Should they just bulldoze New Orleans?

Question

It would be great if you actually read the story before commenting.

Thanks

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070208/ap_on_re_us/katrina_on_edge

Answer 1

The city should only be rebuilt if they get someone to manage the rebuilding in a manner that will bring confidence to the people who live there. This is choice:
"Nagin has appointed a recovery czar, Ed Blakely. But there is no timetable for implementation of a master plan, and no assurances the money will be there for it. Blakely said he believes it will cost at least three times the $14 billion estimate to restore the city."

So answer this question for me: Why hire a project manager who tells you he cannot do the job on budget, has no idea how to do it, and no idea when it will be done? Would you hire a contractor to build a house for you under those conditions? Especially if he told you up front that you will have cost overruns that will triple your approved loan amount? No competent person would.

I don't intend to sound flip with this suggestion, but the Apprentice TV show could probably find someone with enough savvy to manage the rebuilding in an efficient and effective manner. Henry Ford said he didn't have to know everything about building automobiles, he just had to know how to find the people who did and put them to work. That type of management just does not exist in New Orleans and it is due to incompetence from the top down.

The most interesting part of the article was this excerpt:
"So far, the federal government has earmarked about $750 million for infrastructure projects. The state homeland security department, charged with distributing the money, has given out only about half that. The governor said the city has been slow to complete the paperwork."

There are individuals looking for jobs who specialize in obtaining government grant money. They know how to fill out the paperwork so the money will be granted on the first try. There are also companies that will do this on a contract basis. So why is the paperwork not getting done? It is Mayor Nagin's job to get the right people. He has not done it.

Ken White, who was director of emergency psychiatry at Charity Hospital summed it up pretty well when he said, "We came back . . . We were appalled by the ineptitude of government on all levels." So he gave up and left. How can they hope to rebuild the City without effective management of the project?

Perhaps the Louisiana Legislature should revoke the City's charter. That would take the incompetent Ray Nagin out of the loop. Then someone from outside of Louisiana should be appointed as the project manager, because Louisiana politics and some of the businesses seem to be involved in a corrupt good-ole-boy system that pads any budget into unreasonable excess.

Until then, the only people who are going to move back and stay are those that want to take advantage of the crime scene or those who cannot afford to live anywhere else.

Or perhaps they should revoke the City charter, bulldoze and convert it to greenspace, turn off the anti-flood pumps, and change the name to Lake New Orleans and create the New Orleans Memorial State Park. After all, part of the City--including some of the levees--is sinking at the rate of an inch each year.
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Answer 2

New Orleans has a rich history, even though the future is bleak. I read the article. Thanks for the link. The recovery will take time. No one want to live in an old war zone. Do you want streets with broken buildings, trash, smell and no stores open in your neighborhood. What will happen is a slow return. Perhaps lower taxes to have an incentive to go back. What really gets me is building next to a levee in the first place. The original New Orleans, French District was barely touched. Hmm..Why? They build on high ground. Genius. Why build 9 feet below sea level...duh. I would clear out entire areas that are 2 feet below sea level and make them parks. Institute National Guard training working with dozers to raze the low areas. Then require stilt building. Park your car under your house, build the house up. Check out beach houses with that idea for hurricanes. It will take time, but the history of New Orleans is too rich to abandon.

Answer 3

I read it. I believe if one is to do a job one should do it right. To me, right would mean building it so it would not flood again. NO, I do not think they should just bulldoze New Orleans. I believe they should fill it in with rock, pressed down, shaken together, and then build on top of it at such a height that it cannot be inundated with water again. This might exceed practicality. It might be like having to move the exploded part of Mount St. Helams in Washington State. Other than that, perhaps move the sign for the city to higher ground!
dennis mac

Answer 4

Of Course ! They might as well do the same with London and Amsterdam since they won`t be able to handle the high water that`s coming. Dublin, Ireland is also getting some real weird temperatures the last couple years and just lately bad storms.
I doubt Moscow and St. Petersburg ever had a January like this one, above freezing. If the permafrost goes, a lot of buildings could disappear in the muck.

Answer 5

After reading the article, yes does not sound too good in NO, glad I live in a fairly sane city (Brisbane Australia). I reckon anothe Katrina like event will happen sooner rather than later to New Orleans, sad but true.
Oh the bulldozers would just get bogged.

Answer 6

That sounds like the best idea I've heard. They need to just tear everything down and rebuild from a clean slate. Or not. Just move the city to higher ground, theres just going to be another hurricane, and who in there righ tmind want to live in a heavily populated city that is BELOW sea-level. If/when the leevees break again, its the same old problem again and everyone will be pointing fingers at everyone else again.

Answer 7

No, it should be rebuilt, fixed, etc. without any more delay. I feel very sorry for those who want to go back to what they consider their home and they still haven't been able to. I only hope we have learned to be a lot more timely. Seems we can manage to help other countries try and get over a natural disaster asap and we drag our feet here.