency for the service industry and small businesses. Bringing people home and the rise of a sustainable economy have to happen simultaneously.
And they're not coming back to nothing. The week after I was in the Lower Ninth Ward doing structural assessments, researchers at Cornell, Columbia, and U-Illinois released a study concluding that 80% of structures in the Ninth Ward "suffered no terminal structural damage" in the flood. The buildings are there. Their owners want to come back.
The city is there waiting. All that's missing is money and political will.
Here's another view of the Lower Ninth, filmed in January 2006. As of January 2007, there are new streetlights on Deslonde, two blocks from the levee. People are living there, carving out little spaces of humanity.
posted by hippugeek at 9:17 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
hippugeek, Oh goody-goody, vast quantities of great LOW-INCOME jobs. Not much help for those of us in other tax brackets, huh?
I can take you to neighborhoods that don't have streetlights, FEMA trailers or RESIDENTS. And your study on structural damage, good one! Hey....that's a nice slab you have. Thanks a effin bunch.
People want the population to think everything is normal here. It ain't and it wasn't before the storm either.
Unless of course, you consider crime, corruption, and povert to be the "norm".
posted by winks007 at 9:30 AM on February 16, 2007
I found this "y" on the floor I think it fell off of my last comment.
posted by winks007 at 9:30 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 9:30 AM on February 16, 2007
I don't want everyone to think everything is "normal" here. I'm just tired of reading speculative and unhelpful articles such as this one, which don't help things much at all. Want to point out to people that the money isn't even here yet? Thanks, that would help. But the fear of crime is exacerbated by so much sensationalism. So there were shootings while you were in the city for the Muses parade? Quick: How many people were shot while watching the parade, and what do the stats from the past tell you about the risk of someone such as yourself being shot at a parade?
The shootings last night were in the non-gentrifying section of Ninth Ward, which had trouble before Katrina and is still sparsely populated in the sections that were heavily flooded, and at a club on Tulane Ave. How many people with advanced degrees, say do you think are hanging out at clubs on Tulane Ave. (being sure as they pass by to take note of the bail bondsmen numbers, the paternity test giver-outer numbers and so forth near the parish courthouse, and motels you'd only recommends to people from out of state who you don't like, but who call you for recommendations anyway)?
posted by raysmj at 10:03 AM on February 16, 2007
The shootings last night were in the non-gentrifying section of Ninth Ward, which had trouble before Katrina and is still sparsely populated in the sections that were heavily flooded, and at a club on Tulane Ave. How many people with advanced degrees, say do you think are hanging out at clubs on Tulane Ave. (being sure as they pass by to take note of the bail bondsmen numbers, the paternity test giver-outer numbers and so forth near the parish courthouse, and motels you'd only recommends to people from out of state who you don't like, but who call you for recommendations anyway)?
posted by raysmj at 10:03 AM on February 16, 2007
Malor writes "They needed strong Federal direction; the reconstruction of New Orleans should have been our top national priority. And we needed to go and freaking rip that local government out by the roots."
The question of course is: Is this incompetence or a intentional plan to reduce the potential liability of future hurricanes?
posted by Mitheral at 10:10 AM on February 16, 2007
The question of course is: Is this incompetence or a intentional plan to reduce the potential liability of future hurricanes?
posted by Mitheral at 10:10 AM on February 16, 2007
From mattbucher's link:
She hands me the wallet and cash, including the two-dollar bill, and asks me to check that everything’s there.....Everything is there. Then she explains that they’ll need to take the wallet back to photograph it in the SUV, so as to represent the scene of the crime. Do I mind waiting? No, I guess I don’t.
I'm no flatfoot, but aren't cops supposed to photograph crime scenes as they find them, not reconstruct them?
posted by Pastabagel at 10:14 AM on February 16, 2007
She hands me the wallet and cash, including the two-dollar bill, and asks me to check that everything’s there.....Everything is there. Then she explains that they’ll need to take the wallet back to photograph it in the SUV, so as to represent the scene of the crime. Do I mind waiting? No, I guess I don’t.
