Posted on 01/17/2007 2:49:10 PM PST by AUJenn
""Every time they'd see CNN, Fox, they'd show flooded streets. Everybody thought there was nothing to come back to," said Earl Bernhardt, owner of several Bourbon Street nightspots.
In truth, the French Quarter was largely untouched by Katrina's fury. "
But the media was telling the truth. /s
I stayed in New Orleans back in October for 1 night (for the experience). I got a cheap hotel in the French Quarter (Queen Anne Hotel or something for $59.00). I had to pay $100.00 cash because I didn't have any credit cards but Discover (and most places down there didn't take it). I stepped into the elevator and it smelled like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. I couldn't afford much to eat (because I only had a Discover card and the hotel tied up my cash for deposit until I checked out) and I did sleep ok except for the noise and partying outside (this was on a Thursday night). So, I'm not sure what it used to be like, but they still manage to party until the wee hours as sure as I can tell and I got my fill of New Orleans and have no desire to travel through there again. Staying there I felt like "I gave to the cause" and that's where it ends!
Well, what do we have in this story:
- strippers turned to prostitution
- cannibal murder
- mugging turned to violent attack
- thievery
- druggies and drunks
- people living in fear
Um...yeah, sounds great. Like somewhere I really want to vacation. Or spend any more tax $.
The presstitutes and then the prostitutes. And those Mexican laborers aren't going to do much for the local economy when they wire their paychecks home.
Elsewhere in the article they talk of vacancies AND high priced rentals. Sounds like they are gouging in the market. But who is there in Louisiana to investigate? Their elected leaders are crooks and certainly don't want to talk to ANY investigators.
This probably won't be a popular view here, since a lot of FReepers think New Orleans is worthless, but my little brother returned to work there in the Quarter about 3 months after the hurricane hit. He had gone up to Indianapolis (where we grew up) in the interim, found a job, and a place to live. His employer in N.O. was BEGGING him to come back at Christmas (he works at a popular bar/restaurant/club). He is making pretty good money. Unfortunately, he is still fighting the insurance company to get his settlement on his house; therefore, he is living with a generator instead of electricity (long story--wiring needs to be replaced since it is original to the 95 y.o. old
house).
He has told me that some 'project-type' housing nearby was destroyed by the hurricane and they are putting up some more upscale housing in its place.
He is more optimistic about the future of New Orleans (at least in his part of it) than most people would have you believe. He'll be coming back up to Indy in about 6 weeks and I can't wait to hear more about N.O. (we lived north of there several years ago).
Houston got all that and I don't even have to travel to experience it now.
I thought we had a Civil War to get rid of that. Did I miss something when I took my nap today?
Believe what you want. I was in The French Quarter for NYE and had a GREAT TIME. Yes, the city is hurting. Yes, the city will never be what it was . . . but some of these horror stories are just ridiculous. The people living there are just trying to get by and are trying to rebuild their city. We neglect them at our own peril.
"He has told me that some 'project-type' housing nearby was destroyed by the hurricane and they are putting up some more upscale housing in its place."
I think that is the key. For enterprising INDIVIDUALS to come in and make it better, one upscale development at a time. Maybe the housing market will encourage this kind of speculation, and the slummier areas will be replaced with more middle-class and upper-class development. Personally I'm not too worried about the "poor people" of N.O. as they are generally understood, as they created the bulk of the problems!
I actually like the idea of a "Boca Raton with risque" as some guy said in the article, LOL!
Everything I've read says the city will eventually be given up to the delta. Why should I put my money in there. Anyone else have contrary information?
C'mon LS, even you don't believe that.
" converting (snip) stables and slave quarters into condos."
Gotta get me one of those!
My point is that every story we hear is doom and gloom. Does no one who writes these stories realize that it turns people off from caring about the future of N. Orleans? I am southern born-and-bred, been to N. Orleans many times. I'm all for moving it back to the land of the living. But after hearing NOTHING but crime, terror, hopelessness - it turns people away from wanting to help.
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