Katrina Update #69Katrina Update #69
I toyed with the idea of doing some kind of April Fool's page this week, but nothing I could come up with would beat the great New Orleans Daily Picayune April Fool's Day joke of 1891. The local papers tried to see who could publish the most outrageous story as real news. The Daily Picayune carried a story titled "A Celestial Visitor," which described the enormous meteorite — a "marvelous conglomeration of minerals and metals" — that dropped down on Audubon Park just before daylight. The meteorite caused great excitement as it shot "athwart the sky." Those who were on the streets or rushed to their doors and windows saw the "glare of fire in the sky" and heard the "hissing of flames." We learned in great detail about the "terrific explosion and detonation" that shook houses and smashed panes of glass; we also read that the meteorite woke up the people of Biloxi, Miss., and Atlanta as well in its "boisterous transit."
The Audubon Park "Meteorite"
Sounded real enough, eh? It was just a joke. In reality, the alien-looking lump of rock and metal came from Alabama, not from space. It was oart of the World's Industrial & Cotton Centennial Exposition, which was held in the then-named Upper City Park (before it was renamed "Audubon Park.") Like its 1984 successor, the exposition was not as profitable as promoters had hoped it would be. When it was over, a public auction was held and almost everything was dismantled and hauled away. Except the chunk of iron ore from the Alabama exhibit, because it was too heavy to move. So they left it. Park officials considered blowing it up with dynamite, but rejected the idea. So there it sat. To this day, some residents believe it is a meteorite because "that's what my mama told me."
Not to let a fake meteorite steal his thunder, the well-meaning, but misguided Rev. Jesse Jackson is going to attempt to get black churches, black colleges and other organizations in cities like Atlanta, Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis to encourage their members to march on New Orleans on April first. As mentioned last week, this is a mis-guided attempt to stop the mayoral elections in New Orleans from happening on April 22nd. I mentioned in last week's update how ill-advised these protests are. Mayoral candidate Johnny Adriani put it even better in this open letter he published to Jackson last week:
March 21, 2006
Reverend Jessie Jackson
RainbowPUSH Coalition
C/O Jerry Thomas
930 East 50th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60615Via US Mail, Email
Dear Reverend Jackson:
History is the ultimate arbiter of the actions of men in time. And within time the motives and integrity of credible men are proven through their forthright service to those that they claim to represent. As you have seemingly elected to shoulder the plight of displaced New Orleanians your actions now will inevitably demonstrate your true character as either being a champion for the people or a detractor to the cause of Democracy. Certainly, I pray, that you are of the former category in your outcry for those New Orleanians who are currently displaced. Otherwise, my friend, if self-aggrandizement is your sole motive, your intentions will be etched upon the pages of History for those who will someday read about this particular moment of time.
As a resident of New Orleans I realize the gravity that the upcoming elections hold. Paramount to everything, these elections must be held to ensure that New Orleans can move forward and away from its current malingering state. Disenfranchisement is an obvious concern. Nevertheless, what must be weighed, at this moment, is what is best for the people of New Orleans. To mire the Democratic process down for the few over the many through Federal Litigation will be a larger injustice to New Orleans as a whole than to the few individuals who were unable to cast their ballot.
In my candor, I must truthfully admit to you, that my single greatest fear is the thought of voters being excluded in the process. Second to that fear is litigation that will hamstring the election process and allow the current situation in New Orleans to continue to deteriorate. Therefore I issue you the challenge to go beyond trumpeting the obvious dilemma and become involved in an attempt to resolve the issue at hand.
Attached to this letter you will find a series of letters to various individuals. In specific, letters to Norman Mineta, David Hughes and Stephen Gorman are requesting assistance from the United States Department of Transportation, Amtrak and Greyhound to provide transportation, free of charge, to displaced New Orleanians for the purpose of voting. All of us must work together to safeguard every New Orleanian of their right to vote.
I do wish to caution you in two regards. First, these letters will be made public and I will emphasize to the people my call for your assistance. Second, if you so choose to litigate the pending election, be rest-assured that I will intervene as a registered voter of Orleans Parish and make the intentions of my endeavor to provide transportation known to the Court.
We cannot allow New Orleans to remain stagnant by bogging the electoral process down in the Courts. You and I have a duty to Democracy and we must act diligently to preserve the rights of the people but we must also guarantee that those displaced may someday be able to return home.
I look forward to your response. You actions will speak volumes about your motives.
Cordially,
Johnny Adriani
I just hope that when the election is over, room is made for the opinions and sincere efforts Johnny has made to make New Orleans a better place for all of us.
Not to be outdone, of course, is our own Mayor Ray Nagin — who gave us all his early April Fool's Day present when he said "If a Category 5 hits us, probably the city will be gone and the levees will still be standing. The work they're doing is just incredible," of the work being done by the Army Corps of Engineers. Turns out, he must of been just kidding. Either that, or the White House is giving us their April Fool's Day joke by telling us that King George 2 was just kidding when, on September 15, 2005 he said "And tonight I also offer this pledge of the American people: Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives. And all who question the future of the Crescent City need to know there is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again." He must have been kidding, because today the White House revealed that repairing the levees would cost almost 3 times the original estimate, and (according to the Washington Post), reconstruction czar Donald Powell said "some areas of New Orleans may not be fully protected after reconstruction."
If only it were an April Fools joke. My bottom line on this is the following: Powell and Nagin can't both be right, and my money is on Powell. Nagin is either shooting off his mouth again to make such an absurd comment about the levees (in the face of what the White House just revealed), or he is deluded. Or perhaps his "team" is just that bad at informing him of the facts. No matter. He does not belong in office.
In a one-two punch of sorts, the afore-mentioned Donald Powell also said that it could take New Orleans as long as 25 years to recover. In an interview, he said uring homeowners and businesses back to the hurricane-ravaged city "depends on a lot of factors that, I think, are out of our control." Issues with housing, public safety and private investment are largely being decided by local authorities who Powell said "will be in control of their destiny." OK — and just how many options do the local officials have when the federal government won't spend what it takes to protect the area?
I'm going to Disney World.
No, really — I am.
This update is being written from Tampa, Florida where Janis and I are at the beginning of a two-week tour of Apple stores and user groups in Florida and North Carolina. On Thursday, April 6th we will be in Englewood, Florida for the Englewood Mac User Group meeting. That's close enough to Punta Gorda — where Charlie came ashore during the 2004 hurricane season — that we hope to take a quick driving tour to see how that area is doing. Perhaps we may be able to better glimpse into New Orleans' future by doing so. People in Florida have a slightly different reaction when they hear we are from New Orleans. Instead of that sympathetic "knowing" look, they grimace and say "Oooo, ow. I'm so sorry," as though they can share something with you — which, of course, they can.
Tomorrow Janis and I head to Orlando for two days at Disney World for some well-deserved R&R before hitting the trail for Miami on Monday. From then it is a presentation every day until 4/13.
- Officials say that even in the event of a Tropical Storm, New Orleans will be emptied. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Our house has certainly shown that it can weather at least up to a Category 3 storm without a problem. But the larger issue is that Janis and I would not be able to do our jobs if the power goes out for a significant amount of time. So regardless if whether we want to or not, the best choice may be for us to leave simply to protect our livlihood.
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