Safe to move to/work in New Orleans yet?

Question

I've got some job interviews coming up in NOLA, but I'm a little apprehensive about actually moving to the Greater Crescent City, even 18 months after Katrina. Aside from the crime (which will _always_ make news), what is it *really* like "on the ground" in the Pontchartrain Parishes as far as living there?

Answer 1

Ummm, New Orleans just reclaimed their title as the Murder Capital of the nation. The place is a disaster with the National Guard still patrolling the streets. Wages and employment levels are at an all-time low. Violent crimes are at an all-time high. The housing market is outrageous and insurance is almost impossible to obtain. Also, about 75% of their murders, on average, go unsolved. You decide.

Just take a look at this Google News search for the term "New Orleans Murder" and see all of the articles:
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GWYX%2CGWYX%3A2006-29%2CGWYX%3Aen&oe=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=new+orleans+murder

Answer 2

I visited New Orleans last month and I can tell you the city is still full of life. However, I don't know what it's like to actually live there, especially now. I grew up not far from NOLA but live in north Louisiana now. Crime is definitely a problem that you'll have to look out for, although that was a problem even before Katrina. Some neighborhoods are still devastated but others places like downtown, the French Quarter, and Garden district are doing fine. So are most of the suburbs, with the exception of St. Bernard parish. I would advise you to talk with people who are living there now and make yourself aware of all the problems in the area. If you can deal with those, then by all means go for it. New Orleans needs all the help it can get. I get tired of people complaining about all that is bad about the area and the state. There are two kinds of people in the world: people who complain about everything that is wrong and people who do something about it. Unfortunatly Louisiana has too many of the former and not enough of the latter. If you have a positive attitude and are willing to help be a part of the city's recovery, then NOLA can definietly use you. Good luck!

Answer 3

I've lived in the New Orleans area all of my life. My house, like most others, was flooded. We evacuated prior to Katina and I moved my family back to St. Bernard Parish (a New Orleans suburb) four months after the storm. Crime in New Orleans is as bad as it ever was. But like many cities, most of the serious crimes occur in the same areas. There are exceptions, including ones that have been in the national news lately. I choose to live outside of the city where crime rates are much lower. Although I live 5 minutes from New Orleans, our parish had two murders in 2005. Contrary to what was written in some of the previous answers, New Orleans is far from recovered. There are whole neighborhoods where the houses have not been gutted, let alone rebuilt. But on the positive side, many businesses, including great restaurants have reopened. I travel a lot, and don't find that our basic services, except rent and insurance, cost more than other places in the region. Many aprtment complexes have been rebuilt and are starting to re-open. Wages in the area are up. Even fast food restaurants are having to pay $8.50 and above, to get entry level workers. More importantly, the food and oil manufacturing plants are replacing hundreds of workers, opening up high paying jobs that you used to have to know someone to get. Overall, the New Orleans metro area is a pretty good place to live. Just exercise a little common sense when it come to crime and you'll really enjoy the area.

Answer 4

It is still safe for the 900 thousand people that still live in the metropolitan New Orleans. The city if New Of Orleans lost 220k people but in the bigger scheme there is still a lot going on here. Other than the crime irritation and the inability of the governement to disperse the housing money life still goes on. I make a point to drive in the devasted areas from time time so that I dont forget. crime is very bad but mostly amongst drug dealers. You cannot apply the same statistic to the general population. If you are not dealing drugs it is extremely difficult to get murdered. If you are a drug dealer then getting murdered is almost a certainty.

Answer 5

The answer from "The Doc" is great and he is correct about the crime (or lack thereof). Reality is that almost 98% of shootings & murders occur within the illegal drug community and the other 2% are "domestic" incidents. That doesn't make the crimes OK, but the average resident (or tourist) doesn't have to worry about it. Don't completely ignore the City in your search for suburbia. Most of Algiers (which didn't flood) has typical a USA suburban environment (housing & schools) with no more and maybe fewer problems than you find in the actual suburbs. Other desirable neighborhoods in New Orleans are in the French Quarter area, Warehouse District, most of "Uptown", the Broadmoor area, around Bayou Saint John & City Park, Lakeview, and the Lakefront. Lakeview flooded badly and is recovering, but it will be a while before that is complete. The other areas in the list either didn't flood or have recovered. New Orleans is geographically quite large and commuting times from the suburbs to the city center can be an issue. I recommend you try to live reasonably close to work/school - and you tend to get what you pay for.

Answer 6

the rent here is abnormally high, since the storm. it's very hard to find an affordable place to live....and things in general cost more now. Everything from groceries to utilities are high. If that really isn't a factor, the general quality of life, to ME at least, still seems poor at times. I spent 8 hours in the emergency room waiting to be seen a few days ago- and everyone (about 80 people) in the ER had the same story- they had been there for hours and hours and weren't being seen. While that may not be important to everyone, because not everyone is in poor health, to me, i still think that's a factor that anyone with kids or any health condition should take into consideration before moving here. You will NOT have good options or quick quality care options...
and while that's just ONE single factor, it's part of a bigger picture of what's going on which a lot of people just ignore.

when you put it together with crime, and the rest....it paints a bleaker picture.

i'm not leaving, but I really wouldn't recommend anyone move here either, unless they have a high paying job and are very healthy.

Answer 7

I think it is as safe as it ever was. New Orleans always has been and always will be a dangerous place. Crime will forever be a part of life there. You just have to be cautious.

For most of New Orleans, you can't even tell there was a hurricane. I think it has come back nicely. Despite how terrible everyone says it is because of "all the crime", it is still my favorite place to vacation. I'm looking forward to Mardi Gras!

Answer 8

I am in Texas and I constantly hear from friends who have been there that it is a good time to go to New Orleans. One told me the pay is higher now than what is was before Katrina. Majority of the city is back and the rest is being fixed. GO FOR IT, and GOOD LUCK on the interviews.

Answer 9

The Garden District is still as beautiful as ever. The French Quarter is in good shape. Most of New Orleans has come back nicely. Some neighborhoods are still destroyed, but you probably won't come into contact with any of those.

Answer 10

Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) think so. They just bought a house there and are actually going to live their with their 3 children.