As 2006 dawned the city was still. Fewer than 100,000 people had returned and crime was a memory. But the calm was not to last. By the end of the first Quarter 150,000 people called this place home. Another 50,000 commuted in to do the work. Crime began to build.

By June the State Police and National Guard were called back in. They could do little as crime continues to erode the fabric of society. The criminals have the money. If we keep buying what they sell, we can't stop their antisocial behavior. You can have cops on every corner, cameras on ever streetlight, a hundred new jails.

By December 31, 2006 the totals were reported. 162 murders in Orleans. 131 of the victims and most of the suspects were young black males, mostly in the 15-25 year age range. With the best population estimates running about 190,000 the murder rate is a staggering 85 murders per 100,000 population or 15 times the national average (and remarkably, just below the all time record 85.8 murders per 100,000 experienced in New Orleans in 1994, the all time record murder rate in any American city.).

Across the entire metro area the murder rate is in the mid twenties, but without the contribution of Orleans parish, would barely top 10, still double the national rate.