March 2006 Progress is being made but it must be behind the scenes.
Highlights this month:
- Insurance is emerging as a major issue. Companies are
refusing to write new homeowners policies. In my mind this has major
policy implications indicating that many insured homeowners are about
to experience damage in the form of reduced property values and higher
insurance rates.
- Services seem to be on hold. Traffic lights, debris
removal, hospitals, schools.....all seem to be moving forward at about
one tenth the speed you might expect. The reasons all seem to blend
together into a patchwork of incompetence. No money, no authority, no
parts, no labor...
- The
US Mail is slowly returning but still no fourth class. Some areas are
being outfitted with group mailboxes at the end of the street instead
of home delivery.
- The
levee debate continues to rage. The Corps has taken intense
criticism from the NSF and recently the American Society of Civil
Engineers. Every Corp project turns controversial. Bad mud in the MrGO
levees, flood walls prevent surge but also prevent drainage, Harvey
canal flood wall on schedule but levees delayed, etc. Project Guardian
is on schedule to restore pre-K levees by June 1, more or less.
- The
wetlands continue to erode. Gov. Blanco has threatened block further
OCS lease sales unless money is dedicated to wetland restoration.
- The utility company is still in bankruptcy and threatening 140% rate increases
- The
citywide election is hurtling toward the April 22 primary election.
Twenty three mayoral candidates plus about 100 other candidates for
city council, various sheriffs, clerks, assessors, etc. find
themselves enmeshed in threatened lawsuits and proposed governmental
consolidations. Appointed Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater finds
himself at the center of the controversy as he implements notifications
and rules for absentee voting by the displaced.
- Roofers
and painters are making a pretty good dent in the repairs in the areas
that did not flood. In those areas, about half of the faded, tattered
blue roofs have now been replaced by more permanent repairs. Flooded
areas look much the same as they did the
day after the storm with a few exceptional properties that have been
fully repaired.
- Work is being done by many "guest workers." I
recently stopped to talk to a painter. Haltingly, I discovered he was
here from Sao Paulo, Brazil and didn't speak Spanish.
- Trailers
are in many driveways but few big parks have emerged. Those that have
are declining into the predicted problems. Not much news is coming out
of the big Renaissance Park in Baker, Louisiana.
- Federal monies remain promised but most have not arrived.
- Crime
is reemerging as an issue. The police are denying that crime is
returning but citizens in certain areas are complaining and random
murders related to armed robberies and drug activity are on the
upswing. Judge Elloie made headlines again.
- FEMA
has made two announcement recently in lieu of progress. One the flood
plain maps will be further delayed until summer, and two the no bid
contracts will not be reopened and bid.
- The city reports that only $1 million in aid has been delivered so far. Billions are queued up and stuck in some bizarre limbo.