The culture of New Orleans, particularly the African American tradition of Mardi Gras Indian parading and Second Lining / Social Aid and Pleasure clubs of mostly lower income Neighborhoods is in jeopardy
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This is truly sad, but personally I don't think it's entirely fair to tie the existence of this process to Hurricane Katrina. Gentrification - or Urban Renewal, or whatever term would be substituted to mean an increase in the value of real estate in urban areas - is a reality in many major cities today, including my own.
It's not a surprise, however, that the process has accelerated the process. If many of the homes on the South Side of Chicago were destroyed, for example (it's the poorer area of the city and it's also where extremely rapid gentrification is taking place) it would reduce the cost of production of new homes in the area which would catalyze the process, making it appear as though the destruction caused the increase in house prices.
While it's certainly lamentable, I don't know how much can reasonably done - without utterly Pyrrhic government regulation which would be as present, corrupt, and negligent as FEMA - to stop it.
just about every neighborhood i've ever lived in has been gentrified, from Chicago to Detroit to New York, New Orleans and back, so no I wasn't saying it isn't happening elsewhere.I am sharing info on how corruption on a federal and local level are driving it in NOLA right now.
New Orleans culture is/was really something special. Many of us are grieving it, many are fighting hard for it. That fight is very david and goliath in proportion.
I tend to think that governments are a lot better at creating problems than they are at solving them - especially when it comes to matters of economics where politicians show their uncanny ability to legislate the sun's rising every morning and setting every night. Not to say that I think that, in a less intrusive government, that this process wouldn't be happening.
thank you for that wish, me too.metaharaAugust 3 2006, 23:07:34 UTC
Pre Kat NOLA was the most self goverend place i ever lived. You decide whether you want to smoke, drink, walk with a drink, stay out all night, process death with a parade, etc. make your own hours, come n go as you please and go ahead and get as drunk as you want to. it's where you could hear the words "it's all good' and "Do watchawanna" and "hows that workin for ya". I've never encountered more creative, resourceful artists per square inch than there. Nor have i encountered more individuals dressing themselves in unique ways and making their own hours of business...I can't imagine the culture shock those who never knew life outside NOLA are experiencing...
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It's not a surprise, however, that the process has accelerated the process. If many of the homes on the South Side of Chicago were destroyed, for example (it's the poorer area of the city and it's also where extremely rapid gentrification is taking place) it would reduce the cost of production of new homes in the area which would catalyze the process, making it appear as though the destruction caused the increase in house prices.
While it's certainly lamentable, I don't know how much can reasonably done - without utterly Pyrrhic government regulation which would be as present, corrupt, and negligent as FEMA - to stop it.
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I wasn't saying it isn't happening elsewhere.I am sharing info on how corruption on a federal and local level are driving it in NOLA right now.
New Orleans culture is/was really something special. Many of us are grieving it, many are fighting hard for it. That fight is very david and goliath in proportion.
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But I do wish New Orleans the best of luck.
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You decide whether you want to smoke, drink, walk with a drink, stay out all night, process death with a parade, etc. make your own hours, come n go as you please and go ahead and get as drunk as you want to. it's where you could hear the words "it's all good' and "Do watchawanna" and "hows that workin for ya". I've never encountered more creative, resourceful artists per square inch than there. Nor have i encountered more individuals dressing themselves in unique ways and making their own hours of business...I can't imagine the culture shock those who never knew life outside NOLA are experiencing...
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