Krazy Katrina Kwote of the Day!!!!

[auntpolly]

We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." –Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal


See? I didn't even pick a Bush one! It just happens to be my personal favorite, at the moment! :teeth:

[catherine]

Is this guy for real! :rolleyes:

If a politician said that here, the powers that be would be calling for him to resign!

[yeartolate]

It would be one thing for him to say that out of the horrible tragedy we have an opportunity for a fresh start (or words to that effect)

But he is insinuating God cleaned up public housing at the expense of hundreds of innocent people....I believe God has a plan and most likely Rep. Richard Baker will not be included. :guilty:

[Geoff_M]

That's not as far out as you'd think. I heard a city planning export on NPR talking about this topic a week or so ago. A large portion of NO's poor were still concentrated in 60's era "housing projects". If I'm not mistaken they were mostly near the convention center. Many other large cities have recognized in recent years that concentrating the poor into such housing projects don't make matters better for the occupants or the city's police, schools, etc. Many cities have managed to shut down or minimize their "projects" in favor of more distributed low-income housing. NO had not managed to accomplish that. However, the planner on NPR said with a "clean slate" and federal dollars, NO now has a golden oppertunity to get rid of their "project ghettos" in favor of a more distributed approach where zoning would require that a certain percentage of housing units be built for low income residents. Sorry, but that is one "silver lining" to this tragedy.

As for the "God" reference... Hurricanes and other natural disasters are collectively also known as "Acts of God". That's a not an implication that such things are an act of malice.

[auntpolly]

That's not as far out as you'd think. I heard a city planning export on NPR talking about this topic a week or so ago. A large portion of NO's poor were still concentrated in 60's era "housing projects". If I'm not mistaken they were mostly near the convention center. Many other large cities have recognized in recent years that concentrating the poor into such housing projects don't make matters better for the occupants or the city's police, schools, etc. Many cities have managed to shut down or minimize their "projects" in favor of more distributed low-income housing. NO had not managed to accomplish that. However, the planner on NPR said with a "clean slate" and federal dollars, NO now has a golden oppertunity to get rid of their "project ghettos" in favor of a more distributed approach where zoning would require that a certain percentage of housing units be built for low income residents. Sorry, but that is one "silver lining" to this tradegy.

As for the "God" reference... Hurricanes and other natural disasters are collectively also known as "Acts of God". That's a not an implication that such things are an act of malice.

Oh, I'm sure that explanation is of great comfort to the homeless right now... :)

[Geoff_M]

Oh, I'm sure that explanation is of great comfort to the homeless right now... Just as I'm sure the Congressman's quote didn't ruin their otherwise fine day either... ;)

[yeartolate]

Sorry, it is still a tasteless comment made by a public official. It did not clean up public housing. It dessimated an entire community. Hundreds of lives were lost. Children are still missing their parents.

If he fails to see how his comment could be highly offensive, that speaks volumes.

[auntpolly]

Just as I'm sure the Congressman's quote didn't ruin their otherwise fine day either... ;)

I'm sure the quotable quote probably sent them from heartbroken and hopeless straight to really pissed off!

[Geoff_M]

I'm sure the quotable quote probably sent them from heartbroken and hopeless straight to really pissed off!I doubt it... I'd wager that most of the people stuck previously in NO's 60's style "projects" wanted to seem them "cleaned up" too. This isn't the manner anyone would choose, but were as before the funds and will were lacking to do anything about it, post-Katrina it's going to be a reality.

[auntpolly]

I doubt it... I'd wager that most of the people stuck previously in NO's 60's style "projects" wanted to seem them "cleaned up" too. This isn't the manner anyone would choose, but were as before the funds and will were lacking to do anything about it, post-Katrina it's going to be a reality.

Oh my oh my oh my! I didn't see or hear of many celebrationing homeless people; did you? All I saw was crying and screaming and desperation -- you must have been watching Fox or something!

Not the manner they'd choose? Uh, ya think? You think maybe they'd prefer their relatives and pets alive, and all they had in the world preserved? Nah, you're probably right -- they are probably grateful, really down deep!

[Bunch24]

I doubt it... I'd wager that most of the people stuck previously in NO's 60's style "projects" wanted to seem them "cleaned up" too. This isn't the manner anyone would choose, but were as before the funds and will were lacking to do anything about it, post-Katrina it's going to be a reality.