I'm no flatfoot, but aren't cops supposed to photograph crime scenes as they find them, not reconstruct them?
posted by Pastabagel at 10:14 AM on February 16, 2007
If anyone had the chance to catch last week's BBC "Top Gear" episode where the crew took a Southern US roadtrip (and I almost puked from laughing so hard for 45 minutes straight), their final stop was New Orleans.
The New Orleans bit is available here (YouTube).
posted by ryanshepard at 10:52 AM on February 16, 2007
The New Orleans bit is available here (YouTube).
posted by ryanshepard at 10:52 AM on February 16, 2007
I have a strong feeling that this article came out right now so that next week--during Mardi Gras--the national news services can show pictures of us having a party and turn the story into, "Well, they just don't give a fuck." Mark my words.
posted by ColdChef at 10:56 AM on February 16, 2007
posted by ColdChef at 10:56 AM on February 16, 2007
I'm also ashamed that i'm not more up to speed on what's happening. I would like to post an article on a weblog I write for from someone in New Orleans who can tell us what's really going on there. please email me at quarsan blairwatch.co.uk
posted by quarsan at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2007
posted by quarsan at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2007
"There are more construction, demolition, trash-collection, and landscaping jobs available than anyone knows what to do wit"
Weren't many of those jobs being filled by illegal immigrants instead of local residents?
posted by drstein at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2007
Weren't many of those jobs being filled by illegal immigrants instead of local residents?
posted by drstein at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2007
Y’know, as bad as this is, and this is bad - it’s something of a good thing in that it reveals the serious flaws in the operation. How not to do it; Lessons Learned. Of course, it’s not over. But it’s certainly something future generations are going to have to deal with. Whatever the causes of global warming, the fact of it remains and even barring that, there are and will always be the threat of major hurricanes. If we don’t learn to deal with this now, what are we going to do with tens of millions of refugees when the time comes? How are we going to rebuild? Currently our planning looks on par with a 55 year old bacon eating chain smoker with a bunch of kids who’s already had one heart attack but doesn’t carry any health insurance, savings, etc. etc.
Bad things happen. Prepare for them. And then recover properly. Charity is great, but it can’t do everything. It can’t deliver clean water to your home 24/7 or power your house or any number of other things governments are supposed to do.
I’d argue that if anyone had a right to tell the government to f’off and not pay their income taxes - it’s the folks down there. I mean, what the hell are they paying into the system for if they’re not getting services?
(nice choice btw winks007 - cheap enough to toss if you need to, and the silvertips tend to keyhole, but make sure you clean the hell out of it. They’re not as reliable as say a Springfield or Kimber)
posted by Smedleyman at 2:00 PM on February 16, 2007
smedleyman, "cheap enough", not really sure about that (it's also not a H&K) it is on a M1911A1 frame and looks just like one. It's not my favorite, although, It is very nice. There's just not much like the stopping power of the 45 and the silvertips ensure a BFH. Thanks.
posted by winks007 at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2007
posted by winks007 at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2007
I spent six weeks in NOLO and Bay St. Louis after Katrina and during Rita, building a WiFi and VoIP network and helping USAR teams with body recoveries.
First, IMHO you can cut raysmj some slack; he knows what he is talking about. I am reminded of how we used to laugh about the students from Brown (elitist pecker wads that they are) that were flying to South America to "make a difference", when here was the embodiment of “charity starts at home” within our own borders.
Second, if you want to make a difference don’t, run your mouth or write a check to the Red Cross to ease your own moral suffering (or as they are known there The Cross Bellied Sneeches). Get up off of you ass and do something, anything. Don’t bitch about someone else who hasn’t met your well lofted expectations, what have you done? You know, ask not what your country blah blah blah...
