A friend of mine Bob Lintott (Who was on my radio talk show the October 
before last, attended my reunion & went to the same boarding school as me in 
Wilhelmshaven, Germany) from New Orleans has summed up his current situation 
& the current state of affairs in New Orleans....thought you might be 
interested in a first hand real update....his area was not the worst 
hit...but he got hit twice.

Jon~

 - Katrina repairs - almost back to pre storm at our house. The stuff you 
saw on TV is, as with much of the reporting that we've seen, skewed to wring 
as much sob and sympathy, thus viewing ratings and advertising revenue but 
this time with a new twist! Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans has been 
refusing interviews with the media hounds who slagged him off - and who can 
blame him? This has pissed off the sob and sensation brigade and, in the 
absence of real news from the front line (which they flagrantly did not 
report during the storm, hence Nagin's snub), they are putting their own 
spin on events. My little report here is closer to reality!

The pre storm population of the area was about 1.5 million souls, about 
500,000 of whom lived in New Orleans city. About 1/3 of the population of 
New Orleans city has so far returned. These people are working to renovate, 
repair and restore their homes. About 2/3 of the city has yet to have basic 
services restored. It is incorrect to assume that the 1/3 who have returned 
have power, water, sewage and so on. Contrary to the sob and sensation, the 
severe storm damage covers the entire economic spectrum not just poor blacks 
from the lower 9th ward. The Lake Front area had some of the most expensive 
real estate in New Orleans. It is still severely damaged and bereft of 
power, water and sewage - and people. The city's entire infrastructure is 
being systematically inspected and repaired and, as people return, services 
will be reconnected. Until there is a clear picture of how many WILL return, 
there are more important things on which to spend the limited funds 
currently available (government is still discussing and has yet to actually 
appropriate any money!). The reports do not mention that even if the 
available funds were unlimited, none of the restoration of services or 
rebuilding of homes can occur unless and until there are people here to do 
it! Thus, the rebuilding of the city is a progressive thing with funds and 
effort being expended as needed and as available. Not wishing in any way to 
trivialise their situation, it is unfortunate that more (advertising) money 
can be earned from sensationalising the 'plight' of 'poor blacks' - many of 
whom did not own the houses they lived in in the first place rather than 
actually reporting what is happening and why. For the most part, people are 
getting on with their lives. This is not news-worthy! This, incidentally, is 
also why we only hear in-depth reporting of the number of American 
casualties in Iraq rather than what they died achieving or what is actually 
happening to and in Iraqi society - NOBODY HERE KNOWS WHETHER ANYTHING HAS 
BEEN ACHIEVED IN REAL TERMS OR NOT, ONLY HOW MANY HAVE DIED DOING IT. Free 
press.......MY ARSE!

Please, the plight of people from the lower 9th ward is sad and, in some 
cases desperate. Many have lost everything they owned. I know this BECAUSE 
MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND LIVED THERE PRIOR TO KATRINA. Guess 
what.......SHOCK, HORROR..........THEY ARE WHITE! Their house is also gutted 
and they lost everything they owned - what the storm did not destroy, the 
fetid water, mould, humidity and insects took care of in the six weeks it 
took for the waters to recede. Their electricity was re-connected just last 
week. They have running water now, too - but no real pressure yet because 
the city's fresh water system was devastated by the storm. They do not have 
sewage treatment yet. The gut-wrenching stench (did the media mention that?) 
which pervaded as the waters receded has now mostly gone (either that or 
we've become inured to it!). They are, however, working diligently (as are 
many, many others - both black and white) to rebuild their home. There are 
armed military patrols. Their present function is to deter looters. THERE 
ARE NO ARMED MILITARY PATROLS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THEIR HOMES. 
However, because there is no sewage system and because many houses are 
severely damaged and still do not have water or power, the city government 
does not want people actually living in them because TYPHOID, CHOLERA, 
MALARIA, YELLOW FEVER and other nasty little distractions actually 
proliferate in our climate given the opportunity and, surprise surprise, the 
hospitals here were severely damaged, too. Bet the bloody media didn't tell 
you that! Bet they also didn't mention the considerable number of evacuees 
who have set up homes, found work, found schools which actually educate (New 
Orleans had the worst public school system in the nation) in the places they 
evacuated to and have NO INTENTION of returning, their current situation 
being far better than that which they left!

