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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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November
2006
Volume 11 -
Number 2 |
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Public Opinion against Making the Rebuilding of
the New Orleans Superdome a High Priority
By Eric Zelsdorf The following quotes are from USA Today, OpEd (http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/hurricane_katrina_letters/index.html)
“Using the New Orleans Saints' home game at the Superdome as a metaphor for a city returning to normalcy after a horrific disaster is such arrant dreck. I found myself frustrated Monday, hearing reports describing how "inspiring" and "uplifting" it was for New Orleans' citizens to finally get their team back. What would be more inspiring and uplifting, in my opinion, would be seeing all the people of New Orleans finally getting their homes back.” Ravi Mangla - Fairport, NY “Federal funding contributed hugely to the $185 million it cost to renovate the Superdome in New Orleans? Where are our priorities? With garbage still clogging the streets and people still homeless, what could that money have done to correct those conditions? This appears to be just another example of badly placed priorities by Americans. We should all be ashamed to put a football game ahead of human suffering.” Jack Wood – Fort Wayne, IN “The restored Superdome is an ugly concrete monument plopped down between interstate highway loops. It reflects the difference in the classes in New Orleans. When it was convenient, the poor were inhumanely herded there to await rescue. Now, the Superdome is ready for business, but the poor will not be welcome because they don't have the money for admission or they have been relocated to another city.” Mark Van Patten – Bowling Green, KY How many of the thousands of displaced New Orleanians could have rebuilt their homes with the $185 million that was squandered on restoring the Superdome for the use of overpaid professional athletes? Ira Lacher – Des Moines, IA “It doesn't surprise us that before all the hospitals, schools and other necessary public facilities are rebuilt and operable that New Orleans would get its restored Superdome. The city's mayor, governor and most other elected officials haven't a clue as to how a city should be run. Very few hospitals and schools have opened in the city. And most business owners are still out of luck. But the city says, "Let the games begin." “As we've always said, when you have a city that prides itself on booze, food, gambling and parades, what can we expect? May God help us all.” Donald and Anna Mulligan – Upper Black Eddy, PA The following quote is from “The Arm Chair GM” (http://www.armchairgm.com/mwiki/index.php?title=Who_Paid_For_The_Refurbished_And_Upgraded_Louisiana_Superdome%3F) “The majority of the population of the gulf coast region is still living in Houston or Baton Rouge or Atlanta or wherever, largely because FEMA hasn't gotten around to replacing or repairing anything but a handful of the homes and buildings and other critical infrastructure destroyed by Katrina... but the federal government is paying for stadium upgrades?” Franklin Noble |