This is my first diary, lurker since 2004 and commenter beginning in 2005, I think. I am a Katrina survivor and live in LA 01. Never wrote my Katrina story as it never ends and the lack of justice just goes on and on, a new insult every single day. I will give a brief overview of my initial Katrina experience.
My father died of Katrina related natural causes in LA 01. My sister was missing for a week in St. Bernard, rescuing people in the oil contaminated waters. At the time she worked for the Coast Guard and was actually rescued by the Royal Canadian Mounties. Maybe, one day congress people like Gilda can bring resolution to the very unsteady lives of the people of the Gulf Coast and I will have time to write a book. Until then, I just deal on a day to day basis. I did not flood so I have not dealt personally with the Road Home to Hell, but I am close to many who lost everything who must schedule time daily to deal with paper work and communication, almost like a part time job. Everybody needs to understand that what happened to NOLA was failure of the FEDERAL infrastructure. This means one day you could walk in our shoes and you can only wish that somebody of Gilda’ integrity is sitting in Congress to fight for justice for your family.
Governor PBJ is selling his home in LA 1 which he used as a foot hold into the district. He was always a Baton Rouge resident and his pitiful performance after Katrina put a spotlight on his lack of LA 01 knowledge. Good luck to him on that endeavor, as homes are sitting on the market for over 2 years due to excessive insurance costs. I am sure one of his ethical crony pals will buy him out one day. Gilda and I have lived in this district most of our lives, LA 1 has more registered Democrats then Republicans. But, so many have blinders on that they vote Republican against their own best interest. I hope Gilda finds a way to tap into this dynamic and get votes out of it. Rumor is Governor PBJ is a candidate for Republican VP, I can only hope so. This is what the Republican crony culture of corruption is up to and quoting Jeremy Alford in Gambit "Should the son of an executive who holds tens of millions of dollars in contracts with theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers be appointed to a position that oversees coastal affairs?" http://www.bestofneworleans.com/...
This is the same engineering company that worked for the Corp on the federal levees that failed. This is the same Army Corp of Engineers that protects your community? Good riddance to someone who has never completed a job in his life and his lack of experience really hurt us after Katrina. We need Reed!
I get so excited to see Gilda’s signs. Very large signs are located on the I-10 and another on Metairie Rd./City Park Ave. by the cemeteries. Do you know that Gilda’s R competitor (Steve Scalise) rode in the Argus parade in Metairie, as did Mary Landrieu’s opponent John Kennedy? Is it legal for only one party to be represented in a public parade, on public streets with public police protection? My husband and I dressed as Senator Diaper Dave and his hooker Wendy. We had a sign on our porch and at the parade compound stating Canal St. Brothel Family Values. When Kennedy and Scalise passed we ran out and waved our sign. Mardi Gras is about ridicule after all and we maintain our sense of humor despite Katrina and Bush!
A little bit about those day to day issues and bear in mind this could be you one day when the FEDERAL government fails your community and Congress is staffed by zombies. I have inherited several properties that I am trying to hold on to, but taxes and insurance are eating up my funds. The still running (not derelict) vehicle belonging to my deceased father has been sitting under the carport until my sister and I could legally donate it to Bridge House. Two weeks ago I received a call from my sister who had undergone some medical tests and upon her return she found emergency messages from the neighbors that Jefferson Parish Code Enforcement had come on private property and towed the vehicle. During the Xmas holidays JP Code Enforcement put a sticker on the vehicle and I contacted them as well as my Councilwoman Jennifer Sneed (R) and wife of a landfill owner. You see one reason we do not recycle is because the landfill owners are making a killing. Any way, I explained in writing that we were waiting for Bridge House to pick up the vehicle as it was a charitable donation. Somebody new to the neighborhood decided that the vehicle was not appropriate for the neighborhood and with political connections decided to harass us. This is not a gated community, it is a typical mix of NOLA housing small cottages, ranch houses and McMansions. If you want a gated community, hit the Causeway to exurbia. There are Republican fascists in control of Jefferson Parish and we need Gilda to put them out of business.
My sister and I also have inherited a shotgun that flooded in Orleans. One side has been repaired and is ready to rent. The walls, floors and molding all survived as the house was built of plaster, wood and cypress by master craftsmen. The other side is in dire need of work, but I am unwilling to go into debt. Well property taxes are $5,000 and insurance is $5,000 on a house valued at $80,000. In 8 years we will pay as much as it is worth in taxes and insurance. This property has been in the family for 100 years and my grandmother worked in a sweat shop as a seamstress and grandfather as an electrician to acquire their home. The homeless at Canal and Claiborne and the Lafite Housing Project (pending demolition) are just up the street. Will somebody in Congress do something to help us and the homeless or is this a land grab? Where will the FEMA trailer people live now that they are being forced out? We need Reed!
I just heard Mitch Landrieu on WWL radio encouraging Congress to let NOLA take the lead in education, housing health care, and infrastructure since we are broken anyway. My personal opinion is that it has waited this long, a few more months will not matter. Katrina land is like Iraq, it has gone on so long, the only way out is new blood. A new Democratic president and Congress would and should immediately devise a plan with Gilda Reed in the lead. I personally do not know how Gilda keeps going as every day is a new challenge and that PTSD constantly rears its ugly head. We are walking time bombs and I worry about the kids. We need Reed!
I am so impressed with Gilda’s union and newspaper endorsements, I know just how hard she has had to work to not be ignored and marginalized. Between Mardi Gras, house guests, illness and being turned off by the candidate diaries, I have lost TU. But, you know something I do not even care and I am glad Gilda has brought me out of the closet for my first diary.