alon504

I've heard about this student center...supposedly ultra modern inside..one of the best student center's in the South.

I'm Sean, I'm alon504...I'm a fan of Houston, I'm a fan of football, basketball, good food, and listening to what others say, I like to club every now and then, and enjoy serving fine wine to friends when they come over to my house...I'm a banker and I take care of people and their financial needs 9 hours a day. I'm not a liar. I'm not hard. I'm not cold. I'm fairly cool...can't wait for the sold out Pat Benatar concert tomorrow night in New Orleans. I like the beach, I drive a convertible, have alot of friends, am down to Earth, and have no issues with anyone on this board and/or your posts. You've stated your opinion, and now, I'm stating mine. I told the truth in my original post. I posted what I heard. And I've heard it before this person. It's not tragic and it's not the end of the world. I wanted to get a feel of what the response on this board would be...I think it's pretty clear why no one from New Orleans posts here and offers anyone on this board anything positive or negative about your neighbor city 300 miles down the interstate. You may enjoy living in Houston, but, let me make one thing clear...I am from New Orleans, and I am proud to call it home. I'll check you all out every now and then, but, I'm leaving it to the next New Orleanian that dares make a post on this board or forum.....

Thanks for the replies...let it all out...

I'm not sorry my city is known as boozin it up...what's wrong with that if you still make a great living? You have one life to live...it might as well be one that enjoys good food and good liquor. It's hard to comprehend, but, our motivation in life is not besting another city, or making the most money. A life of true happiness, without insecurities is grand, and I live it in my city. We're doing just fine. It might kill you to know that we are, actually secure, and we're not infatuated with competing with Dallas and Atlanta. This doesn't consume our being or survival. Over here we know Houston as a gigantic Metairie that lacks the culture of the city. But, yes, I still love Houston. I visit often and have been faithful for the last 14 years to my annual Christmas shopping trip to the Galleria and staying at the Westin.

You know, if Houston would have been hit by this storm with the situation reversed, and these comments came out of New Orleans, I would have done the exact same thing....just goes to show you how much you know about me. As proud as I am of my City, I'm not denying that the same thing would have occurred....this is getting tired. You win. You're taking it personal, and I'm attempting to address, head on, with citizens of Houston, the bizarre circumstances that unfolded and the societal issues that have arisen. It's very real. The quote in my first post stands as the truth...whether you like it or not. The sweet lady did not lie to me.

What a very ugly thing to say. You're right, you don't know me and you don't know what I've done or what I have been involved with to help my friends and neighbors in New Orleans. That's all I've got to say about your quote. You're blood runs alot colder than mine....

It's no secret that I'm glad that many of our criminals aren't returning. And I've heard positives from some people. I did have a couple about four months ago, tell me that Houston was most gracious. But, I've heard alot of negatives lately. Maybe it's just the emotions of people returning home who have lost everything. Everyone has been weird and hurt. Like I've mentioned, my parents (both 58), lost it all, as well. I've heard through the media that Houston came to regret black individuals from New Orleans and I wanted to guage the boards thoughts. Opinion here seems to be as bitter as I've been told and heard through the media. You're stuck with the poor...they are truthfully your new citizens, unless they come back in 3 or so years, when we re-invent our public housing. But, many are coming back very hurt, but, truth be told, they were already very hurt when they arrived in Houston last year. It's been hard. 1500 died in this city. The bitter talk only puts acid on the open wounds, IMO, between the two cities. It's been difficult, and we all seem to feel it...

