Posted by: June Cross
on Apr 1, 2009
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The last time New Orleans got devastated by a hurricane was 25 years ago. The
hurricane was called Betsy. The lower ninth took the brunt of the force that time, too, but Congress acted through the Small Business Administration to create loans for homeowners which were ultimately forgiven. The black community in the lower ninth ultimately organized around the city's failure to rebuild, and developed the political power which led to the election of Ernest Morial, the city's first black mayor, in 1978.
Posted by: June Cross
on Apr 1, 2009
Tagged in: Untagged
Posted by: June Cross
on Apr 1, 2009
Tagged in: Untagged
Posted by: June Cross
on Feb 24, 2009
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As President Obama gave his first address to Congress, folks in Louisiana were just beginning to wind down from from Mardi Gras celebrations.
Posted by: June Cross
on Feb 24, 2009
It's Mardi Gras 2009 - three and-a-half years since Katrina, three years since I first met Mr. Herbert Gettridge, who became the subject of my Frontline documentary, "The Old Man and the Storm"
Saturday, Mrs. Lydia Gettridge, who returned home from Madison in June 2007, turned 88 years young.
Once she got accustomed to being back in New Orleans, Mrs. Gettridge thrived. She is losing her short term memory, and still needs a walker to get around - but she is happy to be around family. In a few days I hope to have some pictures of the event.
One big new news is that the Obama administration has decided to extend the deadline for people living in FEMA trailers. The administration has also offered to make more Section 8 money available to those who want to return. A good offer, but one that comes so long after the hurricane that only the most determined will be able to take advantage of it.
jvc
