New Orleans
If You Rebuild It, They Might Not Come
Brad Pitt's beautiful houses are a drag on New Orleans
Other than the nine hours spent clinging to a rooftop, the loss of the house she'd bought in 1977, and the two and a half years spent shuttling back and forth to her daughter's home in Atlanta, Hurricane Katrina has been pretty good to 72-year-old Gloria Guy. That's because, about five years ago now, Brad Pitt built her a really, really nice house. READ MORE >>
No Southern Comfort For Wishful Liberals
The Big Infrastructure Question Posed by Sandy
In light of this week’s storm, one big question post-Sandy is what could have been done to prevent the devastating damage to the city of New York, its infrastructure, and its economy? Monday morning quarterbacking, for sure, but it’s the question on everyone’s mind now. And for obvious reasons, that’s tough to answer. After all, what is the proper way to prepare for a once-in-a-century event? (Whether 100-year storms now happen every year is another, but related, discussion.) READ MORE >>
Worst-Case Scenarios: The Problem of Neglect
Sandy’s Lesson for the Voters: Government Matters
At least 26 people are dead. Millions lack power. Property damage could reach $20 billion, according to early estimates. This is a time for rescue, recovery, and rebuilding. If you want to do your part, you can donate to the Red Cross here. READ MORE >>
Blood and the Ballad: Bob Dylan’s Macabre New Album
Post-Isaac, This Is What New Orleans Looks Like
NEW ORLEANS—Everyone in our French Quarter neighborhood today is talking about Plaquemines Parish. Hurricane Isaac breached their levees, among others outside the federal levee system, and we have nothing but empathy. The relief that Isaac did not breach our levees is mixed with sorrow that people in Plaquemines are being rescued from their roofs again. READ MORE >>
New Orleans Dispatch: Last Call
NEW ORLEANS—Just after we ordered two Abita beer drafts last night at the Golden Lantern bar in New Orleans, an emergency response team enters asking “Who Called 911?” They eventually figure out that the pay phone out front blew over pre-Hurricane Isaac. READ MORE >>
