[StBernard] St. Bernard NOT Closing and other notes

[Westley Annis]

Dear Westley,
 
I just had to get this off my chest. and Yes, I was one of those that lost
everything, house, car and boat included. Like everyone else, I ask what's
next?
 
Don't you think it's about time for the parish to do something with all that
Mereux land that's been collecting cow dung for all these years. There's
enough land fronting St Bernard Highway
to build an entire Housing complex complete with all the fill you need from
the Mississippi River to raise it to a sea level elevation. If city's can
claim land for freeways and parks and right of ways , why can't the Parish
buy up this land and build a Parish owned Housing Complex of 3 and 4 bedroom
homes to be rented out at going prices . Not project style homes  but
landscaped 4 plexes with curved streets and trees. The building project
would be so enormous, it could offer hundreds of jobs in all the
construction trades. But could also provide hundeds of homes at affordable
rents. And former residents that lost their houses completely could start
moving in as soon as they are occupyable and get out of the trailer gettos
which the trailers will become in no time at all, when the Feds start moving
all the "po people" from other parishes into them. Can't our parish leaders
use some insight and imagination and get off of t his " those damn Federal
Agencies don't know we're here" attitude. We know they don't give a hoot
about the residents here. Their only concern is how quick the Oil Refineries
can get back up on line, so let them have their day for now , we can start
making them pay later like they are making us pay now. Get something going
with all this unused land around St Bernard Parish and break loose from some
of the Merauxs and Perezes and Lachardis and Mumphreys and Nunezes and
Rowleys and Gallos and all these other old political machines that
monopolized the Parish wealth for years. The now displaced residents know
who they are. We've been giving them our votes all these years for a load of
free river sand and we thought we were getting something. Look around ar the
parish before the storm . It was dirty, broken streets, traffic jams due to
poor planning and homes by the hundreds slowly going to ruin. Why? , because
nobody cared. Everybody wanted homestead exemption and a free ri de. Don't
change any thing. Let St Bernard alone, just keep every thing as it was,
every one said.  Well here's your chance, all you political big shots. Use
some of that wealth now and form a Development Corp. and put some of that
wealth back into the Parish. We don't want your money, just show us that
your interest is in the rebuilding of the Parish. No more talk about the
govt this and the govt that. Get the dozers out and start them up. Not to
level Peoples houses but to build a whole new City, complete with open 3
lane Avenues and parks and playgrounds and schools and jobs and pumping
stations that work .The politicians always talk a good game, now let's see
you put your money where your mouth is.  We have the potential to be the
leader in redevelopement in this whole devestated area. We have riverfront
land to be developed. We have water access for our shrimpers and fishermen.
We have an unlimited supply of fill along the Mississippi River.  Let's
develop a whole new waterfront along the ship channel equal to the Port of
Houston. If the Japanese can build a world class  airport in the middle of
the ocean and a drive thru tunnel under the sea, why can't we have more than
one exit out of St Bernard Parish. We need a second bridge out of the
Parish. It's time St Bernard moved into the 21st Century. And for all the
belly achers out there that are still crying "I don't know how I'll survive,
I lost everything". Do you think your ancestors had it any easier? And they
had not only storms but they had marleria, smallpox, and fires in addition
to their floods. And they stuck it out and rebuilt over and over so that we
could be here today. So blow your noses and get out your shovels and mops
and get off your rear ends and go to work. We've got work to do for our kids
and their kids.
 
 
Al Nores
 
A St Bernard resident since before Betsy. I lived in the old ninth ward
then, so this is my second flood out.