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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 11:33:59
And in your communications to your Congressional members.
The Bush administration seems to have drawn a line in the sand, and that line could prove to be fatal or at least crippling to this city.
I am as responsible and as insistent that others be as well as anyone, but the idea that the only homeowners who should be helped if they didn't have flood insurance are those who lived outside the flood plain will have lasting consequences to the city at large. Yes, I hate seeing federal dollars go to those who should have bought flood insurance but didn't, but if you look at the consequences that only bailing out the 20,000 homes that lived outside the flood plain and leaving the estimated 200,000 or more homes that were inside the flood plain and uninsured will have on the city as a whole, perhaps it could be seen as bailing out the city and the people who did buy flood insurance as well. As it stands now, people who wish to stay will likely have to build in the midst of wide areas of blighted housing. The Baker bill was our way of allowing people to rebuild in areas where there will be sufficient population to provide city services from an already poor and now impoverished city, and to avoid the jack-o-lantern affect of a few rebuilt houses in the midst of blight.
There could be provisions added to the Baker bill such that anyone in the City of New Orleans would have to provide proof of flood insurance when paying their tax bills, similar to proof of auto insurance requirements, so that in the future people will be forced to acquire flood insurance. Baker is more than willing to make whatever concessions the administration and the legislative bodies think are necessary.
With the other major necessity still outstanding being better levee protection and coastal preservation (much cheaper than having this happen again, I assure you).
Posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 11:36:13
In reply to Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts, posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 11:33:59
To be clear, I'm not sure of the actual numbers. I'm just repeating what has been reported. But the overall idea is the same. There are enormous sections of the city that don't look much different now than they did right after the water went down. New Orleans has to build on a smaller footprint, and those hard decisions will require federal support.
Posted by Bobby on February 5, 2006, at 16:19:00
In reply to Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts, posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 11:33:59
I will----and your family too.
Posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 17:01:56
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Dinah, posted by Bobby on February 5, 2006, at 16:19:00
Thanks Bobby.
What's going on in this area has a huge impact on everyone in the area, and our lives have been changed on a basic level forever, I think. Even though we weren't flooded.
Posted by alexandra_k on February 5, 2006, at 19:10:57
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Bobby, posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 17:01:56
(((((Dinah)))))))
still in my thoughts...
i won't be writing to congress or whoever... but in my thoughts.
i hope people do get help. whether they have insurance or not... some people... insurance isn't so cheap...
i'm sorry this had turned into such a long drawn out ordeal.
:-(
Posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 20:49:06
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Dinah, posted by alexandra_k on February 5, 2006, at 19:10:57
Thanks Alexandra.
Actually, our city has received the message that help from our own government will be limited, and is going hat in hand to the governments of other countries.
It's ironic, isn't it?
Posted by AuntieMel on February 6, 2006, at 8:29:08
In reply to Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts, posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 11:33:59
I don't live in a flood plane - but this house and the one before it are close to bayous. We've always had flood insurance "just in case."
Under normal circumstances I would (gritting teeth while saying this) agree with the administration. If people without insurance were to be paid as if they did have insurance then what would be the incentive to be insured?
But these aren't normal circumstances. The flooding wasn't due to normal rising water - it was due to the failure of poorly (government) built and maintained infrastructure. Saying 'tough luck' to New Orleans residents would be the same as saying 'tough luck' to people who lost homes bacause of a dam break or similar thing.
But - when it's rebuilt can we send your gang wars back? <grin>
Posted by cricket on February 6, 2006, at 12:09:10
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Bobby, posted by Dinah on February 5, 2006, at 17:01:56
(((((Dinah)))))
You are in my thoughts often.
>
> What's going on in this area has a huge impact on everyone in the area, and our lives have been changed on a basic level forever, I think. Even though we weren't flooded.Funny that people felt the same way after 9/11 in NYC. That our lives would be changed forever. And certainly if you lost a family member or someone close that's true. But now 5 1/2 years later it is amazing in some ways how back to normal almost everything is.
Posted by Dinah on February 7, 2006, at 16:57:47
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Dinah, posted by AuntieMel on February 6, 2006, at 8:29:08
I agree. :(
I think that's only fair. But from what I hear, we're already getting back some of our drug trade, with a few newcomers added.
Posted by Dinah on February 7, 2006, at 17:00:00
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts, posted by cricket on February 6, 2006, at 12:09:10
I hope so. It hardly seems possible. The damage is so widespread just in terms of area covered that's it's hard to even conceive of what's involved.
Posted by AuntieMel on February 7, 2006, at 17:04:45
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » AuntieMel, posted by Dinah on February 7, 2006, at 16:57:47
I had just seen an article about a rather unsavory character who had been charged with murder twice, both times got bail - witnesses suddenly didn't see anything and charges were dropped.
We've got him here now.
Where can I find info on the Baker bill? I'll email my reps.
Posted by Dinah on February 7, 2006, at 21:57:37
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » Dinah, posted by AuntieMel on February 7, 2006, at 17:04:45
Unfortunately you probably got a lot like him. Your city graciously opened its doors to more evacuees than any other, and with the good come the problems too. But I definitely have heard the criminal element is making their way back home.
Here's the Baker bill summary.
http://baker.house.gov/html/news_item.cfm?id=519
I understand our governor's proposed a smaller version with the community block grant money in this week's special session. And that levee consolidation is being opposed locally (there's a news flash).
And that our governor's threatening to veto new offshore oil leases.
I also hear some parish officials from St. Bernard got tired of waiting for FEMA trailers and "commandeered" some.
Sigh. We're a city without much hope and without much to lose, I fear. I just hope it doesn't backfire.
Posted by Dinah on February 17, 2006, at 13:41:54
In reply to Re: Please keep New Orleans in your thoughts » AuntieMel, posted by Dinah on February 7, 2006, at 21:57:37
We got additional funding that should enable us to offer a statewide program similar to that suggested by the Baker bill.
Not only do I know people personally who will be economically saved by the plan, but it should (if administered properly) do a lot to make New Orleans a viable community.
Posted by James K on February 17, 2006, at 14:09:25
In reply to Good news for once!, posted by Dinah on February 17, 2006, at 13:41:54
I hope this pulls through. Texas didn't get their requests in on time for some funding.
I've had a chance to talk to some friends who've been over there, and have a better perspective than tv could ever show.
One guy has been working to save art in conjuction with our musueam, my best friend family house was full to the second floor. They were on the other side of the Lake P. Another guy spends his weekends maintaining pumps. He works all weekend so he can get back to his kids. It's dark, this is the no power parts just generators and scarey, but has run into nothing but niceness.
Nothing you haven't seen or heard, but it still is a little beyond comprehension.
God bless you
James K
Posted by Dinah on February 17, 2006, at 14:19:19
In reply to Wonderful » Dinah, posted by James K on February 17, 2006, at 14:09:25
Thanks James.
Sometimes I think even I don't have a really good grasp of it. It's hard to get your brain around, even if you have some familiarity with the neighborhoods. I've tried to be respectful and not drive into the worst hit areas, but I also wonder if it would help me be more compassionate if I did. I've talked to lots of people who have, and were changed by it. And of course I know so many people who lost everything. Maybe it's easier to picture the entire area and realize the small number of areas that weren't hurt badly. Just the original areas that were settled a hundred or so years ago. I think if most people thought of their cities circa 1900 and realized that those were the only areas not devastated, that would give a better idea of what happened. (Other than the westbank and some western suburbs).
Thanks for understanding.
This is the end of the thread.
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