That could serve as the motto for the experience of New Orleanians, in and out of the city, in the wake of the failure of the federal levees that flooded the community in 2005. For those commenters who believe that the exiles don't want to come home, today's Times-Picayune carries a factual refutation, in the stories of Houston exiles who, up to now, have been forbidden to return despite the fact that their housing aid has been theoretically "portable":
But there was a catch: While voucher holders theoretically can transport their "portable" rental assistance to any housing authority, the housing authorities that the families leave must make payments based on the new city's rents.
Houston and other housing agencies can restrict transfers to markets with higher rents, said HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan. A voucher for a two-bedroom New Orleans apartment is worth $990 per month while the same voucher in Houston pays $852.So a housing official rejected Martin's request, saying that rents in post-Katrina New Orleans are too high.
So New Orleanians seeking to return home have been punished by the failure of the market and every level of government, after almost three years, to deal with the flood's decimation of the rental housing stock in the city. According to the T-P story, HUD has stepped in now to deal with this particular catch, but how many more such catches are standing between the exiles and their home?
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
$990.00 a month for rent. BUY A HOUSE if you can pay that.
If you ever come visit us in lovely California, best bring a portable defibrilator to get your heart restarted when you see the housing prices.
Can anyone say "States RIghts"?
OK, here's a thought. These folks, who our government seems ready to abandon, should apply as refugees to FRANCE. Many may actually have a strong case, especially if they are descended from slaves/slave owners who lived in Louisiana before the "Purchase". They could claim rights as French citizens, similar to those given North Africans who lived in Colonial France when they apply for citizenship.
Among many outcomes possible, two stand out:
1. Our government actually gets SHAMED into action by the International courts, for abusing the victims of Katrina and our failed response. It is notworthy that France and other European nations actually had supplies at the ready, on board ships to be sent to New Orleans, and our government said "no thanks". France may actually consider their case.
2. IF France DID take them in, they'd have free healthcare, free education including college, monthly stipends, and subsidized housing for as long as they need to get back on their feet.
In either case, perhaps more attention would get paid to our stranded neighbors who have otherwise been forgotten.
SHAMED. Exactly. How is it we have not shamed them? I am ashamed. I am embarrassed and ashamed. I am morally embarrassed and ashamed. Where is the shame of our government? Am I being silly in thinking any of them will ever feel shame?
Not to quibble with your post but the French, and other advanced European citizens do not get "Free" health care or other benefits. They pay for those with increased taxes.
It seems that people in "Old Europe" care enough about their fellow citizens to pay to protect everyone in the country. I am sure people over there don't like high taxes, but are willing to pay them so that everyone shares a sense of security.
Contrast that to the USA. Where a good number of people believe that if you don't have money it is your fault for being a bad person. And are not willing to help out their fellow citizens under any circumstances.
In some ways GREED is the operating principal in the Good Old USA.
"Our government actually gets SHAMED into action..."
Only one quibble here -- you can't shame sociopaths.
jdm58
Gotta admit the real possibility France would honor any requests of that sort is slim, but the statement made might actually put it into perspective for many who still don't seem to get it.
On a brief trip to France a few yrs ago, we found that if we mentioned we were from Louisiana, we achieved sudden and dramatic elevation in status from barely tolerable American tourists to long-lost beloved cousins. The French really do seem to love all things (and people) Louisiana.
T hat's actually the best suggestion I've heard in quite a long time. Thank you.
As we are the ONLY city in the US governed by a outside (French laws), I've been trying to get France to reinstate us for over a year now..lol....
Secede to Succeed.
So is everyone just waiting for the new hotels, restaurants and other commercial money makers to start popping up where the New Orleans refugees used to live? What's happening here is obvious, Kanye was right.
Well...though your question may have been rhetorical, Harry, here's just one:
Lots of jobs were created to reconstruct the city. Most were filled by outsiders who sent much if not most of the profits back home.
HARRY CONTINUES: And why were they filled by outsiders? Because they were imported to live in shanties in the parks, whereas exiled locals weren't.
I posted this a few days ago. It seems appropriate to re-post it here.
