alon504

For those of you into podcasts and other digital audio, the Building Minnesota podcast did an episode about the new student center at Tulane University and the challenges of designing for such a steamy environment.

Here's the link in MP3 format.

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.....

Search no more.....

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.

Damn right, it is. It is the perfect response to your underhanded ugliness. A decent person would have never even thought of trying to stir up trouble by repeating those remarks, IF they were even made.

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.

The bitterness you hear is not Houston regrettting helping those in need. There may be a few selfish bastards here that reporters found, but the majority of us are immensely proud of what we as a CITY did for the least fortunate in New Orleans, something that the more fortunate in New Orleans, apparently including yourself, never did.

I have never met you, and I hope I never do. But, you will NEVER tarnish the pride I have in what my city and myself did for these people. It is not about what they think, but what we did. Clearly, being amongst the white elite of New Orleans, you have no idea what I mean.

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....

alon, thank you for telling us the straight scoop on what our guests thought of Houston. I'm sure you were straightforward with them, as you were with us. For instance, I am sure you told them that the reason some people in Houston may have acted the way they did is because of comments that you made to us like this one on June 16:

I'm sure you told your clients that the reason some Houstonians didn't sound right is that we do not have 300 years experience of shining on Black people like you do. I'm sure they understand.

Oh, and I would have never guessed that you were white if you hadn't told us. Thank you.

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...

1. It was too big

2. They did not like us

3. Made us uncomfortable

4. Couldn't wait to get back (to New Orleans)

5. They do not know how to eat

6. They have no clue how to boil crawfish

7. They looked down on us

8. The city is full of Mexicans

9. They really hate us & made us feel it

"Some of it is funny"

I guess I missed the punch line.

"I'm not knocking Houston.."

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......

I am so sick of hearing people from New Orleans delicate flower about how Houston is too big. or too______or not enough_________. (fill in the blank). I'm sick of the comparisons of Houston vs. New Orleans. Don't insult the intelligence of the members of this board by saying your not knocking Houston with this post, we know it when we see it. After all, what was the point of the post? I don't find any of it amusing. It is just more bashing of Houston by the New Orleans crowd. Boring & predictable.

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 New Orleans mentality. Even if its a crappy, run-down, ghetto theme-park 20 years from now, you'll find a way to keep it open. Maybe after the next hurricane comes through, they can ship all the tore-up rides to Houston so our last crop of evacuees from Katrina will have something to do.

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.

You know, I'd understand that a lot of the old high-wage jobs will likely return, if only because various companies (particularly large corporations) will stay put, either out of defiance of the weather or in order to avoid bad press...

...but good luck getting any corporate relocations/expansions (i.e. long-term employment growth) from companies based outside of the region for a good long while.

By the way, from the perspective of a city that has had its share of big sporting events and conventions, let me caution you that their effects are very temporary and relatively minimal when it really comes down to it.

Good luck, though...for what little its worth.

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.

I'll never throw another penny towards Louisana, and especially, New Orleans.

Print It

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.

Please take back the element that is ****ing up my neighborhood. !!!!

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.

Hiya...I was in New Orleans last weekend, and though I'd been to New Orleans many times before, it was my first post-Katarina visit, and here are my impressions. French Quarter looks relatively normal, and it was full of tourists -- you'd never know that a hurricane had taken place. Ditto for some parts of downtown close to the river and parts of the Garden District. (However, if you look closely, you see missing trees, some businesses all boarded up and things like that. Oh, and no St. Charles streetcars -- last I saw, they were still working on the St. Charles streetline.)

However, when you go outside these areas, that's when things get really bad, such as in the Bywater/Margiry (sp?) area. Rows and rows of little old houses with these notorious blue markings with the big X's on the fronts. I saw one house with the words "Cat out 9-19" spray-painted on its fountain. And oh yeah....blue tarps. It was everywhere, even on I-10 all the way back to Beaumont.

I think New Orleans will come back...very slowly but surely. But it will be a much smaller city, and I think it will be more like Galvenston in some ways -- a touristy town full of history.

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.

Thanks for the update. Is that Sheraton the same one I remember seeing with all the windows blown out and the sheets and curtains blowing in the wind? If so, that's quite a recovery for such a large building.

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

This sounds like resentment. Or am I reading it wrong?

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!