A word about the military patrols. Immediately after the storm, nobody was 
allowed into the area unless they were part of the emergency services 
involved in search and rescue. Remember, armed gangs were roaming the 
streets, looting and shooting. There was no power. Noxious stuff, snakes and 
alligators were in the water and could have been deadly to the unaware or 
unprepared. The emergency services needed clear access to work efficiently. 
The less damaged areas (mostly outside the city, such as ours) were the 
first to be repopulated - restoring basic services was easier than in the 
city itself, most of which is below sea level. These outer areas are now the 
most populated, in some parts up to about 80% of pre storm levels. There are 
still areas with no traffic lights - and the ensuing traffic chaos here is 
unbelievable! There is no public transport to speak of (nobody to staff the 
system yet - other, more important things to do!). For the most part, the 
military patrols have been courteous and sympathetic - many soldiers are 
black, too - did the media mention that? These guys were all doing a job 
enforcing what common sense makes necessary - and have, in my opinion, done 
a bloody good one. I don't know anyone who views their continued (and now 
much reduced) presence here with any degree of negativity! There are many 
who welcomed the help provided by passing patrols - moving heavy 
obstructions, clearing debris and so on. Undoubtedly though, there were a 
few 'incidents' for the media to report whilst ignoring the overwhelming 
success of their efforts to enforce law and order and to control traffic! 
Presently, our murder rate (which was unbelievably high) is less than half a 
percent of pre storm levels and crime, drugs and so on - on which parts of 
the city previously thrived - are similarly reduced. Overall, their presence 
here has been and continues to be VERY welcome! This is presently the safest 
city in the country!

The pictures you see are probably close to reality. There are still vast 
areas that look like a war zone. However, the restoration is necessarily 
progressive - the whole area will be cleaned up in due course. Whether 
houses are rebuilt or land put to other use ultimately depends upon the 
number of people who eventually return.......which comes first, the chicken 
or the egg? Build houses in this climate and, unless people live in them, 
they will surely rot. An exercise in utter futility! THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF 
RACE OR CLASS, it is just sheer, practical common sense.

Sermon over!

