Monday, October 31, 2005
The scariest post I could write-- sadly, it's all-too-true
Last Wednesday, during the "Town Hall" meeting at the Sheraton, Mayor Nagin was somehow able to increase the level of
confusion and disinformation in regards to rebuilding the city. Afterwards, I went to the bar at one of the best RestAurants in the city for a few Bourbon-and-Sevens. Sitting on my left were a few building supply moguls from Texas. They were displaying that trademark subtlety and decorum for which their state is known. Directly on my right were some highly respected reporters discussing the Town Hall meeting.
Some snippets from the Texans:
"Do you have any Cristal? No?!!? Well whatever's most expensive then, and keep the bottles comin'...
...
"I try to keep about $250k in my bank account... I have so much money I don't know what to do with it. It's not about the money, it's about the challenge of it.
...
"What are you paying for sheetrock? Yeah, me too. That's the chinese stuff, right? How much are you paying per [roofing] square?....Those Louisianans didn't think we'd let them rebuild their own state did they! (BIG LAUGHTER)....
"Right now, New Orleans is scared. They don't know what's going to happen, and they're just standing there, waiting for something...."
A snippet from the Reporters:
"Same old New Orleans politics... same old New Orleans."
"Yeah."
Like I said, I was
literally between these concurrent conversations. The low-key, dispirited reporters were shaking their heads in disbelief, and the ebullient Texan moguls were loudly celebrating with $800 dollar bottles of champagne.
My Bourbon and Sevens were strong, but not nearly strong enough.
(Teaser P.S.: That evening I engaged both groups in discussion, with surprising results; but sadly I can't provide more details at this time. )
6 Comments:
As much as I'm tempted to chalk that up to typical Texan arrogance, in this case I think it has as much to do with the rich-capitalist-asshole attitude as with location. What a combination. How were you able to eat?
The reporters, though, definitely sound like reporters.
Was it the Bourbon House? I had an eerily similar experience while drinking with a TP reporter there about two weeks ago. It ended with one of my cohorts mooning the entire contractor filled restaurant through the plate glass window on Iberville.
Great Blog...keep 'em coming. If you get a chance check mine out at
http://katrenema1.blogspot.com/
I agree with you, Ian. But it was difficult, all the same. I actually enjoyed talking with those Texans, despite their obnoxiousness.
Welcome, jaybirdo! The Iberville visual is priceless-- nice one!
It was Restaurant August.
The question becomes, why is it necessary for the Texans to be there? If New Orleans had business handled, the locals could squeeze out the transients.
The followup question becomes, who is doing the rebuilding, and why aren't New Orleans residents taking care of it themselves? Home Depot doesn't much give a damn who it sells sheetrock or shingles to.
If you're not willing to do it yourself, why are you bitching? New Orleans has to be rebuilt and the guys with the hammers are doing the rebuilding.
The question becomes, why is it necessary for the Texans to be there?
That's a great question. I don't see much "necessity". I believe the guys I was drinking with were feeding off limited or no bid fed contracts.
If New Orleans had business handled, the locals could squeeze out the transients.
True, New Orleans barely "handles business" on a good day; however, expecting any place to be functional so soon after a catastrophic loss is unreasonable.
The followup question becomes, who is doing the rebuilding, and why aren't New Orleans residents taking care of it themselves? Home Depot doesn't much give a damn who it sells sheetrock or shingles to.
There's almost no rebuilding going on. It's quaint that you think we should just buy some nails and wood and raise the roofbeams Amish-style, but some of us don't wish to take a crippling insurance loss on our homes. We're waiting on inspecters and adjustors, (Flood, household, SBA...) and checks. Most of the affected have evacuated and are in dire financial straits. But I'll pass along your tip about Home Depot. That should help out a lot of folks.
If you're not willing to do it yourself, why are you bitching?
Just because I can't build a car by myself doesn't mean I can't criticize, say, the design of a Suzuki Esteem.
New Orleans has to be rebuilt and the guys with the hammers are doing the rebuilding.
Many don't think New Orleans should be rebuilt. That's part of the problem. And, some of them reside in Congress.
Also, there's guys with hammers throughout Louisiana, I would prefer that they rebuild S. Louisiana. Not undocumented workers employed by favored Texan greedheads.
nike air max 90
nike air max 95
nike shoes
nike air
nike air shoes
nike air max tn
nike air rift
nike shox r4
sports shoes
nike air rifts
nike air rift trainer
nike air max 360
nike shox nz
puma cat
air max trainers
mens nike air max
nike air
puma mens shoes
puma shoes
puma speed
nike shoes air max
nike shoes shox
air shoes
Lucyliu IS Lucyliu
nike shoe cart
puma future
levis jeans
nike rift shoes
cheap nike air rifts
bape shoes
cheap puma
nike rift
jeans shop
diesel jeans
