Remembering
While I have a few moments, okay while the bosses are at lunch or out of town, I am going to take a few minutes to remember rather ask those of you that read this to remember what happened 2 years ago tomorrow. In some instances it feels like Katrina happened yesterday. Maybe that stems from the fact that the city is still struggling. Other times it feels like it happened years and years and years ago. Sometimes it feels like the city will still be struggling years and years down the road.
Many things have improved. This has been shown without a doubt. The French Quarter is alive, the Garden District is alive. Mid-City is getting there. 9th Ward and Lakeview? They have a long way to go still. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Satchmo Fest and almost every fest in between has happened twice. Life is moving on for many. Life moved on for most everyone in the country probably just a few months after. For some people in the city, they are still living the nightmare.
FEMA trailers are now being found to have high amounts of formaldhyde in them. People went from having their houses, homes, lives ripped apart, to now living in a poisonious tin can. They are still fighting with FEMA, insurance companies, SBA, and so many others to try to regain some sort of resemblence of their former lives. There are people that have gotten out of the trailers and are now living 6 or more people to a small 1-2 bedroom apartment because the rent is so high. Some landlords raised the rent to make a buck, some had to do it because their insurance is now sky high.
There are so many other issues that I could mention, it is an ongoing struggle down here. I just want to remind people that as bad as it can be? It is still the best place to be. You have the music, the food, the people. There is a special aura about this city that will either pull you in and never let go, or spit ya right back out. It is a city unto it's own. Come spend some time down here, hear some groovy backstreet tunes, eat a bowl of red beans and rice, have a few beverages, support the local businesses. Help New Orleans to recover from Katrina.
While I have a few moments, okay while the bosses are at lunch or out of town, I am going to take a few minutes to remember rather ask those of you that read this to remember what happened 2 years ago tomorrow. In some instances it feels like Katrina happened yesterday. Maybe that stems from the fact that the city is still struggling. Other times it feels like it happened years and years and years ago. Sometimes it feels like the city will still be struggling years and years down the road.
Many things have improved. This has been shown without a doubt. The French Quarter is alive, the Garden District is alive. Mid-City is getting there. 9th Ward and Lakeview? They have a long way to go still. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Satchmo Fest and almost every fest in between has happened twice. Life is moving on for many. Life moved on for most everyone in the country probably just a few months after. For some people in the city, they are still living the nightmare.
FEMA trailers are now being found to have high amounts of formaldhyde in them. People went from having their houses, homes, lives ripped apart, to now living in a poisonious tin can. They are still fighting with FEMA, insurance companies, SBA, and so many others to try to regain some sort of resemblence of their former lives. There are people that have gotten out of the trailers and are now living 6 or more people to a small 1-2 bedroom apartment because the rent is so high. Some landlords raised the rent to make a buck, some had to do it because their insurance is now sky high.
There are so many other issues that I could mention, it is an ongoing struggle down here. I just want to remind people that as bad as it can be? It is still the best place to be. You have the music, the food, the people. There is a special aura about this city that will either pull you in and never let go, or spit ya right back out. It is a city unto it's own. Come spend some time down here, hear some groovy backstreet tunes, eat a bowl of red beans and rice, have a few beverages, support the local businesses. Help New Orleans to recover from Katrina.
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