Holidays Not So Big — Or Easy — For N.O.

A Cloud Of Uncertainty Still Hangs Over The City For Many Residents And Business Owners

(CBS) 
Convention business could be back to 70 percent of pre-Katrina levels in 2007, but the lack of conventions this year has been devastating to some businesses on Royal Street in the French Quarter, known for its galleries and antiques shops. Conventioneers often spend more money than leisure tourists.

"Tourists coming to see the hurricane damage don't budget $30,000 for chandeliers, antiques and art," said Sterling Gallery owner Albert Quaid. "There are merchants who are about to go out of business and they're just hanging on."

The gallery next door has already closed.

Some of the city's famed restaurants have also struggled; they say business is down 40 percent in some cases. There has been a shortage of workers, which forced restaurants to cut their hours of operation and scale back their menus.

Steve Pettuce, co-owner of Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, solved that problem by bringing in foreigners on working visas and renting out an entire Bed & Breakfast to house them.

Many of the Hotel Provincial's staff members were forced to leave New Orleans after Katrina. Most lived in the 9th Ward and lost their homes. When his hotel was filled with FEMA workers immediately after the storm, Dupepe offered only weekly housekeeping services. Now he has a contract with a local business that provides day workers.

Some of the staff is now returning to New Orleans, but "housing will be a major issue for years to come," Dupepe said.

Crime will also be a challenge. According to figures released by the New Orleans Police Department and reported by the Times Picayune, murders increased 36 percent from July through September.

Kenneth Colin, whose FEMA trailer sits outside his Lower 9th Ward home while it’s being re-built, says the drug dealers have returned. He stood in his front yard late one night, pleading with them to “respect the neighborhood” and leave. He believes police and National Guard patrols have had no impact.

Colin is determined to remain there. But he says the neighborhood is divided about its future. Many residents are not returning, and the streets are lined with "For Sale" signs. Other displaced residents hope to demolish their homes and rebuild, but the process is confusing and time-consuming.

"The rules keep changing," Colin says.

Colin's FEMA trailer is without Christmas lights — and like many, he will be spending the holidays with his family elsewhere.

The holiday cheer may not be as visible this year, he says, but that doesn't mean it's any less important.

Plaquemines Parish Councilman Amos Cornier agrees.

"It’s what's in people's hearts that really matters. I'm sure the Christmas season will bring out the spirit in people — and the closer it gets, the more they'll be happier to be home."

Even if home is a FEMA trailer this year.

[valendug]

I'll bet it's a good christmas for the wealthy, bourbon street, NO's thugz athletes, the casinos, and, best of all, the Nagin Klan.

[agnim]

"Angim, don't say you understand me when you don't even know what you are talking about. I don't know what absolutely perfect place for human habitation you live in, but would you please tell me?

Posted by russellvbrla at 02:42 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

Russell, I know you a lot better than you know yourself. LOL

You are in that New Orleans state of mind as is said about a man and bad woman: He knows she's bad for him; but he just can't resist her temptations and his attachment to her.

Trust me; if there were any other inauspicious places in the US that posed such CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER AS NEW ORLEANS GRAVEYARD, then my argument would hold equally well!

There are so many things wrong with New Orleans as a site to live that IT IS NO COINCIDENCE that New Orleans is represented as a big NO!

Again, Russell, take this sage guidance and RELOCATE your family from NO, from undersea.
If it's just you, then be foolish with your life alone!

[russellvbrla]

Angim, don't say you understand me when you don't even know what you are talking about. I don't know what absolutely perfect place for human habitation you live in, but would you please tell me?

If you take your argument to its "logical" conclusion, then North America should be entirely abandoned. If the only spot in North America that is unfit to live in is a three hundred year old city then where else in this geologically unstable land mass should Americans go? Why do you think there were no European-like "civilzations" in North America when the first settlers arrived? Should we just abandon America altogether? Lets all go back to Mesopotamia or Mama Africa with Angim since that is the only safe place on earth according to Angim.
And thank you for comparing me to a dolphin and not whatever species you belong to.

[agnim]

"If the city is not fit for humans then why would greedy corporations build condos there? What an idiot! You should marry Angim and have brain-dead babies with him.

Posted by russellvbrla at 02:23 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

Since Agnim is to be married to Cathleen, then may be you don't mind Agnim answer the brain dead question?

Corporations would build condos FOR THE MONEY!

There is a lot of money earmarked for the place.
And greedy corporations will flock to money like flies flock to chit, even if the chit was in a GRAVEYARD, which NO IS!

[agnim]

"Agnim is an idiot. Tell you what Agnim, we'll abandon our city when Miami, Manhattan, Washington, DC, Houston, and Mobile abandon theirs. Also earthquake prone cities like Los Angeles and Memphis should be abandoned too. The entire midwest should be abandoned also because of the constant tornado threat."

Posted by russellvbrla at 02:18 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

Russell, you listen to me and listen good: You and other New Orleanians should grab your families and get the hell out of that WATERY GRAVEYARD you misnamed a 'city'!

New Orleans is UNDERSEA!

Russell, you are not a dolphin, even though you may have their level of intelligence!

There is enough free and far more auspicious land space in which to house those who are now foolishly clamoring for the New Orleans WATERY GRAVEYARD! And it would be a whole lost expensive.

I understand your attachment to the place and I feel your pain of not wanting to run from N O.

However, New Orleans IS AN INAUSPICIOUS SPACE FOR HUMAN HABITATION FOR MANY REASONS!

Heed this piece of wisdom, and RUN from NO!
And run to YES!

[russellvbrla]

Cathaleen, you make no sense. If the city is not fit for humans then why would greedy corporations build condos there? What an idiot! You should marry Angim and have brain-dead babies with him.

[agnim]

"Mean spirited posts like those below make me even sadder.

Posted by oleander8 at 01:16 PM : Dec 22, 2006"

LOL

If one is so sensitive as not able to handle simple truths, then one is better off locking oneself in a room and just have a good cry. It may make you feel less 'sad'.

[russellvbrla]

Agnim is an idiot. Tell you what Agnim, we'll abandon our city when Miami, Manhattan, Washington, DC, Houston, and Mobile abandon theirs. Also earthquake prone cities like Los Angeles and Memphis should be abandoned too. The entire midwest should be abandoned also because of the constant tornado threat.

Now to the humans that read this article: Thank you CBS for remembering us every once in a while. I can tell you that the people who now live there embody the true pioneering American spirit. And we will accomplish everything on our own since the current American spirit means not helping fellow Americans and instead sending money, treasure and lives to Iraq to be wasted.
And to all those who leave here so they can have easy lives elsewhere i say "goodbye and good riddance. We dont want you here."
And to things like Angim: when a catastophe visits you or your hometown, I will be there to laugh at you and mock you. I look forward to it. I wish nothing but ill will to things like Angim masquerading as a human being.

[oleander8]

I feel sad everytime I think about what has happened to New Orleans and it's citizens. Mean spirited posts like those below make me even sadder.

[cathaleen]

For once I agree with Agnim - New Orleans is not a
fit place for humans = but the greedy corporations will go in a build and build regardles of the danger to people. Also watch for the super expensive condos and townhomes that will be built for the rich and then the levees will be rebuilt because rich white people need to be safe.

[agnim]

Americans with an ounce of sense WILL ABANDON THAT NEW ORLEANS HELL HOLE PRONTO!

New Orleans is a very very very INAUSPICIOUS site!

For one thing, humans were not meant to live 'undersea'!

How many more drownings must it take before we abandon that SUNK SHIP!