It is now about 22 months since hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. I was recently in New Orleans for the first time and had plenty to see. The city is still very much in a state of devastation. But there has also been a lot of progress.
In this post, I'd like to share some pictures I took when I was there and some facts and figures I've come across that help illustrate the current situation in the city.
New Orleans
The Catch-22 of New Orleans Transit
Since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, public transit in New Orleans has struggled to rebound. With few riders, service expansions can't be justified. But with diminished service, fewer view transit as a viable option.
Next American City
Katrina's Homeless Still Searching for Housing
Housing -- or the lack of it -- remains a major issue in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Mother Jones
Louisianans Flee Coast As Hurricane Hits Land
With Hurricane Gustav reaching land Monday, nearly 2 million people have been evacuated from coastal Louisiana. The evacuation is being hailed as a vast improvement from the effort three years ago during Hurricane Katrina, but some residents remain.
New Orleans Times Picayune
Learning from Katrina, Three Years Later
Three years later, Hurricane Katrina has had lasting effects on New Orleans. It's also taught America some lessons about how to react to natural disasters -- and how not to.
Governing
New Anchor For New Orleans
New Orleans officials say they have enough grants and private funds to move forward on a "Great Lawn" park for the city, functioning as a gathering place and a link to other attractions.
New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans Streets Updated
This story from NPR looks at a new bike lane in New Orleans, and other efforts the city is taking to update its street infrastructure.
NPR
Is New Building Ever Green?
Chevron is moving its New Orleans offices from downtown to a brand new, "eco-friendly" campus- opening up the discussion of whether new construction is ever greener than staying put.
New Orleans Business News
Homelessness Continues to Plague New Orleans
By some counts, the number of homeless people in New Orleans has more than doubled since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Aid workers are hoping a bill in Congress will bring extra aid to the struggling city.
The New York Times
New Orleans Small Business Rising from the Ruins
As proposals for big-box retail projects mount in New Orleans, many small business owners who are returning to the city worry about the coming competition. A documentary is currently being filmed about the recovering city's business atmosphere.
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Hurdles and Speedbumps Slow New Orleans Recovery
One year after the city announced its broad redevelopment plans, many are unhappy with the rate of recovery in New Orleans.
The New York Times
Rebuilding New Orleans by Rebuilding the Education System
This report from NPR looks at the efforts of one educator to help rebuild communities in New Orleans by rebuilding the city's charter school system.
NPR
Can the Corps Do Enough for New Orleans?
The vast levee system under construction by the Army Corps of Engineers may not be sufficient to protect New Orleans as the climate continues to change.
Grist
The Movie Star and the Power of Architecture
Actor Brad Pitt's efforts to rebuild housing in New Orleans are not just flashy PR, but rather a reminder that architecture can make a difference, according to this article from Metropolis.
Metropolis Magazine
New Orleans' Homeless: From Tent City to Barracks
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has a new solution for the homeless people living in the tent city near the French Quarter: Move them into barracks.
Raw Story
New Orleans Today -- In Pictures And Numbers
Mon, 06/11/2007 - 21:45
Once Again, Planners Descend On New Orleans
Fri, 06/01/2007 - 08:36
It’s been said before, but it’s worth repeating – the reconstruction of New Orleans is both a planner’s dream – and a planner’s nightmare. Even before the flood waters subsided, planners and architects from around the globe descended on the Crescent City to give their take on the road to recovery. Close to two years later, a host of plans lay in the wake of the constant ebb and flow of professionals in and out of the city. Local residents are exasperated with the proposed plans and the progress of the recovery. Meanwhile, the rest of the country has seemingly lost interest.
Murder or Traffic Fatalities: Which is Worse?
Tue, 02/27/2007 - 12:03
New Orleans is experiencing a crime wave. High murder rates in the first two months of 2007 have made national attention. Anderson Cooper of CNN has been following this story. So far this year he has devoted two hour-long shows to this topic. I live in central New Orleans and my biggest complaint about the city is the high crime rate. I don’t think our city will recover if we fail to address this most serious issue. Crime makes you ask yourself – should I move to the suburbs where it’s safer and commute? But being a transportation planner, I can’t help but follow-up that question with – If I spend a lot more time driving will my exposure to dieing in a car accident increase? So which is worse - murder or traffic fatalities?
The End of People Power Planning?
Tue, 02/27/2007 - 07:39
Thousands of New Orleanians have participated in planning their post-Katrina future – likely more than in any single American city-planning effort, ever. Unfortunately, the New Orleans experience definitively demonstrates the limits of orthodox community-focused planning, the kind that has been neighborhood-based and consensus-driven.
