re: New Orleans 2004 vs. New Orleans 2014

I'll put it this way. In 2004, I strongly was considering leaving the city. Katrina did it for me. But I willingly came back.

This city has a positive vibe in it that I don't ever remember seeing growing up. It's as if we are finally moving forward. People want to invest here. People are moving companies here. The schools are on the way up (although they have ways to go). Things are being built.

Of course, it's uneven. Black druggie gangbangers are still killing other black druggie gangbangers. But by and large, as long as you stay out of a few select areas of the city, you are safe.

The one thing that makes me wonder is... how much better off would this city be at this minute, if Mitch could have beaten the chocolate man in 2006. We basically pissed away four years.

There is one big concern I have though, and this is more for the city proper than the region. The city has made a lot of improvements with Katrina money. However, will the city be able to afford to keep up those improvements in the long run? Or will the schools, the few new roads, etc go to crap in ten years?