In 1912, the Mississippi River flooded cities and states from Missouri to Louisiana. President Taft ordered the Army to help the citizens in the flooded areas. The NYT article is here:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A00E1D7133AE633A25754C0A9629C946396D6CF&oref=slogin
This passage caught my interest: "The War Department plans to buy most of the flood supplies from merchants in the flooded districts. By patronizing them at a time when their ordinary business is paralyzed the Government feels it will confer a real benefit upon the distressed communities."
And this one: "The Wells Fargo Express Company today notified the Interstate Commerce Commission, in conformity with the law, that it would transport frree of charge donations of tents, supplies, money, food or clothing for the flood sufferers. This applies also to Government supplies."
It seems that ninety-three years ago, we actually thought to patronize merchants in the flooded zones, to "confer benefit upon distressed communities," with tax dollars; and, to apply the interstate commerce powers of the government to require a common carrier to provide free transportation to donated relief supplies destined for disaster victims, including those supplies purchased by tax dollars.
Today, of course, such activity is none of the federal government's business.
While I can certainly appreciate your sentiment, you might study more of the recovery of that flood, particularly regarding the forced black labor we used. Here is a fairly thorough study on the economics of the floods of 1912, '22' and 27: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/topics/attach/html/ssd98-9.htm
We no longer have a Federal government involved in The People's business, but it turns out that the one we had back in 1912 was only a tad better, perhaps aptly described as a government of, by, and for white people.
This was the government that set the country up for the Great Depression and, as today, found itself too corrupt to protect its citizens after a disaster.
Of course none of this has anything to do with documented negligent homicide, as in the case of the Federal Corps' failed levees. Caught they tried to lie, then tried to have the ASCE lie for them, then carried it to Federal court where they knew they were protected by legislation passed from the very flood you mentioned, as well as '22 and '27. They admitted to flooding New Orleans and won the case.
Wells Fargo needed their own business done, so they offered to ship relief supplies also, with Federal protection. Great idea!
Our government failed us because we have fuckmooks guarding the hen house.
And btw, I cannot afford to move back to New Orleans until the rents come down.
Thank you,
backhandpath
http://noladder.blogspot.com/
My comment was really more directed at the "jobs filled by outsiders" point made by Harry in his "continues."
I meant no praise for Taft and his Gilded Age contemporaries.
You really just gotta love the absurdity of Bushienomics.
Don't provide affordable housing in the one city in America that is still comprised of empty shells of communities.
In fact, get rid of affordable housing while the refugees are still refugees and can't protest very loudly.
Then, when rents are no longer even remotely affordable, use that as a wedge to keep the refugees from returning.
Keep them in limbo, out of the political process everywhere as much as humanly - or monstrously - possible.
And then say they don't really want to go home. They're, you know, better off where they are.
It's pure Repugnicanism.
OK, now it really is time to refer to these people who have become alienated and disenfranchised from their own country what they are: REFUGEES. Perhaps with that status, they will have a better chance with our convoluted laws.
HARRY SUGGESTS: Perhaps you should check to see how our laws deal with the refugees from Iraq (translators who've been working with the US) trying to come here....
You are right Harry, of course. I forgot for a moment, who our Commander in Chief is...What a tragedy, both here and abroad.
Hey, Noble Mon, I escaped New Orleans in the back of a pick-up truck when we rushed the bridge on the sixth day of the Federal flood. In a convoy of what looked disturbingly like a scene from a movie, we sure looked like American Refugees. We smelled like American Refugees. We tasted like American Refugees. We felt like American Refugees.
We called ourselves Nolafugees.
You may call us Survivors.
Sinn Féin
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! In honor of the great American holiday, Huffington Post has pulled together...
US News and World Report printed a short piece about GOP fears that the...
Until last month, Jason Burnett was a high-ranking political appointee at...
Tracie Egan, and Moe Tkacik, two writers from Jezebel.com were invited to appear on my show, Thinking...
Florida's bachelor Governor Charlie Crist is getting married, and to a woman, too. That's how badly...
On the Fourth Of July Arianna appeared on CNN's Situation Room...
Even with the GOP convention nearly two months away, some in the Republican...
Jenny McCarthy struts her stuff in a sexy black swimsuit...
"The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday - but never jam to-day." "It MUST come sometimes to...
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Oil companies once viewed drilling in the deep waters off...
Loading comments…
Posted April 8, 2008 | 12:51 PM (EST)