I like Houston. I did not flood in New Orleans. I returned to this city on Sept. 28, and I'm white. I've been to Houston three times since the storm and have spent several thousand dollars for leisure fun and to get away from the recovery. It's been difficult. I thought the comments about boiling crawfish wer funny and truthful. The other comments, were also truthful, but, were sad. The going "opinion," is that Houston treated our thousands of middle class black citizens wrongly. New Orleans is similar to Atlanta in the fact that we have a strong middle to upper class black population that is a vital part of working corporate America. I know this isn't common in Houston and can be an affront to reality there. Again, I'm not picking arguments, but, I am disappointed to hear these stories out of returnees to the City. I understand, though. I think it is clear that after 3 to 4 months, alot of the passion died and turned to regret and anger. Again, I only quoted this lady, from New Orleans, who had a net worth that is quite significant. Based on appearance, though, you'd never know. You want to argue and I don't. I'm just stating a quote and wanted to gauge opinion. You know what I'm posting here is true. The answer is intelligent dialoque and the reason Houstonians came to regret New Orleans' evacuees and pertrayed a certain perception on all......

Point of the post is opinion...and you gave yours. And thanks for your honest assessment. My post is very straightforward, and I think that readers of my post will see that it is non-argumentative and searching for opinion. That's all...

I'm a banker and helped a black individual, today, that was in Houston for the last 10 months and returned home last week. I asked them how it was, and I was generously offered these comments.... "It was too big. I drove from South Houston to North Houston to see my relatives and it was like driving from Uptown to Laplace (the equivalent of 40 miles). They did not like us. They thought we were all criminals and made us uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to get back, and they wanted us all to come back. They looked down on us and when we tried to get jobs, and found out we were from New Orleans, we never heard from them again. I was so homesick. They do not know how to eat and have no clue how to boil crawfish. When they boil crawfish, they boil them in bland water and sprinkle the spices AFTER they are boiled. When we first got there they treated us so nice, but, then they looked down on us like we were beneath them. You don't know how glad I am to be back home. I'm living in a FEMA trailer and my house is gone, but, at least I'm back. The city is full of Mexicans and they have entire grocery stores with Mexican names that cater to only Mexican style cooking. They really hate us in New Orleans and made us feel it after 6 months. I'm so glad to be back." Some of it is funny, but, some if it is so to the "T" from everything I've heard. Likely, 1 out of 10 blacks in Houston were poor and criminal, but, the other 9 were homeowners from New Orleans East who lost their homes in the flood and had an average income of over 80K a year ( I see their bank statements). I'm not knocking Houston. The misconceptions are understandable, but, they were and are just that...misconceptions. What I was told today, I quoted as closely as I can remember, and it was only 8 hours ago. Some of it is funny, but, most of it is true, and sad.

Typical? Any city in America would sue over a broken lease...New Orleans is getting stuck with over $20 million in debt over this situation. Do yourself a favor (and us)..since you hate New Orleans so much..stay away. We prefer to not have people like you in any of our neighborhoods. Nevertheless, I'll still keep coming to Houston...not ashamed to say that I like Houston and enjoy my visits there.

They have a locked 75 years lease with the City of New Orleans. New Orleans intends to force them to honor the lease...or we're going to rape them of $$$ and sue them to the moon.

That's nice, but, I'm on several business councils in the City and we're up on what's going on here (and working one on one with the NFL and the NBA)..at least we are trying. And we know we have challenges ahead, but, as mentioned, New Orleans remains a major American city, and we have already been contacted by over a half a dozen companies interested in coming to New Orleans that would bring over 5,000 high paying jobs in the next 3 to 5 years...we can't say anything, and that is just the way it is...but, don't expect any announcements for two years, at least..they know we're cleaning up and we have asked them to give us time. So, don't count us out, just yet..there are serious financial benefits for companies wanting to locate here...provided by the gov't in the form of tax incentives (local and national), in assisting the recovery...

rps324, no doubt Houston has inherited many of our poor and, yes, some of our upper and middle class..but both are being replaced in New Orleans, as days go by...approximately 15,000 higher paying jobs have already been filled by newcomers to the City...simply put, there are those that lived and worked here and made a good living, and they have been hurt and aren't returning. It's sad, yet it is understandble. They lost everything. At the same time, New Orleans does remain a major American city with plenty of international commerce, again, occuriing every day in Downtown, and these jobs (most of which pay over 100K), have been replaced by newcomers that had never even seen New Orleans prior to Katrina, much less take a job here and move here. And the same goes with the poor...this is where we are really hurting. Today, we are a much more affluent city..the high paying jobs are back and the economy is flourishing because of this, yet, we can't get a McDonald's to stay open past 9:00PM, a Wal-Mart to reopen, or a grocery store to properly stock...and it's noticeable. The lower paying jobs simply aren't being filled..so this is hurting the City for the short term. There are many issues, but, we can only address so much at one time..TIME is the only thing that will cure this and let the dust settle.

