I read that it was lack of housing and transportation that prevented refugees from returning to NO and taking those jobs. The FEMA trailers provided them, they say, are too far away across the river for them to get to work. There is free ferry service across the Mississippi River, and the jobs are right there on Bourbon St. et al.
I am not disputing what you saw...but, if these businesses are SO in need that they are paying $6000 signing bonuses and WAY over minimum wages for minimum wage type jobs...
then I dare say...they would all get together and get a bus service of some kind, to go out and pick these people up, don't you??