New Orleans' Uncertain Future

Between the diaspora of its residents, the prospect of a "Disney-fied" redevelopment plan, and the need to involve residents in planning processes, New Orleans is the site of an immense tug of war over its future.

1 minute read

December 15, 2005, 2:00 PM PST

By Michael Dudley

"...the big fight is to ensure that evacuees are able to participate fully in decision-making about who rebuilds the region and how they do it. Congress should ensure that community organizations have a role in planning, where federal dollars are in play. And governments and charities must ensure that all evacuees maintain an effective right to vote in the Gulf Coast until they can return.

"These will be tough battles, requiring coordination and determination. But already, some passionate visionaries are looking beyond mere survival or a seat at the table. They want to set a bold agenda for reconstruction, ensuring that the new New Orleans is resurrected, not as a corporate theme park but as a thriving eco-city -- designed in accordance with the best ecological thinking and built largely by local labor.

"As utopian as the idea may sound, such an outcome is still possible."

FULL STORY: Resurrect New Orleans: A Better City Is Possible

Thursday, December 15, 2005 in Yes! Magazine

Community / Economic Development Louisiana

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