The New Orleans projects suffer from a stigma which I think is well represented by these guys, yuh-hurd-me?
While the knuckleheads represent a small percentage of the given population for any of the Big Four that are being considered for demolition (CJ Peete/Magnolia, Lafitte, BW Cooper, and St. Bernard), it is not really debatable that they reign with an influence much greater than that of the majority working poor who reside in the projects, those who ideally most of us would like to see aided in a country as rich as this one.
It has been proved out this year that the projects themselves are not the cause of crime, as the murder rate of roughly 100 dead for every 100,000 residents is as high as it has ever been in New Orleans at the same time the projects citywide are mostly still shut, so the crime is happening around them and elsewhere, actually pretty much as it always has. But still there persists the idea among many that if you tear down the projects you will get rid of the thugs. This I can say for certain will continue to not be true.
But I'm not sure that 30 or 40 protesters or letters to Bush from Nancy Pelosi will be enough to stop the buildings from coming down and being replaced with newer versions.
That there will continue to be much political posturing seems certain but I think in the end the feeling of the worst Louisiana racist and the average well meaning liberal will be the same on this issue, the projects, most of them, should come down and be replaced with the mixed income version of public housing, although I suppose the racist doesn't want them replaced at all.
While I can see how wasteful it seems to keep those vast complexes boarded up in a city that has a housing shortage, I think it would be a huge mistake to fill them back up to capacity.
As for their architectural importance, I think the Iberville projects (not slated for demolition) will more than suffice as example of the style.
Anyway, another not easily solved New Orleans issue. But why should it be easy?
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While the knuckleheads represent a small percentage of the given population for any of the Big Four that are being considered for demolition (CJ Peete/Magnolia, Lafitte, BW Cooper, and St. Bernard), it is not really debatable that they reign with an influence much greater than that of the majority working poor who reside in the projects, those who ideally most of us would like to see aided in a country as rich as this one.
It has been proved out this year that the projects themselves are not the cause of crime, as the murder rate of roughly 100 dead for every 100,000 residents is as high as it has ever been in New Orleans at the same time the projects citywide are mostly still shut, so the crime is happening around them and elsewhere, actually pretty much as it always has. But still there persists the idea among many that if you tear down the projects you will get rid of the thugs. This I can say for certain will continue to not be true.
But I'm not sure that 30 or 40 protesters or letters to Bush from Nancy Pelosi will be enough to stop the buildings from coming down and being replaced with newer versions.
That there will continue to be much political posturing seems certain but I think in the end the feeling of the worst Louisiana racist and the average well meaning liberal will be the same on this issue, the projects, most of them, should come down and be replaced with the mixed income version of public housing, although I suppose the racist doesn't want them replaced at all.
While I can see how wasteful it seems to keep those vast complexes boarded up in a city that has a housing shortage, I think it would be a huge mistake to fill them back up to capacity.
As for their architectural importance, I think the Iberville projects (not slated for demolition) will more than suffice as example of the style.
Anyway, another not easily solved New Orleans issue. But why should it be easy?
- jimlouis 12-19-2007 8:46 pm