Bicycle Tour
Yesterday, another volunteer, Christina, and I went on a bike tour of the area. I wanted to take a few photos and also get away from the pavement that has been my reality for the past week. The bikes were of course salvaged from the storm and conveniently enough, there is also a bike co-op in this community responsible for maintaining the rusted, storm-tossed human-powered vehicles. We also wanted to go down the street to one of the very few local places that is open for lunch to have some authentic fried southern food - catfish po-boys.
But of course the afternoon bike tour was unlike any one I have taken before. I don't think I need to tell everyone how absolutely devastating it is down here. St. Bernard Parish wasn't even the most hard hit and it is still overwhelming to see the debris, smashed vehicles, gutted houses and chaos that continue to exist in the streets. Although the main highway that we biked on is quite busy, very few of the streetlights are working. Signs are posted all along the road with gutting services, recovery operations, companies and individuals to contact for mold removal, sheetrocking, roofing etc.
Today, I talked to a contractor who is reinstalling electricity in homes that have already been inspected and deemed in adequate shape to rebuild. He is having a hard time, however, getting building permits as the city is talking about a moratorium on building. As you would imagine, there are many competing interests in the area. Many would rather see the lower-income districts like St. Bernard Parish and Ward Nine completely demolished...wouldn't a casino and some hotels be much better? And with only a fraction of the population back, and perhaps only every 10th house (if that) in a neighborhood occupied, what is the incentive to provide services like electricity and water to this smaller population? In fact, this man claimed that if they wanted to, they could turn on the electricity. Their intention, however, is to keep people away and dissuade them from coming back to this area. There is quite a battle ahead for the people of New Orleans. Mind-boggling issue and completely forgotten in the media...
But of course the afternoon bike tour was unlike any one I have taken before. I don't think I need to tell everyone how absolutely devastating it is down here. St. Bernard Parish wasn't even the most hard hit and it is still overwhelming to see the debris, smashed vehicles, gutted houses and chaos that continue to exist in the streets. Although the main highway that we biked on is quite busy, very few of the streetlights are working. Signs are posted all along the road with gutting services, recovery operations, companies and individuals to contact for mold removal, sheetrocking, roofing etc.
Today, I talked to a contractor who is reinstalling electricity in homes that have already been inspected and deemed in adequate shape to rebuild. He is having a hard time, however, getting building permits as the city is talking about a moratorium on building. As you would imagine, there are many competing interests in the area. Many would rather see the lower-income districts like St. Bernard Parish and Ward Nine completely demolished...wouldn't a casino and some hotels be much better? And with only a fraction of the population back, and perhaps only every 10th house (if that) in a neighborhood occupied, what is the incentive to provide services like electricity and water to this smaller population? In fact, this man claimed that if they wanted to, they could turn on the electricity. Their intention, however, is to keep people away and dissuade them from coming back to this area. There is quite a battle ahead for the people of New Orleans. Mind-boggling issue and completely forgotten in the media...
posted by Kareen at
8:35 PM
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