Disasters

I just have to say something about CA, and the recent troubles there, that's the way to play! Using Jack Murphy stadium as a way station, just to get folks clean, fed, and oriented so that they can take care of themselves, right on! People are drawing inappropriate comparisons to the CA wildfires and what happened in New Orleans, I think there are some important similarities, and differences.

Both communities knew what was coming. New Orleans had at least twenty years of foresight, and funding. Unfortunately, they also had dishonest people pocketing the money. The CA people, didn't have as crystal ball, but instead they had years of constant practice, albeit on a smaller scale.

The people are different. Those in New Orleans were poor. Yes also black, but that doesn't matter nearly as much as the money factor. Those who were working, were raising families on the kind of money made by unskilled workers, cleaners, sous chefs and other positions positioned on the low end of the totem poll. Most of the residents of New Orleans were born there, surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. They made no deliberate decision to live in New Orleans, although it was home, it was really, just the place they happened to be.

The residents of southern California moved there on purpose, because that's where they wanted to be. The affected area of CA is very expensive, therefore those who are working regularly had high paying jobs, skilled positions, positions that required decision making. People accustomed to living with the consequences, both positive and negative. Unlike those in New Orleans, they were used to problem solving, and replacing workers when they weren't doing right. Ray Nagin would not have been reelected mayor in any town whose constituents were executives, regardless if the town were chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, or tutti-fruity.

Parts of New Orleans will never be the way they were, but there is something okay about that. The French Quarter is already back and strong. CA will return just fine. In a few days, the heavens will open, the rains will come, and they'll be securely and happily in mudslide season.