BTW Top Git: I sleep like crap at night, but thanks for asking, now go get your hair cut and your teeth fixed you porridge swilling wanker. Nuf said, time for a drink.
posted by MapGuy at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
First, IMHO you can cut raysmj some slack; he knows what he is talking about. I am reminded of how we used to laugh about the students from Brown (elitist pecker wads that they are) that were flying to South America to "make a difference", when here was the embodiment of “charity starts at home” within our own borders.
Second, if you want to make a difference don’t, run your mouth or write a check to the Red Cross to ease your own moral suffering (or as they are known there The Cross Bellied Sneeches). Get up off of you ass and do something, anything. Don’t bitch about someone else who hasn’t met your well lofted expectations, what have you done? You know, ask not what your country blah blah blah...
BTW Top Git: I sleep like crap at night, but thanks for asking, now go get your hair cut and your teeth fixed you porridge swilling wanker. Nuf said, time for a drink.
posted by MapGuy at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
There are so many things wrong with New Orleans that I really don't know where to begin.
If you notice I jump around a bit on the subject, it's because I don't know what to do. I'm not a fucking politician, I'm an dumb 9th grade drop-out. I thinks that a majority of our politicians are suffering from the same ailment, "paralysis from analysis".
This is a very smart group here, tell me, what would some of you free-thinkers do if you were Joe Citizen and lived here? Not Metairie (safe life here in the burbs) per se, but if you lived within earshot of the art galleries and great music venues and architecture of the quarter?
This is a city that when, you go to buy a house, you actually decide to not buy it because the house and neighbors are great but you gotta drive through the hood to get to it
What if you lived in the Carrolton area, mansions all in the middle and poverty stricken neighborhoods all around you?
I have checked and there is such a thing as: too much insulation!
You know what the streets, (crime, poverty) are like here, imagine the schools!
Everything is broke but the politicians.
Shouldn't the leader of this city have to live as bad as the constituents live?
Shouldn't the mayors kids have to go to the worst school in the city.
I am a complainer. I did not sign on the run/fix this stinkhole of a city.
Last week we had a middle school ineer city youth, lose a fistfight to a guy who had been back in the city for 4 hours. The loser went home, told his mom and she gave him a semi-automatic pistol and told him to go get revenge. He walked to the same store that the agressor was leaving and shot him a bunch of times.
I feel for the kids and by kids I mean all of the children that will grow up less educated than myself.
By allowing these children to grow up in this environment, how can we expect the next generation to be any different?
For all of the snarkiness and smart-assed comments and the little pointed daggers of wit. I have always been told that one person CAN make a difference. Well if 200 city leaders, politicians, policemen can't make it happen who can?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Can we not pay into a system that is not working for us?
That leaves one more critical question, "What would jonmc do?"
posted by winks007 at 2:40 PM on February 16, 2007
If you notice I jump around a bit on the subject, it's because I don't know what to do. I'm not a fucking politician, I'm an dumb 9th grade drop-out. I thinks that a majority of our politicians are suffering from the same ailment, "paralysis from analysis".
This is a very smart group here, tell me, what would some of you free-thinkers do if you were Joe Citizen and lived here? Not Metairie (safe life here in the burbs) per se, but if you lived within earshot of the art galleries and great music venues and architecture of the quarter?
This is a city that when, you go to buy a house, you actually decide to not buy it because the house and neighbors are great but you gotta drive through the hood to get to it
What if you lived in the Carrolton area, mansions all in the middle and poverty stricken neighborhoods all around you?
I have checked and there is such a thing as: too much insulation!
You know what the streets, (crime, poverty) are like here, imagine the schools!
Everything is broke but the politicians.
Shouldn't the leader of this city have to live as bad as the constituents live?
Shouldn't the mayors kids have to go to the worst school in the city.
I am a complainer. I did not sign on the run/fix this stinkhole of a city.
Last week we had a middle school ineer city youth, lose a fistfight to a guy who had been back in the city for 4 hours. The loser went home, told his mom and she gave him a semi-automatic pistol and told him to go get revenge. He walked to the same store that the agressor was leaving and shot him a bunch of times.
