New Orleans Solution

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: farmercal
Here's the plan. Buy everyone out, then dump all the trash from around the country until the pile is well above sea level, then bring in some fill dirt and start building again. No more worrying about flooding and the land will double in value.

My instructor for a Small Business class I'm taking proposed that EXACT same thing. :Q

I'd transfer out of that class then, doesn't sound like he has a firm grip on reality.

Look. Any of these "proposals" are going to cost just as much, if not more, than fortifying and improving the levee and canal system. You're going to have to deal with government buyouts of private property, moving thousands of historic homes and places, the inevitable lawsuits, environmental impacts, etc.

The current plan is to improve the existing levees to Cat 5 protection, build new levees in areas lacking, close the MR-GO (very important), build sea locks at the Intracoastal, Rigolets, and Chef Menteur, and builld emergency locks on the canal entrances to the lake. There are vague mentionings of marshland regeneration, which is also very important, IMO. It's supposed to be a 15+ year project, which is an optimistic estimate. Current improvements aren't even finished 40+ years after inception. However, local contractors (Boh Brothers) have proven that large jobs (twinspan repair) can be finished ahead of schedule with the right motivation. We also possess better building and disaster modeling technology than before. The ACOE has the people and governments of all levels breathing down their necks to get this done, double time. I don't doubt they can find some reputable contractors to carry out their designs, quickly, and hopefully, it will offer New Orleans better protection for the future.

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: buck
What about the people that called it home for generations? What about the culture there? Tell us you just had a brain fart or something.

Culture is about who you are, not what piece of land you happen to occupy. With the buyout, NO residents can either move back to higher ground surrounding NO, or go elsewhere in this big U.S.A.

Tell that to the people in Israel.

edit:

People who say this type of thing have not been to New Orleans and/or have no appreciation for it's culture.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: farmercal
Here's the plan. Buy everyone out, then dump all the trash from around the country until the pile is well above sea level, then bring in some fill dirt and start building again. No more worrying about flooding and the land will double in value.

My instructor for a Small Business class I'm taking proposed that EXACT same thing. :Q

Two words: Domed City!

That would be awesome -- make it the shape of the Superdome...call it the Uberdome! 😀

 

[Gravity]

They need the port function too. 30% of the nation's natural gas supply comes in there.

A bit short-sighted but I like your spirit.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: buck
What about the people that called it home for generations? What about the culture there? Tell us you just had a brain fart or something.

Ok... easy to fix.

The federal government can buy NOLA, and it can rent U-Hauls for those folks.

I just don't understand why we have to pay $200,000 per man/woman/child to rebuild a slum with a righteous party district.

There will always be Cajun cuisine. You can buy beignets and cafe au lait in other places. Many coastal cities have Mardi Gras. And for boobies, we will always have Vegas. 😉

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Gravity
They need the port function too. 30% of the nation's natural gas supply comes in there.

A bit short-sighted but I like your spirit.

Reroute through Houston. Problem solved.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: buck
What about the people that called it home for generations? What about the culture there? Tell us you just had a brain fart or something.

Culture is about who you are, not what piece of land you happen to occupy. With the buyout, NO residents can either move back to higher ground surrounding NO, or go elsewhere in this big U.S.A.

Tell that to the people in Israel.

edit:

People who say this type of thing have not been to New Orleans and/or have no appreciation for it's culture.

I have been to NOLA many, many times. I appreciate the people and the culture.

I just have no real need to spend that kind of money to rebuild the city - in a flood prone area, so that it could get detroyed again.

Seems somewhat reminiscent of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, when a feudal lord proudly recalls having repeatedly built castles which sank into the swamp, on the same patch of God-forsaken soil.

NOLA is a swamp. It is your money that will rebuild the castle.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Originally posted by: buck
What about the people that called it home for generations? What about the culture there? Tell us you just had a brain fart or something.

yeah, what about it?