Bob

Makes for interesting reading

Jon~

"JonDown"  wrote in message
news:8gsCf.15269$ft2.279541@news20.bellglobal.com...
> A friend of mine Bob Lintott (Who was on my radio talk show the October
> before last, attended my reunion & went to the same boarding school as me
in
> Wilhelmshaven, Germany) from New Orleans has summed up his current
situation
> & the current state of affairs in New Orleans....thought you might be
> interested in a first hand real update....his area was not the worst
> hit...but he got hit twice.
>
> Jon~
>
>  - Katrina repairs - almost back to pre storm at our house. The stuff you
> saw on TV is, as with much of the reporting that we've seen, skewed to
wring
> as much sob and sympathy, thus viewing ratings and advertising revenue but
> this time with a new twist! Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans has been
> refusing interviews with the media hounds who slagged him off - and who
can
> blame him? This has pissed off the sob and sensation brigade and, in the
> absence of real news from the front line (which they flagrantly did not
> report during the storm, hence Nagin's snub), they are putting their own
> spin on events. My little report here is closer to reality!
>
> The pre storm population of the area was about 1.5 million souls, about
> 500,000 of whom lived in New Orleans city. About 1/3 of the population of
> New Orleans city has so far returned. These people are working to
renovate,
> repair and restore their homes. About 2/3 of the city has yet to have
basic
> services restored. It is incorrect to assume that the 1/3 who have
returned
> have power, water, sewage and so on. Contrary to the sob and sensation,
the
> severe storm damage covers the entire economic spectrum not just poor
blacks
> from the lower 9th ward. The Lake Front area had some of the most
expensive
> real estate in New Orleans. It is still severely damaged and bereft of
> power, water and sewage - and people. The city's entire infrastructure is
> being systematically inspected and repaired and, as people return,
services
> will be reconnected. Until there is a clear picture of how many WILL
return,
> there are more important things on which to spend the limited funds
> currently available (government is still discussing and has yet to
actually
> appropriate any money!). The reports do not mention that even if the
> available funds were unlimited, none of the restoration of services or
> rebuilding of homes can occur unless and until there are people here to do
> it! Thus, the rebuilding of the city is a progressive thing with funds and
> effort being expended as needed and as available. Not wishing in any way
to
> trivialise their situation, it is unfortunate that more (advertising)
money
> can be earned from sensationalising the 'plight' of 'poor blacks' - many
of
> whom did not own the houses they lived in in the first place rather than
> actually reporting what is happening and why. For the most part, people
are
> getting on with their lives. This is not news-worthy! This, incidentally,
is
> also why we only hear in-depth reporting of the number of American
> casualties in Iraq rather than what they died achieving or what is
actually
> happening to and in Iraqi society - NOBODY HERE KNOWS WHETHER ANYTHING HAS
> BEEN ACHIEVED IN REAL TERMS OR NOT, ONLY HOW MANY HAVE DIED DOING IT. Free
> press.......MY ARSE!
>
> Please, the plight of people from the lower 9th ward is sad and, in some
> cases desperate. Many have lost everything they owned. I know this BECAUSE
> MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND LIVED THERE PRIOR TO KATRINA. Guess
> what.......SHOCK, HORROR..........THEY ARE WHITE! Their house is also
gutted
> and they lost everything they owned - what the storm did not destroy, the
> fetid water, mould, humidity and insects took care of in the six weeks it
> took for the waters to recede. Their electricity was re-connected just
last
> week. They have running water now, too - but no real pressure yet because
> the city's fresh water system was devastated by the storm. They do not
have
> sewage treatment yet. The gut-wrenching stench (did the media mention
that?)
> which pervaded as the waters receded has now mostly gone (either that or
> we've become inured to it!). They are, however, working diligently (as are
> many, many others - both black and white) to rebuild their home. There are
> armed military patrols. Their present function is to deter looters. THERE
> ARE NO ARMED MILITARY PATROLS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THEIR HOMES.
> However, because there is no sewage system and because many houses are
> severely damaged and still do not have water or power, the city government
> does not want people actually living in them because TYPHOID, CHOLERA,
> MALARIA, YELLOW FEVER and other nasty little distractions actually
> proliferate in our climate given the opportunity and, surprise surprise,
the
> hospitals here were severely damaged, too. Bet the bloody media didn't
tell
> you that! Bet they also didn't mention the considerable number of evacuees
> who have set up homes, found work, found schools which actually educate
(New
> Orleans had the worst public school system in the nation) in the places
they
> evacuated to and have NO INTENTION of returning, their current situation
> being far better than that which they left!
>
> A word about the military patrols. Immediately after the storm, nobody was
> allowed into the area unless they were part of the emergency services
> involved in search and rescue. Remember, armed gangs were roaming the
> streets, looting and shooting. There was no power. Noxious stuff, snakes
and
> alligators were in the water and could have been deadly to the unaware or
> unprepared. The emergency services needed clear access to work
efficiently.
> The less damaged areas (mostly outside the city, such as ours) were the
> first to be repopulated - restoring basic services was easier than in the
> city itself, most of which is below sea level. These outer areas are now
the
> most populated, in some parts up to about 80% of pre storm levels. There
are
> still areas with no traffic lights - and the ensuing traffic chaos here is
> unbelievable! There is no public transport to speak of (nobody to staff
the
> system yet - other, more important things to do!). For the most part, the
> military patrols have been courteous and sympathetic - many soldiers are
> black, too - did the media mention that? These guys were all doing a job
> enforcing what common sense makes necessary - and have, in my opinion,
done
> a bloody good one. I don't know anyone who views their continued (and now
> much reduced) presence here with any degree of negativity! There are many
> who welcomed the help provided by passing patrols - moving heavy
> obstructions, clearing debris and so on. Undoubtedly though, there were a
> few 'incidents' for the media to report whilst ignoring the overwhelming
> success of their efforts to enforce law and order and to control traffic!
> Presently, our murder rate (which was unbelievably high) is less than half
a
> percent of pre storm levels and crime, drugs and so on - on which parts of
> the city previously thrived - are similarly reduced. Overall, their
presence
> here has been and continues to be VERY welcome! This is presently the
safest
> city in the country!
>
> The pictures you see are probably close to reality. There are still vast
> areas that look like a war zone. However, the restoration is necessarily
> progressive - the whole area will be cleaned up in due course. Whether
> houses are rebuilt or land put to other use ultimately depends upon the
> number of people who eventually return.......which comes first, the
chicken
> or the egg? Build houses in this climate and, unless people live in them,
> they will surely rot. An exercise in utter futility! THIS IS NOT A MATTER
OF
> RACE OR CLASS, it is just sheer, practical common sense.
>
> Sermon over!
>
> Bob
>
> Makes for interesting reading
>
:(
My family over there had a self built gorgeous holiday home on the coast.
The house - what remains of it will never be fit to live in and their
possessions+ boats +jet skiis have all disappeared.
They were well insured and not on vacation at the time so they consider
themselves fortunate, even so, heartbreaking to see years of hard work down
the drain.