I feel for the kids and by kids I mean all of the children that will grow up less educated than myself.
By allowing these children to grow up in this environment, how can we expect the next generation to be any different?
For all of the snarkiness and smart-assed comments and the little pointed daggers of wit. I have always been told that one person CAN make a difference. Well if 200 city leaders, politicians, policemen can't make it happen who can?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Can we not pay into a system that is not working for us?
That leaves one more critical question, "What would jonmc do?"
posted by winks007 at 2:40 PM on February 16, 2007
I can take you to neighborhoods that don't have streetlights, FEMA trailers or RESIDENTS. And your study on structural damage, good one! Hey....that's a nice slab you have. Thanks a effin bunch.
Sigh. I know, winks007. Those are the neighborhoods I've been working in. I know about the streetlights because I lived on Deslonde for a week in January. One of those slabs belonged to a friend of mine. One of them was a church I spent a week gutting and fighting for this summer only to have the city knock it down "by mistake" in December. You know? You know far more about the city, I grant you that wholeheartedly, but after four working-trips in the last ten months, I do have a fair sense of what's been going on in the Lower Ninth.
...Which means I should have clarified when I said that people are "not coming back to nothing." You're right, there are an astounding number of houses gone. A lot of people did lose everything. But every time I return, I see more families--whole families! with kids!--coming back to what were ghost towns. Many of the houses I was in looked like hell, but are still structurally sound. They can be gutted and renovated, but only if support services are in place. Some of that is starting to trickle back. It's too little, too late, I know that, but it is something.
As for the jobs--that's sort of my point. There are lots of jobs available (if you're not picky, and many of them are paying much-higher-than-average for minimum-wage work), but the housing that's available still isn't affordable on those wages. So they're being filled by illegal immigrants and desperate New Orleanians, many of them housed in abysmal barracks conditions. There won't be better jobs til more people can come back to sustain an economy. But they can't come back til they have structural and financial support from the government. Like I said, what's missing is the money and political will. How to fix that, I don't know.
posted by hippugeek at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2007
Sigh. I know, winks007. Those are the neighborhoods I've been working in. I know about the streetlights because I lived on Deslonde for a week in January. One of those slabs belonged to a friend of mine. One of them was a church I spent a week gutting and fighting for this summer only to have the city knock it down "by mistake" in December. You know? You know far more about the city, I grant you that wholeheartedly, but after four working-trips in the last ten months, I do have a fair sense of what's been going on in the Lower Ninth.
...Which means I should have clarified when I said that people are "not coming back to nothing." You're right, there are an astounding number of houses gone. A lot of people did lose everything. But every time I return, I see more families--whole families! with kids!--coming back to what were ghost towns. Many of the houses I was in looked like hell, but are still structurally sound. They can be gutted and renovated, but only if support services are in place. Some of that is starting to trickle back. It's too little, too late, I know that, but it is something.
As for the jobs--that's sort of my point. There are lots of jobs available (if you're not picky, and many of them are paying much-higher-than-average for minimum-wage work), but the housing that's available still isn't affordable on those wages. So they're being filled by illegal immigrants and desperate New Orleanians, many of them housed in abysmal barracks conditions. There won't be better jobs til more people can come back to sustain an economy. But they can't come back til they have structural and financial support from the government. Like I said, what's missing is the money and political will. How to fix that, I don't know.
posted by hippugeek at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2007
hippugeek, I think you get the picture. Believe or not there are a bunch of hi-fallutin, blue-bloods in the big easy adn they cannot smell the shit they are wading through. When you come down again look me up. Well go have a drink take a look around. Remember, it's only been 17 months. We (New Orleans) have been behind in everything. Jobs, education you name it. use my home address just in case, bwinkles@cox.net
Take care, I have to forget all of the city's problems and have a 190 octane daq and enjoy the parades.
g-night all.
posted by winks007 at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
Take care, I have to forget all of the city's problems and have a 190 octane daq and enjoy the parades.
g-night all.
posted by winks007 at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
Thanks, winks007. I dunno that I'll have a chance to come back anytime soon, but I'll look you up if I do.
