Should New Orleans Be Rebuilt?
Given the extensive scientific evidence that New Orleans is quite possibly the worst possible place in the United States to form a metropolis, and considering the fact that the tax payers are the ones that pay to rebuild the area, should we pour more money into a disaster prone, below sea level city that could very easily be toppled once again?
blessed1 on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 7:36 am
No questions about it .
alleyez on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 7:59 am
No, it’s under sea level and could happen again.People can find somewhere else to get drunk and show their boobs. That money needs to go to securing our borders.
Crime rates have gone up in cities where the gangs that left New Orleans have took up in. So I’m sure those cities are wanting it rebuilt.
sam m on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 8:18 am
There are quite a few places that baffle me as to why anyone would want to live there. Here in California we have homes built on hillsides that slide at the slightest sign of rain. We have homes built in places that have been burned down many times and still they rebuild. I suppose if the taxpayers want to put their hard-earned money into rebuilding New Orleans, go ahead. I dont live on the side of a hill or in the forest, but a lot of people do. Their choice.
phlada64 on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 9:00 am
Look you…
New Orleans *had* safeguards in place to *protect* the city from hurricanes. Safeguards *we ourselves* built. Guess who *denied funding* to maintain and keep those safeguards *working*? That’s right, *Your Boy* G.W. Bush.
But let’s actually address the face-value question here, shall we? We did this at least once already–otherwise New Orleans wouldn’t have been there in the first place, right? Likewise, other cities are also in places at or below sea level, near the ocean, that also make them “hurricane bait” as well….
So, why don’t you go do something useful like tell, oh, I dunno, the folks in *Galveston* down in Texas, or the folks in Biloxi, Mississippi that they have *no business* living where they live, and that if their town gets trashed by a hurricane, you won’t (will not, that is) be bothered to rebuild.
Or, to put this another way. If it weren’t for people *spending money* on dams, water dikes and levees, to hold back sea water….a *whole country* wouldn’t exist. The Netherlands, a.k.a. Holland, the whole *thing* is a “disaster prone, below sea level city that could very easily be toppled once again?” kind of affair by your logic.
Show me some *links* to your so-called “scientific evidence”.
Really, cough up some links, and they had *best* be from serious, *recognized* scientific journals that *are NOT* politically bent.
Why? Because in the absence of links I have to assume you are trolling and deliberately *attacking* folks. Honestly. It’s that simple. You’re attacking the poor people of New Orleans, the people *your Boy* Bush left to Rot for five days straight because His Imperial Fraudulency couldn’t be bothered to interrupt his precious vacation time. FACT.
These people were *ran* out of their homes already by the damned Hurricane, Katrina, and now you want to run them out of a home city *forever* just because it isn’t *convenient* for you right-wad imbeciles to bother cleaning up *YOUR* mess and rebuliding. You guys took away the levee funding, YES YOU DID, and you guys put that *crony* Brownie in charge, YES YOU DID.
New Orleans is GOING to be Rebuilt, damn you.
Shut your hole and *do it* already, what are you, some kind of Nazi? Do you get off on seeing poor folks and people of color die? WTF?
I’d like to see YOUR hometown leveled, destroyed, and left to ROT sometime….just so the rest of us can torture you by talking on and on about “should we rebuild” and all this vile, wretched nonsense….you deserve a *home*, right? A place to live, a place where you can work for a living?
Ok then, so do the good people of New Orleans, ALL OF THEM, even the poor folks, even the ones you people from Texass don’t like.
Bite me. Reported.
Bradley P on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 9:41 am
I feel as though New orleans should be rebuilt. But there should be some serious measures that are taken in case of another hurricane. It is true we cannot stop natural disaters but we can be prepared for them. I believe that these are american citizens we are talking about and they deserve to have there homes back. N.O should be built on higher ground and although it will be a costly procedure, I know that the city overall will be better, than before the Hurricane. Just hopefully everything dosent blow-up in our face when it is hurricane time again.
