The city is trying to develop dangerously low lying areas under the assumption that it they be protected. Perhaps we ought to be referring back to that 1898 map when the city was a crescent shape along the river bank.

As the city grew in the 1900's and technology boosted our arrogance a land hungry population moved into new reclaimed swamp lands and began to build homes. It took a while but in 2005 Mother Nature served notice that we couldn't have it both ways. Either we had to take care of the land or we had to accept periodic flooding.

Without roughly $40 billion to rebuild levees and wetlands New Orleans will be forced into the 1898 footprint. It's not a land developer's conspiracy, although land developers are certainly maneuvering to profit from change. It's not necessary to use legal means to restrict people from returning to their homes and neighboorhoods, athough city leadership could enact land use policy that would help people avoid more risk and loss. Its simply a fact that if they do return without the flood protection improvements, they will be flooded again after an unacceptably short period of months, years or decades.

Faced with facts like these you can protest all you want, elect whomever you please, build anything, anywhere and possibly cajole Congress into providing flood insurance for one more cycle, but that will be the last time. Next time the city floods will be the end of the city as we have known it.

$40 billion is the pricetag for Orleans, St Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes as habitable areas for a mixed income city. Without the money the port, fishing and petro-chem industries will have to adjust to a population center moved further upriver towards Baton Rouge.