April 2006 - In review
The blue roofs are tattered, but many have been replaced with the real thing,
The sounds of roofing hammers reverberate across the city seven days a week.
The Corps says the levees will be ready but not certified.
Civic activists are trying but  frustration is growing,
Politicians are offering rhetoric not reality,
The incumbents got through the primaries but there is still a real chance for change.
Insurance is hard to get so real estate is not moving
Debris still litters the city, USACE is still paying 3x standard rate to remove it at a snails pace
Crime is returning and the police are denying
Federal money is still trickling down to connected corporations
Health care is squeezed but if you have insurance you get service
The Corps of Engineers admitted they did it and need more money to fix it
FEMA is still confusing everybody,  satisfying no one, admitting nothing
FEMA and the city got so confused that the city pulled the plug on new group trailer sites,
But then they made up and the plug is back in.
The SBA seems desperate to distribute some money but their rules are forbidding
Most traffic lights are now working in the populated areas.
Now its time to set the timer so the off ramp of the bridge gets more than twelve seconds on a green light.
Defensive driving has been replaced by aggressive, oblivion while talking on a cell phone.
If you are not on a cell phone when you drive the frustration can become intense.
Grocery stores offering money transfers are swamped with lines of Hispanics sending money home
The police need more Spanish speakers and interpreters
Checkout people try to impress you with their ability to multi task
Flooded cars are everywhere with few towed away.
The towing contracts have all been voided and the only progress is being made by thieves.
State legislators are meeting and  arguing over momentous trivia
The LRA plan to rebuild is at risk as legislators diddle
Sheetrock costs too much ($8-11 per board), takes too long to buy (1-2 hr wait in contractors line)
The race problem is unchanged, perhaps even worse. A bit more out in the open as people have become visibly frustrated with each other.
Business is reopening, the restaurants are great!
Seafood is limited but expected to return. Crawfish are scarce but delicious.
The wetlands are shrinking
The city is sinking!
Come on down, you will have fun.