I didn't see this quote until now, but I did hear on one of our local channels a lady from New Orleans say basically the same thing. She was staying at the local shelter as a result of her apartment being destroyed. When asked what positives we could take out of this disaster, she said something to the effect of "Maybe now they'll clean up the projects and make them suitable to raise a family."

I've actually heard more than one person make this comment around here. I guess people not from Louisiana, or not real familiar with the ghettos of New Orleans, would certainly take offense to a statement like that. I don't view it as a slap in the face of the homeless.

Like it or not, the representative's comments aren't that far from the truth. The New Orleans "projects" haven't been updated in about 30 years and were simply put, an eyesore. This is an opportunity for the government to make the government housing more modern.

[auntpolly]

Like it or not, the representative's comments aren't that far from the truth. The New Orleans "projects" haven't been updated in about 30 years and were simply put, an eyesore. This is an opportunity for the government to make the government housing more modern.

I don't think you have to be from LA to know that people who just lost loved ones, pets, and all of their wordly things would not appreciate this comment at this time. Oh, I'm very sure there are people in LA who have wanted to see the projects gone -- I wouldn't doubt that at all. Trouble is, what we call "projects" many people call "home". Their "home" is gone.

Not much comfort that their eyesore of a home is gone forever.

[Geoff_M]

All I saw was crying and screaming and desperation -- you must have been watching Fox or something!No, not Fox... Actually it was things like this clip from ABC after Bush's speech: Video Link (http://www.jusspress.com/videolink.php?userid=25781&currentDate=20050916&currentTime=044024&showVideo=1)

There was also the poll that Bet posted (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2005/09/16/GR2005091600091.html) from the Washington Post that showed that 87% of evacuees said they thought the future was "hopeful". Sure there's lots of pain in the past for them, but they are holding out hope for the future for themselves and a better New Orleans down the road.

[auntpolly]

No, not Fox... Actually it was things like this clip from ABC after Bush's speech: Video Link (http://www.jusspress.com/videolink.php?userid=25781&currentDate=20050916&currentTime=044024&showVideo=1)

There was also the poll that Bet posted (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2005/09/16/GR2005091600091.html) from the Washington Post that showed that 87% of evacuees said they thought the future was "hopeful". Sure there's lots of pain in the past for them, but they are holding out hope for the future for themselves and a better New Orleans down the road.

Of course I'm really glad they are hopeful. What a testimony to human spirit. I'm still trying to figure out how this has anything to do with a guy making it seem like this tragedy was a was a positive thing.

[Geoff_M]

I'm still trying to figure out how this has anything to do with a guy making it seem like this tragedy was a was a positive thing.Most tragedies have some "positive" aspects of their outcomes. Al Gore's 2000 campaign manager, Donna Brazile, expressed a positive outcome today when she said she thinks New Orleans will be "bigger and brighter than ever" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091602167.html) in the wake of Katrina. Rep. Baker appears to be pointing to the fact that NO's long festering public housing problem will now, by force of nature (of an "act of God"), be finally addressed.

[Charade]

Oh, I'm sure that explanation is of great comfort to the homeless right now... :)


Hey, if I lived in a **** hole low income housing, I'd probably me more than glad for a fresh start no matter who cleaned it up. However, it's a tragedy that they lost all or most of their stuff. It's also sad that some didn't get out in time. But you have to admit that this is a silver lining in the midst of the tragic events.

[yeartolate]

Hey, if I lived in a **** hole low income housing, I'd probably me more than glad for a fresh start no matter who cleaned it up. However, it's a tragedy that they lost all or most of their stuff. It's also sad that some didn't get out in time. But you have to admit that this is a silver lining in the midst of the tragic events.

Do you consider their deceased friends and family "stuff"? I know you don't , but do you think that those who lost loved ones would have traded in old stuff and a family member for new stuff? :confused3

[arminnie]

Do you consider their deceased friends and family "stuff"? I know you don't , but do you think that those who lost loved ones would have traded in old stuff and a family member for new stuff? :confused3

The vast majority of evacuees do not have friends and family who perished in the hurricane. Yes - it was a HORRIBLE tragedy and way too many people suffered, but there are NOT tens of thousands dead like was originally projected - THANK GOODNESS.

