Re New Orleans: “How can we help you to help us?”

The following was sent to the city by a displaced citizen of New Orleans living in Georgia (full text below).

I am living in a lovely house in a subdivision that looks like Pleasantville or something out of Edward Scissorhands....The very reasons the developer/vultures that are circling around don't approve of your involvement in this project are the reasons I say to you -- GET TO WORK! CNU seems to be the only organization that has any sense about this at all. My home is in the area that some have suggested be returned to swampland and/or green space. As much as losing my home would break my heart, I would rather give it back to the alligators and mosquitoes than let it become another Atlanta or Dallas or worse. We need your help. How can we help you to help us?

What a contrast with the words of architects like Reed Kroloff and Eric Moss.

“I am a displaced New Orleanian living in Xxxx, Georgia. I am living in a lovely house in a subdivision that looks like Pleasantville or something out of Edward Scissorhands. I want to go home. I live one block away from the London Avenue Canal levee breach. I will be going back to New Orleans for the third time since Katrina and hopefully the streets will be cleared so that we can actually drive closer than a half block away. I have a volunteer crew from my church who will help me remove all of my moldy possessions, remove the sheetrock and insulation, and spray down the studs with bleach. Then what?

“I just read an article online from the LA Times discussing the uproar around CNU's involvement in some of the rebuilding projects. I was afraid of what I would find out about you when I investigated. I do not want my city to turn into neighborhoods like the one where I am currently residing. We need neighborhoods with soul and spirit in New Orleans and housing that reflects our history and culture. I was afraid that your organization might be planning to turn my city into some Neo Orleans, modern and sterile.

“The very reasons the developer/vultures that are circling around don't approve of your involvement in this project are the reasons I say to you -- GET TO WORK! CNU seems to be the only organization that has any sense about this at all. My home is in the area that some have suggested be returned to swampland and/or green space. As much as losing my home would break my heart, I would rather give it back to the alligators and mosquitoes than let it become another Atlanta or Dallas or worse. We need your help. How can we help you to help us?”