Still a ways to go...

I'm finally home from my trip to New Orleans. But this blog would not be complete without the message that there is still way more to be done. It will probably take another 10 years to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward. Many people can't understand why it's taking so long. Perhaps the person who can explain it best is Fred's neighbor Errol Joseph.

Errol and I are standing in front of the frame of his house. He lives across the street and down a couple lots from Fred Robinson's house that we've been working on. Errol is a building contractor by trade, and has stopped in from time to time to see how our progress has been going, offering some bits of helpful advice where he can. At the same time, his own house has been on hold for 5 years. The framing which has been exposed to the elements since 2009 while Errols case has been tied up in one agency after the next, is now beginning to show signs of deterioration.

Errol Joseph's story landed in the New York Times last February of 2013. You can link to his story here. Katrina Red Tape Keeps New Orleans Homeowner in Limbo

His story was also featured on the PBS News Hour just this past December 28, 2013. You can see the video here.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/nation-july-dec13-lower9th_12-28/

The debate continues over whether or not the Lower Ninth Ward is worth redeveloping. Part of me doubts this would even be under discussion if this were the French Quarter or a predominantly white neighborhood. It seems that lower income people, and probably more so for blacks than for poor whites, are seen as expendable. Mr. Joseph told me that the Lower Ninth Ward had never flooded before. Other parts of the surrounding area had, but this area did not. He told me a rather controversial thing which was that many people believe that the levees were intentionally bombed to flood the Lower Ninth Ward in order to save the French Quarter. You can read the debates about it if you want,  to see why people thought that happened. It's an element of the story that seems like a conspiracy theory, but the truth of what really happened has never been proven.
http://www.infowars.com/articles/new_orleans/locals_believe_levees_blown_intentionally.htm

I'll close with a couple photos from my last day. After we packed up the work site to go home, people hung around, not quite ready to go just yet. Getting the roof rafters in place was a major accomplishment, so when people feel proud about accomplishing a big task, they hang around to savor it, and that's kind of what it felt like. So since they were just hanging around, I got out my camera. 

                                                                    (The silly picture)

(Background-Fred to right of truck)
 L to R- main roofer guy, Errol Joseph, Darren (standing), me, Steve Robinson, Alyssa Mendez and Eddie, both from Lower Nine.

And finally on Valentine's evening I was treated to a lovely send off dinner at Cafe Dauphine in the "hood," by the family and friends of Fred Robinson. It was a perfect ending. Darren said "She's part of the family now." It was a nice sentiment, and even though i'll be 1000 miles away, these folks will stay in my heart. I was privileged to be allowed into their lives for this slice of life.

L to R- Stephanie (Steve's sister), me, friend named Pat, Fred, Steve, His wife Jackie, Alyssa and Darren

I'll probably post additional pictures on Facebook that didn't show up on this blog. Thank you for reading this account of my experiences in New Orleans.