Cape Karen
Have you heard the latest news? New Orleans is sinking! (Well, duh!?) To be fair, the report is that it's sinking faster than was previously known. (Over an inch a year now.) If it's already below sea level, and if it's sinking faster than ever before, then why are we still spending billions of dollars rebuilding there, and even earmarking additional billions for the future? Isn't that called throwing good money after bad? (Oh, yeah, I forgot . . . it's called government spending. Our government 'specializes' in finding creative ways to throw away lots of money; and they're getting really good at it, too!)
But, that's beside the point -
The point is that it's June already ~ that another hurricane season is here ~ and that they still haven't cleaned-up or hauled away the trash in the streets of the Lower Ninth Ward, on the east side of the city, in St. Bernard Parish. As seen during Anderson Cooper's recent CNN report from the area, he showed us that the damaged houses are still sitting on tilt, and that all the trash and debris from the storm is still piled-up and lying around everywhere. And, they say, there are probably some yet-to-be-found dead bodies rotting beneath all the unremoved rubble, too.
The only organizations I've found, that are even trying to help with the clean-up, so far, are the American Red Cross, whose trucks circle the neighborhoods each day, and hand-out cleaning supplies to the remaining residents still living there in tents and in FEMA trailers (some still without power or running water) and the Christian Contractor's Association - "St. Bernard Parish residents who want free demolition of their storm-damaged homes by the Christian Contractor's Association are urged to attend the 10 a.m. meeting Tuesday, June 6th, of the Parish Council in its trailer office behind the parish government building. You must bring proof of ownership." (But, they don't say they will haul away the debris once the home is demolished, do they? We can only hope!)
So what's the problem? Why hasn't it been cleaned-up after almost a year? Don't they know what hurricane force winds will do with all that loose lumber, and to the mountains of debris that are still lying around? Millions of pieces of broken glass, and lots of 2 x 4 flying projectiles, will be launched every-which-way by the strong winds of the next storm. And why is no one trying to locate those lost and buried loved ones? Why are cars still sitting in trees? Why is all that garbage still lying in the middle of the streets? Why are thousands of mobile homes still just sitting and disintegrating in Hope, AR? Why is no one doing anything? The World Trade center debris was cleared, Indonesia has cleaned-up after their massive tsunami, and yet large portions of this "great American city" are still sitting in ruins, filth and disarray ~ complete with the unearthed remains of dead bodies!
Huh? Something's fishy ~ and I have a theory.
I think the government is in cahoots with New Orlean's officials, and I think they have told them to leave all the debris right where it is. After all, there has been no 'call for volunteers' to help clean it up - a call that would have surely been answered by the many people who would have been willing to help. No . . . I think it's being purposely left as it is ~ to make it impossible for the folks who once lived there to return, rebuild and reclaim the land where their homes once stood. I think the city of New Orleans wants that land. (Remember Mayor Nagin's claim that, "God wants this to be a chocolate city." Well, they'll rebuild the city, alright ~ but you can bet Aunt Bessie's cow that they'll be using white chocolate this time around.)
Just watch ~ soon, the city will declare the entire Lower Ninth Ward, and most of St. Bernard Parish, as "irredeemable." Then the government and LA state officials, like the newly re-elected ( how did that happen? ) Mayor Ray Nagin, will take the land by eminent domain. Suddenly, faster than you can say "jack rabbit," they'll bring in crews, clean up the entire area, and clear the land for their own greedy purposes.
I'm not sure I believe that they've got a better evacuation plan in place for this year ~ but I'm darn sure that they've got one heck of an ambitious rebuilding plan in place. They'll eventually use all that land and build a big, new business park; complete with major hotels, lots of motels, clothing and gift shops and even fast-food restaurants. Money, money, money! There'll be no more Lower Ninth Ward 'ghetto' there ~ no siree ~ they'll make darn sure that those remaining, displaced po' folks can never come home to stay.
But . . . the joke might be on them. If the city gets pummeled this year with another big hurricane, and the new levees still aren't finished - then the land will re-flood and all that dangerous debris will go flying. And, if they really don't have a good plan for evacuation (as has been suggested,) ~ whoa! Their 'business park' idea will go right down the drain . . . along with the rest of the city.
Remember, what goes around, comes around, Mayor Nagin. You might be able to fool some of the people, some of the time ~ with your 'winsome personality' and your empty promises ~ but you should know by now that you can't fool with Mother Nature. You've been given a second chance; and I, for one, sure hope you don't blow it this time around.
It's sure going to be interesting to see what the future holds for the great American city of New Orleans ~ as it slowly sinks . . . into the abyss.