Ceci on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 10:11 am
I think if it’s going to be rebuilt, it won’t be the government doing it. I think those who were displaced need assistance. But if the the city is to regain its special status of being one of the most unique cities in the world, it will be the movers and shakers who love that city that will do it. I also feel discretion has to be used on where to rebuild and where dams should be built. This is not a city that should be built on individual whims, but with forethought. And a ton of energy and wisdom and creativity from the amazing people who make the city New Orleans. The mayor feels that the city has done all it can for the many he has asked to come back. And he still calls them back……….with thousands of homeless who came and are living in cardboard shacks on his doorstep. The city can’t house them. Many of these people are working. But rent has risen 30% because of the lack of places to live. Seems to me he might set limits on “rent gouging” to help them afford a place to live. Perhaps require landlords to go back to the rent they were charging pre-Katrena. That would make housing affordable. But the guy wouldn’t even go out and look at the homeless community living on his doorstep.. I don’t think the man has vision. Or anyone else in Louisiana. This is their moneypot. Why aren’t they helping? It’s been 2 years, which is enough time to get some good plans in action to get a plan that works.
Scoots on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 10:34 am
well if i was living there i would say yes. i would love this city to be cleaned up like my city (chicago) but no matter what they do it will always be a shi! hole there. i have been there several times on vacation and once you leave the french quarters its a free for all on who wants to rob you! but since i am from the streets and have street smarts those idiots there don’t want to tangle with me.
gasguy69 on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 11:15 am
No
mnwomen on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 11:35 am
If it is to be rebuilt safely there are too many problems that are not being considered. The natural barrier of the delta has disappeared and needs to be rebuilt. Ideally the city needs to be raised above sea level. I don’t see that happening. Then the levees have to be constucted to withstand the storm surge from a category 5 hurricane. From what I’ve seen on reports this isn’t being done. I don’t have any faith in Mayor Ray Nagin during the crisis or since. He seems to continue to pass the blame instead of rolling up his sleeves and getting to work.
Terry,Ja on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 12:11 pm
No…because in a few years this will happen again, so they will be ‘begging’ for more donations and hand-outs.
Maria on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 12:15 pm
I live in australia but if I were american that is one place I would NOT live. I saw a report on TV just recently which said it would take at least 5 years to rebuild the levee system (higher I hope) what would happen if another Katrina came along before then. More death and desctruction thats what. Here in australia we were shocked by the slowness and seeming inability of the govt authorities to swing into rescue mode. Will that also be the case next time? NOPE I wouldnt live there.
? on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 12:23 pm
If it would get the riff raff that left new orleans and came to live in Texas to go back then I say Oh H3ll Yeah!
Jezmanru on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 12:32 pm
First, half of New Orleans is at or above sea level, and much of the part that is lower is only a little below sea level.
Second, New Orleans is NOT “hurricane-prone”. The last hurricane to strike New Orleans before Katrina was Betsy in 1965. Before that was the “storm of 1947″ which was a minimal hurricane and was before the storms were named
Third, rebuilding New Orleans is not optional
The historical and cultural aspects of New Orleans are usually mentioned whenever the topic of rebuilding is brought up. Those are legitimate factors, but they are NOT the reason people are back or why New Orleans is important to the rest of the USA.
New Orleans is an essential link in our national transportation system. The Port of New Orleans is an obvious element of that and the port is either the largest or 2nd largest port each year in the USA (tons of cargo).
Rail and highway transportation are also focused on New Orleans and NOLA is one of the top two or three junctions for traffic between east and west in the USA.
More than a third of America’s energy is either produced in southeast Louisiana or is imported through SE LA. The infrastructure that supports the energy industry is centered in New Orleans. What may turn out to be the largest oil field in North America was discovered offshore of LA in 2006.
More than 25% of America’s refining capacity is in the New Orleans area.
A large percentage of America’s non-petroleum chemical industry is in the area.
