A White Chocolate City

Today was Fat Tuesday, the last day of a shortened Mardi Gras celebration. This years festivities were on a smaller scale than usual. There were less than half as many revelers as usual. This year there was expected to be about 700,000 people in attendance. Most of the celebrants being local residents. From an observers point of view, they seem to be making good progress with the rebuilding. Of course I'm basing my opinion on Bourbon Street. Eighty percent of the city at one time was under water. Some people never left the French Quarter though, during the whole thing. I guess it was one of the few places, that remained inhabital throughout the ordeal. It's been six months since the city was turned upside down, by Hurricane Katrina. The city of New Orleans as we once knew it, will no longer exist. They are going to rebuild it, much to the surprise of many. Just different than it was before the storm. Based on the things I saw today. In my opinion a cleaner, safer city is emerging.

One might wonder, "how can he get all that from a television show". My answer to you would be this. Just like I got the picture on television, that the situation was so bad. Don't get me wrong. I'm not undermining the impact of the hurricane. This was a storm, with effects like never before. We continually are shown the bad things, but obviously not the good. Now that the storm has come and gone. The picture of people stranded on the roofs, and protesting at the Superdome. Are the worst of the worst.Those pictures are permanently etched in my mind. For every action, there's a reaction. The media hasn't bothered to talk about, the light at the end of the tunnel. Which some residents seem to have found.

Mayor Ray Nagin made a controversial statement last month. He predicted 'New Orleans' would once again be a "Chocolate City". Many people took that to be a racial remark. I don't think the mayor is racist, he was just playing to the crowd. I think Mayor Nagin has made some irresponsible comments, often fueled by his emotions. I think the mayor is looking around, and seeing a different city taking shape. That would be the reason for his multi-city tour. He is trying to convince the former residents to return. I don't know when the election is, but the mayor is reading the writing on the wall. If he can't get his base to come back. As mayor he is living on borrowed time. I see a Chocolate City too, only it's White Chocolate.