(Y'see, folks? That's why this city needs to come back. You can be pissed at each other one minute and getting pissed together the next.)
You have a good night forgetting your cares, man.
posted by hippugeek at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2007
(Y'see, folks? That's why this city needs to come back. You can be pissed at each other one minute and getting pissed together the next.)
You have a good night forgetting your cares, man.
posted by hippugeek at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2007
I've only visited, several times staying with friends sometimes for several weeks, and participated in some of the clean up last year, but there's just something about New Orleans, like no where else. I've been to four continents and found no city like it. yes, fucked up, possessing some of the worst aspects of the US, racial tension, crime, historical placement involving culture clash, but the best too, musically, artistically, architecturally, and in its people -crazy and intense in all the right ways. This is another hard point for the city, but it will survive. It's too great not to.
posted by sarcasman at 3:33 PM on February 16, 2007
posted by sarcasman at 3:33 PM on February 16, 2007
i'm coming to this thread long after the discussion ends, but i just have to say a couple of things.
winks007, stay the fuck in met'ry. i don't know why every suburban dweller thinks they have to pack heat coming across the parish line, but as a resident of the CITY of new orleans for the last 2 decades, i fear you & your ilk.
hippugeek, i can't thank you enough for the work you've done here. maybe i'm just anesthetized to the rubble, but new orleans almost looks like the emerald city to me compared to what i returned to in october 2005. you've done much more for my city than i have. in my defense, i'm struggling to rehab my house with little to no money after getting screwed by my insurance company.
and speaking of money, there's plenty being funneled down here. it's just all going to people who are pontificating on the problems (i wonder who or what funds those studies?) and to companies like the shaw group who subcontract out to little guys who make $10/hour doing what can be terribly dangerous work. we've also spent millions on levee studies that in my opinion should have existed long before katrina hit.
i'm in a minority: i'm not concerned with building cat 5 levees. imho, when they get the cat 5s done, the big one (the REAL big one) will come up the mouth of the river & push water into the lake & new orleans will fill up like a bowl. we'll end up having to blow the levees to get the water out. then who's the joke on?
what we do need is an educated work force who have decent paying jobs in the city in which they live. we need a government that is far less concerned with how they look and more concerned with providing basic services to the people in their districts. we need utility companies that are more concerned with providing services than they are with how they're going to face their shareholders. we need a federal government with a backbone that can actually step in for a change and regulate big business instead of catering to them.
for those of you who think that the situation in new orleans doesn't impact you, you are dead wrong. new orleans is fantastic city with a rich culture and a population as diverse as you can imagine. the problem with new orleans is that, for whatever reason, the tears in the social fabric are dramatically highlighted--the poverty, the ignorance, the corruption. it's no different in any other city in america, we just aren't as good at hiding it. and god forbid that something should happen in your city, because you'd be just as screwed as we are.
posted by msconduct at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2007 [6 favorites]
winks007, stay the fuck in met'ry. i don't know why every suburban dweller thinks they have to pack heat coming across the parish line, but as a resident of the CITY of new orleans for the last 2 decades, i fear you & your ilk.
hippugeek, i can't thank you enough for the work you've done here. maybe i'm just anesthetized to the rubble, but new orleans almost looks like the emerald city to me compared to what i returned to in october 2005. you've done much more for my city than i have. in my defense, i'm struggling to rehab my house with little to no money after getting screwed by my insurance company.
and speaking of money, there's plenty being funneled down here. it's just all going to people who are pontificating on the problems (i wonder who or what funds those studies?) and to companies like the shaw group who subcontract out to little guys who make $10/hour doing what can be terribly dangerous work. we've also spent millions on levee studies that in my opinion should have existed long before katrina hit.
i'm in a minority: i'm not concerned with building cat 5 levees. imho, when they get the cat 5s done, the big one (the REAL big one) will come up the mouth of the river & push water into the lake & new orleans will fill up like a bowl. we'll end up having to blow the levees to get the water out. then who's the joke on?
