In New Orleans’ Mud, A Ward Determined Not To Slip Away

Like the threads of a sweater that keep the whole from unraveling, the Lower Ninth Ward was woven together by a network rich in family history, social connections, and proximity to relatives and friends. Yet in spite of the allegiance residents have for the Lower Ninth, business and city leaders have targeted the community for major bulldozing, asserting that its location at the lowest part of the Mississippi River flood plain puts it inevitably in harm’s way. The idea is fiercely resisted. Residents say the idea that tearing down standing homes is necessary is a ruse.

Thanks to Keith Schneider