The City That Care Forgot

According to CNN*, "the federal government has allocated nearly $27 billion for housing, rebuilding the levees, and what's known as hazard mitigation, the messy job of removing debris and repairing critical infrastructure, like broken sewer lines and potholed roads." Now before you get all hot-and-bothered about that dollar figure take a look at what the little ticker on the right side of my blog is saying.

Go on, look really hard.

As I type this it is saying $455,605,071,882. Let me put that in words. That is Four Hundred Fifty Five Billion. That means for every dollar spent to rebuild a great American city nearly $17 have been spent in a country that we invaded on false pretenses (don't get all conservative on me - there were no WMDs and the "terrorists" aren't following us home).

This is the week that the press will do its communal hand-wringing about the woe that is New Orleans and Gulf Coast. Hang-wringing that didn't have to be if we (yes, we because this is a democratic government in which we vote) had taken care of the levees, had listened to the warnings that a Category 3 hurricane could drown the city, and had acknowledged that not everyone has a car in the United States or money for gas and can get themselves out of a city on a few hours notice.

So before you faze out on me, before you say well that is our rotten government there are two things you can do.

1) Go read my friend, the Ambassador's, post today about K+2. And please pay attention to the news about New Orleans. This is one news story that cannot become a same old, same old piece. And ask questions as you hear/read the reporter's perspective (because that is what it is). Am I hearing the full story? Is it really all doom and gloom? What good things are happening there?

2) Spend some money there. Supporting the local economy goes a huge way in helping people have jobs, afford to live in houses they are repairing and keep the vibrant spirit of the city alive. Before you start thinking I can't afford to go there for a visit - what do you think the Internet is for?

Check out some of my favorite merchants:

Dirty Coast (the $20 option) - awesome t-shirts (among other things). Amazing Guy and I already own King Gator, and So Far Behind We're Ahead. The graphic above is the t-shirt NOLA Gothic.

Mignon Faget (starting at $35 but can go way up) - recall the promise ring Amazing Guy gave me 15 years ago? This amazing jeweler and business owner continues to create beautiful objects. She's a bit more than a t-shirt but I cannot wear her pieces (necklaces, earrings, pins and yes, that ring) without getting tons of compliments. And then I get to start in on the beauty of New Orleans. So it is lovely jewelry and a political conversation starter. What could be better?

Tony Chachere's - this, in all likelihood, is something you can find in your local grocery store. A locally owned company that makes the best Cajun seasonings. I put a little olive oil on pasta and sprinkle some Tony's. Yummy.

Of course, there are many worthy charities working to rebuild a great, fun city and I am not diminishing their good work. But those charities aren't buying jewelry, t-shirts or spice and those folks producing and selling them have living costs too. Many of them are not eligible for the assistance these good organizations provide. They are having to make do with what they earn.

So if you end up buying something from New Orleans, let me know. I'll highlight you. If you buy something from these folks, terrific. If you have other New Orleans-based merchants you adore or have discovered let me know and I'll do another post.

And if you go for a visit (like my dad is next month for his 67th birthday) I'll write about it here and even include a photo if you email it to me (but I have to like it so keep that in mind).

Now, doesn't that inspire you to do something for the City That Care Forgot?

* Feel free to give/find me a better number for what the federal government (not insurance companies) has paid for the rebuilding of New Orleans. That was the most current number I could find without a ton of digging around. And feel free to laugh that I cited a media outlet after my earler tirade.

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Seriously folks, go show my Ambassador some love. Maybe even link to his K+2 post. He is someone you'll never hear about on the news who is makes New Orleans the wonderful, vibrant and caring place it is.