Editor: Pay heed to New Orleans' plight

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by Glider

I know this sounds intrusive in particular as I am from the UK but I ask you to continue.
Bush does have the power to force the state / muicipal authorities to do things but hasn't used them. He is the one who set up the group to advise the goverment on what action needed to be undertaken and he is the one who has not listened to the advice. Of course there are others such as the Mayor and the Corp of Engineers who believe they know best and have ignored the input.

Bush has no power to force anyone to do anything, unless he has specific statutory authority, which is very limited in scope.

The people WITH power are the state authorities with access to federal funds.

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

The only thing that kept that city alive was Mardi Gras.

I wouldn't go quite that far. I was stationed at Keesler AFB for almost 2 years and went to the NO at least a dozen time.

On practically any given night, the French Quarter is (was) crowded with people from all over the world. It's one of the Countries most popular convention destinations. There were also tons of Great restaurants, culture, music, GOOD TIMES.... there was plenty going on besides Mardi Gras but 95% of the good stuff was in the French Quarter.

Thankfully, the French Quarter survived largely intact. Since it was the oldest section, it was built on the highest ground.

Personally, I think NO should be bulldozed except for the French Quarter and a few outlying areas. It can still serve as a vacation destination.

Rebuilding in NO is like building a house on a frozen lake - 2 mistakes. You know the thaw will come eventually and when your house falls through the ice, it's foolish to re-build.

All good things aside, The French Quarter is not for everyone... it can be seedy, dangerous and urine soaked... but I loved it! Drunk tourists, food, all surrounded by 18th century architecture. A shrine to excess and hedonism!

If my memory serves, Katrina was only a Cat 3 at land fall....

The question isnt why is it taking so long. The question is why are we doing it!!!!!??????

.

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Simple - aside from the french quarter, the place was and is a bloody crime ridden shithole - maybe the place will die. Those who are attempting to rebuild it are finding that there are some inhabitants who could care less and there are many who refuse to re-invest in a loosing situation.

Can't say it any better than that.

TO

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by comiso90

All good things aside, The French Quarter is not for everyone... it can be seedy, dangerous and urine soaked... but I loved it! Drunk tourists, food, all surrounded by 18th century architecture. A shrine to excess and hedonism!

Nasty zoomie!

[ccheese]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Those who are attempting to rebuild it are finding that there are some inhabitants who could care less and there are many who refuse to re-invest in a loosing situation.

I think that's it in a nutshell. Those who are able (read: well off) have
left. Those who plead poverty and are staying think the world owes
them a living. I think the place should be bull-dozed then built, not
re-built. But first you have to be able to control the water.

Charles

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by mkloby

Nasty zoomie!

Damn you're right.. did i actually just say that I loved a place that is a seedy, dangerous, urine-soaked, hedonistic drunk fest?

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by ccheese

But first you have to be able to control the water.

Charles

I think the area they're talking about is WAY to large. It is a marsh below sea-level that was way-layed by a cat-3. (what about a cat-5?)

I'd build a moon base before I tried to control those waters.

.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by comiso90

I wouldn't go quite that far. I was stationed at Keesler AFB for almost 2 years and went to the NO at least a dozen time.

On practically any given night, the French Quarter is (was) crowded with people from all over the world. It's one of the Countries most popular convention destinations. There were also tons of Great restaurants, culture, music, GOOD TIMES.... there was plenty going on besides Mardi Gras but 95% of the good stuff was in the French Quarter.

Thankfully, the French Quarter survived largely intact. Since it was the oldest section, it was built on the highest ground.

Personally, I think NO should be bulldozed except for the French Quarter and a few outlying areas. It can still serve as a vacation destination.

Rebuilding in NO is like building a house on a frozen lake - 2 mistakes. You know the thaw will come eventually and when your house falls through the ice, it's foolish to re-build.

All good things aside, The French Quarter is not for everyone... it can be seedy, dangerous and urine soaked... but I loved it! Drunk tourists, food, all surrounded by 18th century architecture. A shrine to excess and hedonism!

If my memory serves, Katrina was only a Cat 3 at land fall....

The question isnt why is it taking so long. The question is why are we doing it!!!!!??????

.

That is why I said besides the French Quarter the only thing NO had going for it was Mardi Gras.