what we do need is an educated work force who have decent paying jobs in the city in which they live. we need a government that is far less concerned with how they look and more concerned with providing basic services to the people in their districts. we need utility companies that are more concerned with providing services than they are with how they're going to face their shareholders. we need a federal government with a backbone that can actually step in for a change and regulate big business instead of catering to them.
for those of you who think that the situation in new orleans doesn't impact you, you are dead wrong. new orleans is fantastic city with a rich culture and a population as diverse as you can imagine. the problem with new orleans is that, for whatever reason, the tears in the social fabric are dramatically highlighted--the poverty, the ignorance, the corruption. it's no different in any other city in america, we just aren't as good at hiding it. and god forbid that something should happen in your city, because you'd be just as screwed as we are.
posted by msconduct at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2007 [6 favorites]
I teach in a New Orleans public school and we're beginning to see students say that their parents are talking about moving. I want to argue against it, to tell them that it really is going to get better - but I never do, because I just don't know. I'm ridiculously, stupidly in love with this city, and I won't leave it, but I can't blame anyone with for doing so.
sarcasman: I was born here and moved back at 18. At that time, I noted that New Orleans was the place where people just seemed the most... human, good and bad. I still believe that.
posted by honeydew at 7:21 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
sarcasman: I was born here and moved back at 18. At that time, I noted that New Orleans was the place where people just seemed the most... human, good and bad. I still believe that.
posted by honeydew at 7:21 PM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
They bought a house on Marais in the 9th? That's taking urban homesteading to the extreme. No wonder they packed up and left.
posted by custis at 8:52 PM on February 16, 2007
posted by custis at 8:52 PM on February 16, 2007
"and god forbid that something should happen in your city, because you'd be just as screwed as we are."
Well, Chicago sorta helps itself. City that works and all that. It's about as corrupt (if not more) than N.O. but it's a weird sorta thing. Thrilling, in some ways. Hard to explain.
But as a f'rinstance the federal government told us (way way back when) we can't run the river backwards from the lake. And there's been legal acts and such. And I guess they really came down on the city at the time, and some guys out here said "Yeah, we like to drink clean water." Laws were passed.
River still runs backwards.
/off topic - winks007 check out coronado for leather holsters you can wear all day comfortably. And good luck with everything.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:07 PM on February 16, 2007
Well, Chicago sorta helps itself. City that works and all that. It's about as corrupt (if not more) than N.O. but it's a weird sorta thing. Thrilling, in some ways. Hard to explain.
But as a f'rinstance the federal government told us (way way back when) we can't run the river backwards from the lake. And there's been legal acts and such. And I guess they really came down on the city at the time, and some guys out here said "Yeah, we like to drink clean water." Laws were passed.
River still runs backwards.
/off topic - winks007 check out coronado for leather holsters you can wear all day comfortably. And good luck with everything.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:07 PM on February 16, 2007
Roger that! Thanks. And you check out the Charles Daly 1911A1. Nice tolerances.
posted by winks007 at 11:45 AM on February 17, 2007
posted by winks007 at 11:45 AM on February 17, 2007
Hey winks. Wish I had seen this earlier. If I had known that guy enjoying the parade a block down could only enjoy it while packing his charlie whatever in his coranado holster, I might've barrackaded myself in a strip mall in Metairie.
Please leave your gun in your suburb. We have enough problems.
As for the rest of this, I know people are leaving. I can hardly blame them, and I wish them the best. But I'm tired of people saying I'm a fool for staying, and living in the place I love.
posted by gordie at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2007
Please leave your gun in your suburb. We have enough problems.
As for the rest of this, I know people are leaving. I can hardly blame them, and I wish them the best. But I'm tired of people saying I'm a fool for staying, and living in the place I love.
posted by gordie at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2007
Date: Feb. 16, 2007:
A resurgence in business growth in New Orleans prompted AT&T to adjust its yellow pages production schedule to print another, and bigger, Yellow Pages directory.