There are 6 full universities, 2 medical schools, 2 law schools, a dental school, a pharmacy school, 2 seminaries, and a variety of junior colleges & technical schools in New Orleans.
NASA manufactures the fuel tanks for the space shuttle in New Orleans, and will manufacture parts of the next generation of spacecraft.
A significant percentage of America’s shipbuilding & ship repair industry is in the New Orleans area.
A variety of other manufacturers have factories in New Orleans, such as Bell-Textron.
It is possible to move much of the industry, transportation facilities, and other infrastructure, though only at HUGE expense. It is not possible to move the Mississippi River or the oil fields. It would cost trillions of dollars to even TRY to replace New Orleans.
For literally a few billion dollars (that should have been spent before Katrina) we can build sufficient hurricane protection around New Orleans so the catastrophe of Katrina never happens again.
In contrast, can we protect Los Angeles and San Francisco from earthquakes? Can Seattle be protected from volcanoes and tsunamis? Should the mid-west be evacuated because there are tornadoes? New York and Miami are at even more risk than NOLA from hurricanes – do you propose to abandon New York and Miami?
The federal government spent $14 Billion to build a tunnel under Boston’s harbor – for commuters and not even for protection.
Your question suggests Louisiana-Americans are so much less valuable than Massachusetts-Americans that half the cost of a tunnel shouldn’t be spent on hurricane protection for New Orleans.
NOLA guy on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 1:04 pm
Yes
stantons on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 1:40 pm
Of course they should rebuild. If a disaster hit your home town wouldn’t you want to rebuild?? Every area is ‘disaster prone” floods, fire, earthquakes!
Go ahead thumbs down be all you want I like it !
onychopa on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 1:49 pm
I was born and raised in New Orleans and yes it should be rebuilt!!! Why did we rebuild San Francisco…don’t you know that an earthquake can come any day now and wipe out San Fran…and what about Los Angeles…there are all kinds of danger zones throughout the states…why ask why!!!!
CreoleSi on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 2:07 pm
No. Let it go. People can live elsewhere
kasandra k on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 2:33 pm
It doesn’t seem feasible does it? What a tragedy that it’s practically gone. So much heritage there with the music etc.
Although in the Netherlands, they managed to reclaim land, but again, have they ever being hit by a cyclone?
But so devastating for the people who have lived there all their lives, and there grandparent and so on.
justme on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 3:08 pm
Your question is one that many Americans are pondering. Rebuilding new Orleans does not make a whole lot of practical sense. However, we are a nation that has always overcome the worst adversity possible. Even though there is a clear sense of letting New Orleans go, we must rebuild to maintain our own personal stature and that of our ancestors who created this experiment that we live today. If we let New Orleans go, what city is next—yours?
johny080 on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 3:42 pm
Well, not until they get some better technology. I heard that there is still 200 feet of the levy that is not fixed, and, I heard that the parts that are fixed are no better than the last levy…
Jen on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 3:53 pm
yes, but on higher ground.
scrooge on Fri, 25th Dec 2009 4:08 pm
I think it’s a bad idea. I realize many people live there and cherish the city’s history, but it’s a horrible business plan. The best thing to do would be remove the levvies and let the Delta take it back.
Christine Ewy on Sat, 26th Dec 2009 9:08 am
Why is this question still being asked, since the rebuilding of New Orleans began immediately after it was devastated? Additionally, literally millions of local, national, and international volunteers and contracted agents have voted with their actions with an overwhelming “yes” to the question.
Furthermore, anyone asking the question is totally unaware of the interdependence in which we exist on this planet and jezmanru did an excellent job of giving some concrete ways the questioner and others’ dependence on New Orleans requires people and infrastructure to keep them here. Other reasons why the nation and world need New Orleans and its neighbors are documented in WHY PEOPLE LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS. Fifty locals also tell why current residents are willing to take the risk of living here that is required to serve the questioner and others outside the area who benefit from the environmental, economic, cultural, and political advantages of rebuilding this area.