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Our thoughts are very close. I am seeing many if not most people deciding not to return. These are people who work, have family etc. And if they can relocate they are doing it. I don't think the welfare poor will return. The working poor I don't know about.

But the big thing is what is the plan, how much is the tab, do we dare do it. I used to think the US could do anything but lately I don't think so. Something optimistic is gone. And I don't really think that city can be recreated, you just can't do that. I think people are having a hard time realizing that.

cajungirl,

Don't lose heart. There are many of us who understand NO was not just the French Quarter or the corruption in government. We understand there were also many people like you and I who lived in NO. Like other's I've read this whole thread and I'm appalled at the hateful blanket statements made by so many of the FReepers who've posted on this thread.

My hope and belief is there are good, honest people diligently working on plans to rebuild parts of NO. One of the first issues will be to engineer some type of flood control, whether it be building the city up above sea level, maybe a system similar to Holland or a better system of levees and dams than what was in existence before.

It's my opinion NO will be a smaller city than it was before Katrina. There's a need for the port because the other ports can't handle the overflow, they're already falling behind. The parts of the historical district which can be saved will be a part of the new NO. Some of the companies who had offices there will rebuild because of the closeness to the port.

There will be a need for staff for the businesses who rebuild. There will be a need for retail to provide goods and services to the people who work for the businesses and at the port. As NO slowly grows, more jobs will be created, more homes will be needed, more retail, more police and so NO will grow.

The pre-Katrina city is gone and it can't be recreated. I don't believe we really deep down want it to be exactly as it was. There's an opportunity to make NO better than it was.

Rather than people grumbling and griping and saying they aren't going to spend their money on rebuilding, they should be taking an active role in making sure NO is rebuilt the right way. We need to be loud and insistent that our tax money be spent to build NO back in the best way possible for our country.

America can do it. As Americans we need to communicate with La. government by telling them to quit demanding money for pet projects and instead to focus on getting the money spent to make NO safer from flooding and to get rid of the corruption. The price tag will be too steep if we allow shoddy planning and corruption.

We need to communicate and then communicate some more to our federal officials that we want NO rebuilt in the best way possible. If we can get NO rebuilt in the right way it won't be long before private business begins to invest in NO.

Please don't lose your optimism. Instead of feeling defeated, use that energy in a positive way.