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

That is why I said besides the French Quarter the only thing NO had going for it was Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras celebration is in February and lasts 2 weeks, Mardi Gras the day (fat tuesday) is only one day. My point is that there is plenty of good times outside of the Mardi Gras season... they party (used too) all year long.

.

[renrich]

It is ridiculous to assume that the federal government or any government should restore NO to the same level it was before. The areas that were flooded should never have been developed and they ought not to be redeveloped. The original builders in NO knew better than to build extensively in the low lying areas. It is neither economically feasible or practicable to build a levee system that will protect the areas that were flooded during Katrina. Those low lying areas should be returned to a wetland condition, NO will survive as a smaller geographical entity than before Katrina and the next hurricane that hits there will not be a major problem. Those people who think that the government(all levels) or Bush have somehow failed don't understand our brand of government and politics.

[Njaco]

Glider made some good points but I question why "Blame Bush" every time something happens? Where is the accountability from the local authorities? Glider, even you said "Of course there are others such as the Mayor and the Corp of Engineers who believe they know best and have ignored the input." Where is the blame on them? Nagin spouts racist rhetoric and nothing is said and he hasn't done anything to correct the problem. I felt awful about the Chief who appeared to really be trrying and then quit in frustration. Its not just Bush or "Brownie", it starts with the Mayor and works its way up. But the liberal media will continue to make Bush the focus and it stinks like the rest of the city.

[Glider]

You are getting close to the reccomendations that have been given to all levels of government. You can do the following
a) decide the areas to be developed and those to be turned to wetland or used as a flood defence.
b) modify the levees and other defences according to the lessons learnt to protect the areas to be developed.
c) prepare the areas to be used as flood defences as you cannot just leave them.
d) ensure that key infrastructures are secure against flood
e) ensure that the port is safe and will continue to operate.

What gives the President the power to influence what happens is the port. If anything happened to that then the impact will be across a huge area including of course, all states that depend on the Port. Its much bigger than Louisiana.

[Erich]

here ya go. "I'm sorry New Orleans but piss on you !" you idiots in the local govt knew full well your levies were pure B.S. and could not hold high flood water, why didn't you move the city back 10-15 miles like was planned back in the 1950's...... ?

why all the hullabaloo anyway there is still some of Mississippi that was flat out cleaned off the face of the earth and the news media and govt cronies don't give a flippin whales arse

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by Erich

here ya go. "I'm sorry New Orleans but piss on you !" you idiots in the local govt knew full well your levies were pure B.S. and could not hold high flood water, why didn't you move the city back 10-15 miles like was planned back in the 1950's...... ?

why all the hullabaloo anyway there is still some of Mississippi that was flat out cleaned off the face of the earth and the news media and govt cronies don't give a flippin whales arse

True but many would say that L.A. and S.F. are in the same boat... What kind of jack arse would build a major city on an earthquake fault?

my answer is that earthquakes, while very destructive, are much more infrequent than Hurricanes. If you follow the comparison of LA and SF then we should dismantle every American City on the east coast from Corpus Cristy to Boston for they will be hit by Hurricanes too. The difference is that NO is below sea level and surrounded by dikes (san francisco is surrounded by dykes too but a different kind. )

Too many people feel entitled.. "if you dont rebuild my home, u are a racist."

.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Glider

You are getting close to the reccomendations that have been given to all levels of government. You can do the following
a) decide the areas to be developed and those to be turned to wetland or used as a flood defence.
b) modify the levees and other defences according to the lessons learnt to protect the areas to be developed.
c) prepare the areas to be used as flood defences as you cannot just leave them.
d) ensure that key infrastructures are secure against flood
e) ensure that the port is safe and will continue to operate.

What gives the President the power to influence what happens is the port. If anything happened to that then the impact will be across a huge area including of course, all states that depend on the Port. Its much bigger than Louisiana.

Glider, you're addressing a part of the problem that is for the most part fixed or being bumbled in state/ federal government ramblings. Even if what you say happens, the people there have got to want this. Read a crime blotter on New Orleans on a Friday or Saturday night. Even after "god's wrath" you would think that some of the folks would mend their ways and try to see to it that their environment is made better - they don't.

My brother-in-law is Creole. A good portion of his family left Louisiana for the reasons previously sited. The place is an armpit. The few times I had to drive through there was enough to convince me that part of the country is almost 3rd world and its the population to blame for much of their woes...