Hello Jon
I chap called Hal Turner put an entirely different spin to what went on and 
the films that I saw after the event including the superdome fiasco and the 
lies spieled by the mayor ie escape coaches his alleged parents in danger 
etc.
make me understand the reluctance of the authorities to pump money in.

                               ......................Leslie


"Lis Keard"  wrote in message 
news:43v8jtF1pkqdbU1@individual.net...
>
> "JonDown"  wrote in message
> news:8gsCf.15269$ft2.279541@news20.bellglobal.com...
>> A friend of mine Bob Lintott (Who was on my radio talk show the October
>> before last, attended my reunion & went to the same boarding school as me
> in
>> Wilhelmshaven, Germany) from New Orleans has summed up his current
> situation
>> & the current state of affairs in New Orleans....thought you might be
>> interested in a first hand real update....his area was not the worst
>> hit...but he got hit twice.
>>
>> Jon~
>>
>>  - Katrina repairs - almost back to pre storm at our house. The stuff you
>> saw on TV is, as with much of the reporting that we've seen, skewed to
> wring
>> as much sob and sympathy, thus viewing ratings and advertising revenue 
>> but
>> this time with a new twist! Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans has been
>> refusing interviews with the media hounds who slagged him off - and who
> can
>> blame him? This has pissed off the sob and sensation brigade and, in the
>> absence of real news from the front line (which they flagrantly did not
>> report during the storm, hence Nagin's snub), they are putting their own
>> spin on events. My little report here is closer to reality!
>>
>> The pre storm population of the area was about 1.5 million souls, about
>> 500,000 of whom lived in New Orleans city. About 1/3 of the population of
>> New Orleans city has so far returned. These people are working to
> renovate,
>> repair and restore their homes. About 2/3 of the city has yet to have
> basic
>> services restored. It is incorrect to assume that the 1/3 who have
> returned
>> have power, water, sewage and so on. Contrary to the sob and sensation,
> the
>> severe storm damage covers the entire economic spectrum not just poor
> blacks
>> from the lower 9th ward. The Lake Front area had some of the most
> expensive
>> real estate in New Orleans. It is still severely damaged and bereft of
>> power, water and sewage - and people. The city's entire infrastructure is
>> being systematically inspected and repaired and, as people return,
> services
>> will be reconnected. Until there is a clear picture of how many WILL
> return,
>> there are more important things on which to spend the limited funds
>> currently available (government is still discussing and has yet to
> actually
>> appropriate any money!). The reports do not mention that even if the
>> available funds were unlimited, none of the restoration of services or
>> rebuilding of homes can occur unless and until there are people here to 
>> do
>> it! Thus, the rebuilding of the city is a progressive thing with funds 
>> and
>> effort being expended as needed and as available. Not wishing in any way
> to
>> trivialise their situation, it is unfortunate that more (advertising)
> money
>> can be earned from sensationalising the 'plight' of 'poor blacks' - many
> of
>> whom did not own the houses they lived in in the first place rather than
>> actually reporting what is happening and why. For the most part, people
> are
>> getting on with their lives. This is not news-worthy! This, incidentally,
> is
>> also why we only hear in-depth reporting of the number of American
>> casualties in Iraq rather than what they died achieving or what is
> actually
>> happening to and in Iraqi society - NOBODY HERE KNOWS WHETHER ANYTHING 
>> HAS
>> BEEN ACHIEVED IN REAL TERMS OR NOT, ONLY HOW MANY HAVE DIED DOING IT. 
>> Free
>> press.......MY ARSE!
>>
>> Please, the plight of people from the lower 9th ward is sad and, in some
>> cases desperate. Many have lost everything they owned. I know this 
>> BECAUSE
>> MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND LIVED THERE PRIOR TO KATRINA. Guess
>> what.......SHOCK, HORROR..........THEY ARE WHITE! Their house is also
> gutted
>> and they lost everything they owned - what the storm did not destroy, the
>> fetid water, mould, humidity and insects took care of in the six weeks it
>> took for the waters to recede. Their electricity was re-connected just
> last
>> week. They have running water now, too - but no real pressure yet because
