Dear New Orleans
Greg Peters at Suspect Device pointed out this thread on the National Geographic site. It shows just what we are up against. Pages upon pages of vitriol and “logical,” arguments about why we should not rebuild.
It is VITAL that we make people understand what is really happening and why it is important to rebuild. It is not only important, but also our civic duty to get across to them how misplaced their faith in the Army Corps of Engineers is before it happens to them. It seems the admissions of culpability made by the Corps only got play in Louisiana and European media. No one else seems to have any idea.
Many of the comments on this thread express faith in the Corps and their ability. Terrifying. What is going to happen when we have a huge earthquake in CA, devastating tornado season in Tornado Alley, or some other massive disaster?
It is about survival, but it is also about preventing our countrymen from suffering the same way we have been. Many Americans may have a “fuck you New Orleans,” attitude, but we must persevere. If we cannot change that, well a phrase that has been going around a lot here is, “If at first you don’t secede, try try again!” After the way this has been handled we obviously are not considered part of the US anymore anyway….
Shut down the Port of New Orleans for one week. Trust me, they will get the picture.
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this is from Citizen watchdog Matt McBride
I confirmed today that the Corps itself selects the recipients of
the Wheeler Medal. The head of the Society of American Military
Engineers emailed this information to me.
So the Corps really gave itself an award on June 1. Keep in mind
that on June 1, none of the floodgate projects were finished, and
there were ZERO pumps at the 17th Street gates.
Matt
— In [email protected], Matt McBride wrote:
>
> Just this week, in a newsletter that can be found here:
>
> http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/hps/Status%20Report%
20Newsletters/SRN_August8.pdf
>
> it was announced that the Society of American Military Engineers
(SAME), an organization made up of mostly Corps of Engineers
employees, gave an award to Walter Baumy of the New Orleans District
on May 31 (at a SAME convention here in New Orleans!) for work done
from August 29 to June 1 in the wake of Katrina.
>
> Putting aside the idea that it’s one of the most politically
tone deaf things that could be done in this city…
>
> Check out the exact reason SAME gave the award:
>
> “.. he oversaw the restoration of more than 169 miles of ravaged
hurricane protection systems, 68 pumping stations and four water
control structures. This $800 million construction program was
executed in the 276 days between August 29, 2005, and June 1, 2006,
when Hurricane Katrina struck and the start ofthe new hurricane
season. Baumy was also personally involved in the engineering of
improved designs of the earthen levees protecting the city of New
Orleans, and in the stability improvements to miles of floodwall
repairs.”
>
> At the time of the award (and today, since nothing has changed
since then), a total of three contracts for Corps work in pump
stations had been awarded, and those were awarded just two weeks
before the award was given.
>
> There have been no contracts issued by the Corps for pump
stations in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, a single contract
for roofing repairs in Jefferson Parish, and two contracts (out of
11) in Orleans for motor rewinding. That’s it.
>
> How insulting is it that members of the Corps are getting awards
for work isn’t done? Keep in mind that on June 1, none of the
floodgate projects were done, and that today, the project at 17th
Street is still months behind schedule. I thought awards were given
for quality of work, but apparently, in Corps-world, it’s just for
quantity.
>
> Matt
>
>
Karen, please send me Matt’s direct email. I wan to use this in my Powers and Morrison column.
Darlin’ I’m afraid convincing those out in the great heartland to stop blaming the victims and believe that it really could happen to me is an uphill battle. Their ignorance is their comfort and being certain that they’re shielded from any uncomfortable truths is a force much greater than reality. Forget them. Speak your mind if you must, but don’t despair when you can’t convince them. They do not want to know. It’s human nature, sad but true.
Save yourselves and continue to tell the story of your doing so. You’ll be proven right in the end.
Screw the PTB: tell your side of the story of the deluge,
These a**holes won’t touch us.
I stand for New Orleans and Her people.
Despair is a constant enemy here in NOLA, but one I shall do my best not to succumb to. I shall continue to shout from the rooftops as long as I have the energy and a voice to do so.
Every person outside New Orleans who gains a little insight into the situation is a victory. Every person inspired to work harder here in the city is a victory. Its all about information and its dissemination.
That is a good NG link! thanks…. It is important for everyone to know what you are up against. But is no different anywhere else in the country. Everyone is competeing with each other for federal money and attention. And right now, they are also competeing with billions of dollars going to iraq and now lebanon. It is just that some states and municapallities are experts at getting what they need from the feds while others are not so good at it.
Shut down your port, and they will get the picture all-right, and Houston will start getting all of your port buisness as less and less people take want to take chance on having their business disrutpted.