LOL..You always find people like this on forums..cracks me up. I'll continue to spend my $$$ In Houston, though...just spent $4,000 on a leisure trip last month in your fair city.

Congratulations...you've earned yourself some new citizens. They aren't coming back, because we are demolishing the projects and only 1,000 can return according to HUD.

Probably bigger than Galveston..we have over 260,000 living in the City now. We're going vertical Downtown, and redesigning the flooded areas. Population in 1 year, around 300,000, 5 years around 400,000. In 7 to 8 years we'll be back at pre-Katrina levels of around 450,000. This is just based on what I'm hearing and reading at YLC meetings I attend. But, the metro area is doing OK...we're at 1.3 million today, and in 2 years should be back at 1.4 million. Our NFL and NBA teams are returning, we have the NBA All-Star game in 2008, our Arena Football team will be back in 2007 and we are going to be rewarded the Arena Bowl 1, likely 2 years shortly thereafter. Our Triple-A baseball team is breaking attendance records this year, already, so, in spite of the hurricane, New Orleans is recovering, and things seem to be retrurning to the 300 year history of this city...it will remain Major.

That was the Hyatt, by the Dome. That area is going to undergo a $700+ million makeover. Here is a link to the information on that development that was just announced last week (it's easier to just go to the link than me posting all of the information, again, here): http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=356285

It's not resentment. It's the law. There are those that are working day in and day out to bring their neighborhoods, back, and they have neighbors that haven't touched a thing. They've moved on. These abandoned homes are bringing in rats, they stink, there grass needs to get cut, etc. I'm just passing on what is going on around here and how we are recovering. People on this thread write that "it still looks the same." We see it, as well, here, and I though it was relevant to post that these homes that "still look the same," are going to be confiscated by eminent domain after August 29, and demolished and the city is going to re-sell the lots.

Hey guys...I posted a thread with pics, so you can make your own judgments on how New Orleans is doing. I've been living in my home, in the middle of Uptown New Orleans since Sept. 28 after the storm and have watched the progression. It's been an awesome experience seeing just how much had to be done, how much we've done, and how much more we've got to do. But, we're doing it. As far as population...New Orleans, City proper, is around 260,000, and Metro New Orleans is just under 1.3 million. Come on over and see us. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how far we've come. Obviously, areas that flooded, have more to clean up, so it's taking longer, but, those people are progressing along about as fast as one would expect. About 30% of flooded homes have been restored to pre-Katrina life and have families in them. The other 70% are either being worked on, or are going to be demolished. About 25% of the homes have been completely abandoned by the owners. After August 29 (1 year to the date), the City and other municipalities in the area, will begin seizing those properties themselves through eminent domain, demolishing them, and re-selling the property. They are giving everyone 1 year. If you abandon it for that long, it's no longer yours and your property and possessions will be destroyed. And I can agree with this...our city is coming back, and we will not tolerate these dangerous and abandoned properties by individuals who simply have moved on with their lives and not looked back.

These are in order of my brief short spin. Just figured I'd get out and enjoy the low humidity, since, this is probably the last time we'll get to enjoy a day like this until September!! This is going to be cool, little hotel, when it opens. We know the owners. Blurry..sorry, I'm driving while I did this, but, I posted it anyway: Canal Street: Saturday Afternoon Cocktails Snowballs in the Quarter! Royal Street Louisiana State Supreme Court Lucky Dog! New Tower Coming: VooDoo Barbecue! THE END: As you can see it's in the upper 80's and low humidity--A beautiful New Orleans Day!