New Orleans survived for roughly three centuries. Yeah, maybe its eventual
destruction was inevitable, but frankly, the same could be said of just
about any city, if your timeframe is large enough.

True, but it has been brought to light that many contemporary N.O. leaders
knew -- and regarded as inevitable -- that their city was living on borrowed
time in the short-term. We're not talking geologic time here; we're talking
about in a single person's life-span.

For them to have known this, and not taken any discernible action, is
criminal.

Yesterday NPR interviewed the former city planner for N.O. (she was in that
capacity until 2000, I think), and she spoke extensively about the levee
system and its known weaknesses. Unfortunately, she also admitted that the
bureaucratic boondoggles (the levees were controlled by an entirely separate
government agency, outside the control of the city) ultimately prevented the
issue of levee strengthening from ever being presented as an option to the
voters.

In short, New Orleans government completely and utterly failed the citizens
of New Orleans. They never even brought the issue to a vote, despite
knowing the danger!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"