Webster’s (yes, I still own a real, paper dictionary) defines as:

the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier usually poorer residents.

This is probably a tricky issue all around the country, but one that is especially big today in New Orleans. Since so many houses are currently uninhabitable, the market for apartments and houses has risen in many areas significantly. This, inevitably, will change the long-term affluence of certain neighborhoods.

So, what’s wrong with gentrification. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, it is only good for a community. The opposite of gentrification is the deterioration of a neighborhood; good luck finding people who want their neighborhood’s property value and quality of life to go down. When more affluence is brought to the neighborhood, the houses are renovated, the property values increase, and crime levels generally go down. More (and better) neighborhood stores spring up, which in turn provides more opportunities. The only drawback is that rents go up, so that those who do not own property might be forced out of the neighborhood without any of the advantages that are presented to property owners. Even while I am currently a renter, I think that there is somewhat of a detachment to a neighborhood for renters; it is probably best for the majority of residents to own their house so that there is a bigger attachment and incentive to build a better community.

At the heart of the disagreements with gentrification is poverty versus affluence. Poverty often today is equated with race, and therefore some people will ignorantly paint this movement as racist. There is nothing racist with buying a house, renovating it, and then fostering a safe and friendly community around your house. In fact, there is nothing inherently affluent about that — it’s desirable. Because you have made your neighborhood desirable, others will pay more to live near you.

I would hope that every citizen and every politician would want every neighborhood to be safer and friendlier. Every one should want to and deserve to live in such a neighborhood. The word ‘gentrification’ does not have the most flattering of definitions. Perhaps we should all instead focus on making all of our neighborhoods more ‘desirable’. The fact is that after Katrina, many neighborhoods are currently either gentrifying or languishing.

What is it like to live in New Orleans now? (apparently there isn’t much time for blog entries)

I’m guessing that everyone outside of Louisiana has long ago lost track and interest in New Orleans. If I were in your shoes, I probably would have too. So, I’ll give you a brief update of what I see. Every place that I go day-to-day seems fairly back to normal. Though I live and work in “the sliver by the river” aka “the isle of denial”. Outside of this, some sections of the city are actually starting to look good. My brother’s family is in the last stages of their complete renovation of their flooded house, and they should move back in any day now. But there are many neighborhoods that are not as lucky. Many houses still haven’t been cleaned out. Some people don’t have the ability to get back, some people don’t want to come back, some people didn’t make it through the storm.

The US Corps of Engineers is working diligently on fixing our flawed levees. They are adding enormous flood walls to the weakest sections of the system. The levees should be stronger than before, but probably not strong enough for long-term protection. I think we’ll be fine for the next hurricane season. It’s not that we need a lot of luck to get through it… we just don’t need any bad luck.

So, what can you do? I don’t know if I’m the best person to answer this because what do I know. Here are a few of the best options that I know of:

• Visit New Orleans: We’re back in business. We are a tourist city and I promise that you will have a good time. Almost all of our restaurants are open and providing great service and food. It’s also good for as many people as possible to at least drive through some of the destruction… TV does no justice to the magnitude of the storm. We need as many people as possible to see the destruction and tell the people around them and their representatives what it really looks like.
• Help Rebuild: If you want to do a little more, you can come into the city and help gut and rebuild houses. There are many organizations that are helping with this process such as Habitat for Humanity and a number of faith-based organizations. With Habitat for Humanity, you probably don’t even need to leave your community – they often build houses in other parts of the country and ship them down.
• Give Money: If you don’t have time, you can always give money. Habitat for Humanity is accepting donations as they are building new homes in the Gulf coast. The Red Cross disaster relief fund will help with all future disasters such as hurricanes (your money likely won’t go to New Orleans, but will be used for another deserving community). There are many other ways to donate money, but I will only list the select few that I know are legitimate.
• Support: Even if you don’t have money or time to spare, just giving your support makes a big difference. Please remember us in your conversations, blogs, and your prayers. The city is coming back, but your support helps a lot!

Somehow I felt compelled to write this after being silent for so long. I hope you don’t look at this and say, “not another hurricane article!”. Thanks.