Time For A New City Of New Orleans

The Aftermath Report™
Commentary by Dr. T. McGuinness
DeadlyStorms.com & TropicalStorms.us
September 10th, 2005

We are nearly two weeks into the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina. God help those who lost so much!

Where we were, and where we are now? So much change in so short a time. Once there was a thriving hedonistic metropolis called New Orleans, that had survived storm after storm for hundreds of years. Now it is a festering soup of organic and industrial pollutants, toxic for any that venture into it. It is not a city now, but a decaying collection of submerged homes, flooded streets, and looted businesses. The grandeure that once was New Orleans is gone. Will it ever be what it once was? God, I hope not! Let's demand something far better!

What really was New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina? A decrepitd, corruptt, inept city that rejoiced in its own lawlessness! Yes there was an amazing and wonderful history! Yes there was culture! Yes it was the cradle of popular music. Those things should be kept and retained, but what about the "city"?

First, let's separate the city government, from the city culture, from the city physically:

The city government showed its true color with Katrina. It completely failed to protect and support its citizens - this is the legacy of decades of corrupt government. The city government allowed and maintained: the highest murder rate in the country, the poorest schools, much higher than average unemployment, and the list goes on and on. After the storm, its police which are so good at busting drunks during Marti Gras, seemed to completely ignore the pleas for help from the needy. And to reward them, the Mayor wanted to take them to Vegas for a week - when they hadn't even secured the city YET! Let's have an end to this farce. Urge the governor to revoke the city charter for New Orleans, and allow a fresh municipality to emerge in its place when there is a populace again.

The city culture was also a problem. There was such a contrast between the city maintained poor, and the wealth of business and tourism. It seemed impossible to bridge it, yet Katrina did this for us. Now there is no city, and its inhabitants have been dispersed to the four corners of America. Now they will become part of America, and all have a new start. We wish them well, and hope they take advantage of this new opportunity to leave poverty behind in the horror of New Orleans.

The city physically needs a new vision. This is not just replacing a half dozen buildings, as is being done in New York. This is replacing an entire city! Let's keep what was best and historic about New Orleans, and rethink the rest. After all, almost every home in New Orleans must be demolished and removed. Currently, the residential areas are mostly toxic dumps. Let's be realistic about this, it will be years until they can be habitable again.

We still don't know how many died in the city, but one fact is obvious - the city itself is dead too.

Let's take Bourbon Street and other historic districts and turn them into National Historic Parks - removed from any municipality. Retain the so-called business district, ports, and what little industry may remain, and re-envision New Orleans as a shining example of a NEW CITY. However, recognize that it is still a region below sea level, and as such we need to be realistic about the risk.

We need to understand that only by chance did Camille miss doing the same thing back in 1969. What if Ivan had followed Katrina's path? While this level of flooding and damage has not happened in recent times, it can happen again next year! How dare we even consider putting more lives at risk, under a municipality so corrupt as the present? The entire city government must go! And GO NOW! Then, better minds can plan for the city's future, and protections that make sense and work!

Tell the governor that you want the city government gone! Send her an email!

Please donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

TMc