I've heard that the population of New Orleans has dropped from its previous figure of 460,000 to 70,000 people, and so the question is raised will New Orleans ever return to its former glorious city. Mayor Nagin wants to restore the city to as it was before and there are its citizens who have a fondness for it and want to see it rebuilt. For one thing it takes a long time to build a huge city. There has never been a huge city in the world that was built from a small town to a huge metropolis in just two years or even ten years. It took decades or maybe a century for a small town to become a huge metropolis. But that is what some New Orleans citizens want to achieve what no other city has acheived is to rebuid the city to its former state within a few years. They are being unrealistic. I believe New Orleans will remain a small town for a long time, but it most probably will never become a huge metropolis again. For a city to become huge it has to have desirable living conditions that draws people. Is New Orleans a desirable place to live? The place now gets hurricanes coming through, the oceans are slowly rising while the New Orleans basin is sinking and is already below sea level. But you know some people will say 'so what' to that and they will still live there. They will still live in their houses with mold growing all over it. Fine for them if that's what they want but most people will not live there and so New Orleans will remain a small city.

Is New Orleans a desirable place to live? The place now gets hurricanes coming through, the oceans are slowly rising while the New Orleans basin is sinking and is already below sea level. But you know some people will say 'so what' to that and they will still live there. ++++++++ Why did people rebuild after the San Francisco Earthquake, knowing that another one could happen. Why do people build or rebuild in Tornado Alley ? Why do people build where the winter is so cold you can barely step outside ? Why do people who live on the Missouri River build there when the chance of flooding is great ? Many New Orleanians families have lived there for generations and would like to return. New Orleans is their home, let them rebuild. Where do you live ?

Navyvet, I can't remember which thread, but didn't you say once that experts predict that the population of NOLA will be about 175,000 as opposed to the nearly 500,000 people who lived there prior to the storm? This sounds like a reasonable estimate to me. Many of the people who evacuated are now putting down roots somewhere else. People who have found jobs and housing elsewhere may very well stay elsewhere. People will settle where there are jobs, and there will always be jobs in New Orleans because of the port. Regardless of how the city is rebuilt, there will also be lucrative jobs for builders and engineers, at least throughout the rebuilding process. From what I've read on this board, it sounds like there are also jobs available for food service workers, although food service salaries aren't usually high enough to attract workers (below the managerial level) to relocate for those jobs. Navyvet, I think you also said that much of the subsidized housing is being rebuilt, and that many welfare recipients are planning to return. I think there will be a change in the demographics of New Orleans, but I think at least a portion of the city will remain and be populated.

Navyvet, I think you also said that much of the subsidized housing is being rebuilt, and that many welfare recipients are planning to return. I think there will be a change in the demographics of New Orleans, but I think at least a portion of the city will remain and be populated. +++++++++++ Demographics have already changed. Be ready for a Republican Mayor (first time in a long time, maybe even ever) 1.6 Billion going to Section 8 housing in NO. 175,000 is the estimate. I am not sure how long it will take to get that. I swear that as soon as I can get videos made on CD I will send you a copy.