The latest New Orleans directory, hitting local doorsteps now, has 85 more pages and 1,100 more advertisers than the last book, and the company has seen a 48% increase in the number of businesses also advertising on Yellowpages.com, AT&T's online Yellow Pages extension.
AT&T printed the current directory just seven months after the distribution of a July 2006 directory--the first Yellow Pages published by the company following Hurricane Katrina.
"When we saw the strength of the city's resilience and the scope of the rebuilding boom, we realized that we were serving a market so dynamic it warranted breaking our traditional production schedule to reflect all that was happening," says Paul Wilson, AT&T's division manager of advertising and publishing.
posted by raysmj at 10:50 PM on February 17, 2007
A resurgence in business growth in New Orleans prompted AT&T to adjust its yellow pages production schedule to print another, and bigger, Yellow Pages directory.
The latest New Orleans directory, hitting local doorsteps now, has 85 more pages and 1,100 more advertisers than the last book, and the company has seen a 48% increase in the number of businesses also advertising on Yellowpages.com, AT&T's online Yellow Pages extension.
AT&T printed the current directory just seven months after the distribution of a July 2006 directory--the first Yellow Pages published by the company following Hurricane Katrina.
"When we saw the strength of the city's resilience and the scope of the rebuilding boom, we realized that we were serving a market so dynamic it warranted breaking our traditional production schedule to reflect all that was happening," says Paul Wilson, AT&T's division manager of advertising and publishing.
posted by raysmj at 10:50 PM on February 17, 2007
So, you go into the jungle unarmed? You take your chances and I'll take mine. I've seen it go down both ways and the one where the husband wife and kids make it home safe is my all time favorite. I do have a right to defend myself.
posted by winks007 at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2007
posted by winks007 at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2007
No insult intended, winks. And I do respect your right to protect yourself, and certainly to protect your family. I live in that jungle, though, and the last thing that jungle needs is more guns and paranoia.
posted by gordie at 9:29 PM on February 18, 2007
posted by gordie at 9:29 PM on February 18, 2007
I've fallen out of love with the city along time ago...
Personally, I go to New Orleans about 5 times a year...
I am a complainer. I did not sign on the run/fix this stinkhole of a city...
posted by winks007
Christ, I know you'll probably never read this, but if you do, would you just leave the city already winks007? You obviously hate it and have no interest in the history, music, architecture, or people.
New Orleans has problems, yes, it's always had problems. But you paint a one sided picture. I'm guessing it's hard to enjoy the good parts when you visit 5 times a year.
I'm use to people in other parts of the country spout ignorance about new orleans. I'm use to tourist that only go during mardi gras and hang out on bourban street pretending they know the city while proclaiming it a great place to party but they sure as hell wouldn't live there. But most of the people who actually live in the city have a wonderful attitude considering the current situation.
New Orleans can use more people like raysmj. Realistic, but hopeful. Too many people like you would kill new orleans. You are part of the problem. Leave the city, move to whereever, and whine to those people. I know you will, because that's what you do.
posted by justgary at 11:27 PM on February 21, 2007
justgary, those are some great aspects of the city. I think I will stay right here on the outskirts and hope the crime rate doesn't continue to rise. It's either that or move, and I really like where I live. I have never been a part of the problem. I haven't lived in the city since 1978. I sit on the outside and bitch and throw my hands in the air because we cannot fully enjoy the city. We hit NOMA, we do the fairs, sports events, the quarter, I can be unsatisifed with the city if I want. I see your grid coordinates, I vacation there a couple times a year. The begs me to ask, are you getting all uppity and yet you DON'T live in New Orleans?
**goes off to look for better ways to express my feelings**
posted by winks007 at 4:55 PM on February 22, 2007
**goes off to look for better ways to express my feelings**
posted by winks007 at 4:55 PM on February 22, 2007
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posted by DU at 6:12 AM on February 16, 2007 [3 favorites]