re: Former housing projects in Nola…

Early 70’s my only maternal Aunt was a state social worker assigned the 9th Ward. I remember her pointing out the projects she had clients in. They were not bad for what they were then. No broken windows, graffiti itself was in its infancy, no junk cars.

She was there to help (she was Dem) but she packed a police special 38special snub nose w/hollow points just the same.

Very shocking. I remember when they were being built everyone was saying they would be dumps within a year or two, myself included.

I used to work by the St. Thomas projects and while there was definitely still rif raff, it has surprisingly kept up well. Would walk through routinely without a worry.

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do you really think people want to live like that?

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Do I think some people want to live like that. Yes I do. My best friend from college grandmother lived in that project that was behind the Kraus building on Canal St (sorry I don’t know the name) but she lived in building 1, apt 1 and refused to leave.

But my comment was not about people “wanting” to live in that situation. It was people don’t know anything else or how to get out of that situation.

I was delivering a foster dog one Wednesday night and had to exit St Claude Ave., then go left. Waze took me through some townhouses that looked nice enough, but I noticed a NOPD sitting at a corner church with his lights flashing while church was in session. It was dark out. The streets had such bad potholes, had to creep along or car would be ruined. Finally got through to the nice homes and made my home after drop off. On the way out I ignored Waze and took the main road back to interstate. Told a friend about my experience the night before and wondered what those nice townhomes were. He said “you drove through the St Claude housing projects” and laughed. Whoopsie!

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Do I think some people want to live like that. Yes I do.

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That is all some of them know, brether. The consciously do not know anything else. They are byproducts of their environment

How old were you in the 1990s?

I am reluctantly coming to believe that most people have put themselves where they are. And, arguably, where they feel comfortable. There are simply too many opportunities, programs, benefits, free training, and community outreach programs available to anyone who wants to improve. In a way, I wish I were wrong.

They can change the name to harmony oaks but that shite is still “Da Magnolia” to me.

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I've stayed the night in all of those projects back before the storm And I'm white

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Was that due to feeding your addiction and blacking out?