A House Is Not A Home

So, the city's very much up in arms over the comments made by New Orleans officials. They are saying that they only want people who will work to come back to New Orleans at this time. Naturally, this sounds like a very skewered and slanted statement, which implies that New Orleans all of a sudden only wants blue and white-collar workers within its confines. The officials, on the other hand, say that it's aimed towards bringing money in in order to boost the New Orleans economy.

I'm torn on the issue. On one hand (the literal, face value level), it does sound very ignorant and makes the officials look like classist idiots. One of the BIGGEST lessons I learned this week is that it's not about what you have to say or the intent, but it's all about HOW it's said and phrased. Here is where I think their sin lies, because now, we see the officials spending unnecessary time in front of the camera trying to backtrack. It ends up making the whole city look like it's run by and inhabitied by idiots (because we're the ones who elected them). Folks, I understand you may have something to say to get off your chest or whatever, but please, think the whole thing through and say EXACTLY what you mean. Trust me, you will pay for it later and risk burning some beautiful bridges.

On the other hand, you gotta honestly look at the New Orleans economy. Prior to the whole ordeal, a lot of the skilled workers were migrating away from Louisiana (New Orleans, especially). Now, with more skilled workers settled in their evacuated locations and planning to stay put, they aren't in a rush back to a city that was already in the red, economically. Also, most of those workers lived in outskirt towns like Metarie, Kenner, Covington, Slidell, etc. They would live in those towns, commute to and from the city everyday, taking the pool of money from New Orleans to flourish their outskirt towns. With all this loss in the economy and a US legislative system that refuses to fund the clean-up, we need money FAST. So, what other way to get money in than bringing in people who can work. Workers bring about paid employees to the city. Paid people equals tax revenue for the city they live in. Tax revenue equals the ability for the city to flourish and put economic initiatives in place to house and accomodate those that cannot be employed. Just as there was a time where they were only letting in military and medical personnel, now, they would like to let in people who can pump money into the New Orleans economy. They never said they NEVER wanted the unemployed back. They said they would like to have them back when they can be accomodated. There's a difference.

I do not agree with places like Houston whining about how unfair it is that this policy is being put in place. They said that they did not flinch when New Orleanians flocked into Houston to live and were immediately welcomed with open arms. They believe that New Orleans should take back their residents just a quickly. They are failing to realize a key issue. When the New Orleanians evacuated, Houston was not wrecked (or in danger of doing so), nor was it an economically crippled city. They gained valuable workers and a lot of misappropriated FEMA money was pumped into the city. Also, the money they put up to house the evacuees in hotels and such are being reimbursed by FEMA, so you're actually getting more out of the deal.

New Orleans is still very much a crippled city. The mixed feelings about the rush-together of Mardi Gras can tell you that. I look forward to the day when the word "normal" can finally be applied to my city oncce again. Bring that beat back...

-B