>> the city's fresh water system was devastated by the storm. They do not
> have
>> sewage treatment yet. The gut-wrenching stench (did the media mention
> that?)
>> which pervaded as the waters receded has now mostly gone (either that or
>> we've become inured to it!). They are, however, working diligently (as 
>> are
>> many, many others - both black and white) to rebuild their home. There 
>> are
>> armed military patrols. Their present function is to deter looters. THERE
>> ARE NO ARMED MILITARY PATROLS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THEIR HOMES.
>> However, because there is no sewage system and because many houses are
>> severely damaged and still do not have water or power, the city 
>> government
>> does not want people actually living in them because TYPHOID, CHOLERA,
>> MALARIA, YELLOW FEVER and other nasty little distractions actually
>> proliferate in our climate given the opportunity and, surprise surprise,
> the
>> hospitals here were severely damaged, too. Bet the bloody media didn't
> tell
>> you that! Bet they also didn't mention the considerable number of 
>> evacuees
>> who have set up homes, found work, found schools which actually educate
> (New
>> Orleans had the worst public school system in the nation) in the places
> they
>> evacuated to and have NO INTENTION of returning, their current situation
>> being far better than that which they left!
>>
>> A word about the military patrols. Immediately after the storm, nobody 
>> was
>> allowed into the area unless they were part of the emergency services
>> involved in search and rescue. Remember, armed gangs were roaming the
>> streets, looting and shooting. There was no power. Noxious stuff, snakes
> and
>> alligators were in the water and could have been deadly to the unaware or
>> unprepared. The emergency services needed clear access to work
> efficiently.
>> The less damaged areas (mostly outside the city, such as ours) were the
>> first to be repopulated - restoring basic services was easier than in the
>> city itself, most of which is below sea level. These outer areas are now
> the
>> most populated, in some parts up to about 80% of pre storm levels. There
> are
>> still areas with no traffic lights - and the ensuing traffic chaos here 
>> is
>> unbelievable! There is no public transport to speak of (nobody to staff
> the
>> system yet - other, more important things to do!). For the most part, the
>> military patrols have been courteous and sympathetic - many soldiers are
>> black, too - did the media mention that? These guys were all doing a job
>> enforcing what common sense makes necessary - and have, in my opinion,
> done
>> a bloody good one. I don't know anyone who views their continued (and now
>> much reduced) presence here with any degree of negativity! There are many
>> who welcomed the help provided by passing patrols - moving heavy
>> obstructions, clearing debris and so on. Undoubtedly though, there were a
>> few 'incidents' for the media to report whilst ignoring the overwhelming
>> success of their efforts to enforce law and order and to control traffic!
>> Presently, our murder rate (which was unbelievably high) is less than 
>> half
> a
>> percent of pre storm levels and crime, drugs and so on - on which parts 
>> of
>> the city previously thrived - are similarly reduced. Overall, their
> presence
>> here has been and continues to be VERY welcome! This is presently the
> safest
>> city in the country!
>>
>> The pictures you see are probably close to reality. There are still vast
>> areas that look like a war zone. However, the restoration is necessarily
>> progressive - the whole area will be cleaned up in due course. Whether
>> houses are rebuilt or land put to other use ultimately depends upon the
>> number of people who eventually return.......which comes first, the
> chicken
>> or the egg? Build houses in this climate and, unless people live in them,
>> they will surely rot. An exercise in utter futility! THIS IS NOT A MATTER
> OF
>> RACE OR CLASS, it is just sheer, practical common sense.
>>
>> Sermon over!
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> Makes for interesting reading
>>
> :(
> My family over there had a self built gorgeous holiday home on the coast.
> The house - what remains of it will never be fit to live in and their
> possessions+ boats +jet skiis have all disappeared.
> They were well insured and not on vacation at the time so they consider
> themselves fortunate, even so, heartbreaking to see years of hard work 
> down
> the drain.
>
>
>