Comments on: Nagin and Friends http://www.timsoslow.com/2006/08/nagin-and-friends/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nagin-and-friends Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:47:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Christian http://www.timsoslow.com/2006/08/nagin-and-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Christian Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:45:14 +0000 http://www.timsoslow.com/weblog/?p=43#comment-28 My favorite metaphor to describe New Orleans city government is the car's running but no one is behind the wheel. Tim, you touched on something the media's tucked away: Ray Nagin, as other professionals in New Orleans, is quietly moving on and out. And I if he wasn't the mayor, I wouldn't blame him; I'm doing the same thing. I don't want to leave -- I've grown apart from what New Orleans is becoming and it's time to move on. The feeling of loss goes beyond the fucked up houses, but to the people, places, and the events I grew up with. Most didn't fall victim to time, but something more tangible and equally insidious: the lassitude and indolence of my fellow New Orleanians. Katrina exacerbated the broken down, beat-up, destitute and accelerated the hole in which New Orleans is sinking. But at first glace, and depending on where you live, it doesn't seem that bad. Mardi Gras, as well as the festivities planned for Katrina's anniversary, reflect the escapism so ubiquitous that solutions to life's problems seem only a party away. Maybe we deny it, or peddle the sentiment to tourists, but it made New Orleans a great place to visit and exist; although, not necessarily live. My favorite metaphor to describe New Orleans city government is the car’s running but no one is behind the wheel. Tim, you touched on something the media’s tucked away: Ray Nagin, as other professionals in New Orleans, is quietly moving on and out. And I if he wasn’t the mayor, I wouldn’t blame him; I’m doing the same thing.

I don’t want to leave — I’ve grown apart from what New Orleans is becoming and it’s time to move on. The feeling of loss goes beyond the fucked up houses, but to the people, places, and the events I grew up with. Most didn’t fall victim to time, but something more tangible and equally insidious: the lassitude and indolence of my fellow New Orleanians. Katrina exacerbated the broken down, beat-up, destitute and accelerated the hole in which New Orleans is sinking.

But at first glace, and depending on where you live, it doesn’t seem that bad. Mardi Gras, as well as the festivities planned for Katrina’s anniversary, reflect the escapism so ubiquitous that solutions to life’s problems seem only a party away. Maybe we deny it, or peddle the sentiment to tourists, but it made New Orleans a great place to visit and exist; although, not necessarily live.

]]> By: Meg http://www.timsoslow.com/2006/08/nagin-and-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Meg Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:23:38 +0000 http://www.timsoslow.com/weblog/?p=43#comment-27 "They noted, for instance, that proceeds from any ticketed events, such as the comedy show, would have gone into a trust fund that would be used to help displaced New Orleanians return." I.e. in city pockets. “They noted, for instance, that proceeds from any ticketed events, such as the comedy show, would have gone into a trust fund that would be used to help displaced New Orleanians return.”
I.e. in city pockets.

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