And I don't believe that some of you have any idea who HIDEOUS these projects were for the people that lived there. Only marginally better than the superdome - only because they had running water most of the time.

I just don't know how to describe the pitiful conditions of these projects - the police were often afraid to go in - drugs and crime ran rampant. Nothing was ever fixed or cleaned. Most of the people living there were just poor decent people TRAPPED in horrible housing with a school system that was a total failure - victimized by a few bad seeds and public corruption.

I regularly visited a friend who lived 2 blocks from the projects and across the street from a middle school. It all looked like it had been condemned and abandoned 20 years ago.

Many of the schools had bathrooms with ONE working toilet and NO toilet paper. Corruption was rampant. The money just never seemed to get where it was needed. A group of us tried to organize a weekend to go in and clean and paint a school as volunteers - we were told no because the staff had to do it, but it is four years later and the staff never got around to it.

No one wanted the suffering and destruction that took place, but many who have been so frustrated on how to change things are looking at this as an opportunity to make things better.

This is not about stuff - it is about providing the poor a place where they can raise their children in a safe, clean environment with decent educational opportunities - something that was NOT available before.

[yeartolate]

The vast majority of evacuees do not have friends and family who perished in the hurricane. Yes - it was a HORRIBLE tragedy and way too many people suffered, but there are NOT tens of thousands dead like was originally projected - THANK GOODNESS.

Sorry, that does not make his quote any less tasteless to me. How would you feel about what he said if you lived in the projects and you lost your family? In those circumstances,how would you feel if your representitives told you that God cleaned up the projects?


Frankly, what remains to be seen is what they will do with the area. I don't really think they are going to let a vast majority of the poor back in brand spanking new up to date housing, do you? Somehow the word "gentrification" comes to mind. But I will keep an open mind.

[arminnie]

Frankly, what remains to be seen is what they will do with the area. I don't really think they are going to let a vast majority of the poor back in brand spanking new up to date housing, do you? Somehow the word "gentrification" comes to mind. But I will keep an open mind.

I personally believe that economic segregation is one of the worst things in America. I hope that that new housing will have people of all economic backgrounds. You can call it gentrification, but I prefer to call it economic de-segregation.

I lived in Foster City,CA, a relatively new city that literally had no old housing. I rented a very expensive apartment (with roommates). I often wondered how some people families (particularly single parent households) could afford to live there as it was so expensive.

It wasn't until I lived there for five years that I learned that several of my neighbors were low income and were in subsidized housing. It was none of my business, and I would never have known if one of them who was a friend hadn't told me.

They had the same apartments that people who paid full rent did and were treated the same. Their children went to the same schools. That's the way it should be.

It's relatively easy to make this happen. You just require developers to provide a certain number of low income units when they are rebuilding.

The WORST thing that could happen in New Orleans is for the housing to be rebuilt in such a manner as to isolate the poor again.

I don't know that I have a lot of hope though - New Orleans has been filled with corruption for so many decades. Ray Nagin may not be perfect, but I think he's the first non-crook they've had in my memory.

[yeartolate]

It's relatively easy to make this happen. You just require developers to provide a certain number of low income units when they are rebuilding.

The WORST thing that could happen in New Orleans is for the housing to be rebuilt in such a manner as to isolate the poor again.


I agree with alot you have said, but I guess what makes me wonder is how people seem to think that because their area is being rebuilt, it will automatically mean the poor will get shiny new up to date housing. Realistically, they will probably not build even a fraction of the amount of housing for the poor that they need - the remaining ones will likely be farmed out to other communities with various incentives to be the "new poor" for that community.

I pray that "God cleaning up the area" will end up meaning the poor will have more opportunities to succeed, but frankly, I do not think that prayer will be answered.

[Charade]

Do you consider their deceased friends and family "stuff"? I know you don't , but do you think that those who lost loved ones would have traded in old stuff and a family member for new stuff? :confused3


Of course not. I did say that it was sad that some didn't make it out. I meant no disrespect but this is an opportunity to break the cycle of generational poverty.

[dixipixi]

I guess we would all be in danger if God's sole purpose was to dish out punishments and "clean up messes".