WISHING WAITING WANTING IN NEW ORLEANS

Wishing, Waiting, and Wanting
By
Debbie Lindsey

By the time you read this most likely nothing will have happened – other than studies to study studies, plans to make plans. But, ya never know. I was told yesterday, by someone who deals with banks and purported to be privy to investment deals and such, that things here were gonna pop. He said that this city would be like a “gold rush”. Big corporations poised to invest. Boom town. Yeah, Right.
But: for the sake of discussion, for just a moment (or the length my column dictates), I’d like to throw about a little conjectural conjuncture. And speculate as to what corporations he was referencing. Starting with the positive possibilities.
Now, I do not pretend to know squat about high finance but I do possess a healthy dose of common sense and a vested interest in this city. So, after I closed my gaping mouth and blinked the disbelief from my eyes I got to thinking about corporations and those which might find our city appealing. First I took a leap of faith, putting all my cynicism on the back burner along with my usual lack of passion for corporate America, and pondered, even made my wish list, dream team if you will, for a New Orleans corporate renaissance.
If the big bucks really are coming our way, then what about taking our medical base and shooting for the stars with major, mega-medical research centers. New Orleans could facilitate a cure for AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and unwanted facial hair. Or, how about Microsoft, Bank of America, Toyota, and Ben and Jerry.
Higher education can be big bucks. And, where else better to have a world-class environmental studies program? We’re certainly the poster child for what not to do – let’s turn our sell-out to the petro industry into profits for an eco-friendly city and state.
Publishing. Let’s entice the big kids in New York to annex here in our literary rich region, heck let’s share with Mississippi and collaborate with and consolidate our southern talents. Let’s publish big here while not forgetting our homegrown acts like Pelican Publishing. And as we’re recruiting Random House maybe Conde Naste might wanna hook into our food culture with offices here for Bon Appetit and Gourmet. Just a thought.
Just a wish list.
While I’m wishin’, wouldn’t it be great if some of these alleged corporate big wigs wanted to rebuild or re-establish more than what the storm took from us. Krauss, K&B, Maison Blanche, Buster Holmes, Chez Helene, Uglesich’s, Dixie Beer, Falstaff brewery, Jax Brewery…(gotta stop here, I am getting a powerful thirst). You get the point: Think retro then build upon it.
While musing over the who, what, when and where of future dollars I queried a few folks. Told ‘em about ‘the man’ with tales of big times, good times ahead and their response was lukewarm with a shot of skepticism. (Yes, you’re right – this is where optimism goes south, where Pollyanna reaches for the anti-depressants.)
When I told them of my wish list of corporations and companies that might lift our city back up, I was reminded that New Orleans currently lacks the quantity and quality of workers needed for such ambitious projects. Affordable housing barely exists any more – our working class people can not return. And even if a company wanted to jump start their ranks of employees by bringing in folks, what kinda combat pay are they willing to part with. We may have a rich and beautiful culture to offer but with inadequate levee protection, reduced police and fire departments, struggling school system, beaten down infrastructure and poor wages who wants to move a family here? Some, but not enough.
So, I have to wonder if the enterprising entities with the enormous bucks are nothing more than real-estate speculators, condominium builders and brokers, casino interests, and more polluting industries hoping to cash in on the ‘green spaces’ promised to replace the lower ninth neighborhood. I certainly see much in the newspaper of defunct properties being converted to condos – and just who can afford them? Certainly some of our flooded-out citizens of financial means will find a home within these, but I betcha a nickel most will be out-of-towners, or part-timers – certainly not involved citizens who vote here and spend money exclusively here. Maybe the argument for the condos is that the executives, Ph.D.s, M.D.s, MBAs, computer geeks, producers, directors and Mafia (oops, cancel that one) will never come to fulfill my wish list without some high-end digs already in place. Like I said, what do I know, I am here just to ponder (and complete this column by deadline).
What comes first? The chicken or the egg? New commerce or new housing? And how does that house become a home without commitment?
Where am I going with all this? I am not sure. Tell me. Please, someone tell me, tell all of us sitting here in a state of suspended animation if this city will have to prostitute herself to shortsighted, short termed sell-outs. Or does my wish list have a chance?
Maybe.
Maybe our light at the end of the tunnel is a klieg light. I betcha there was a time when a Hollywood South seemed farfetched. Yet, we are poised, even after Katrina, to really take off with the film industry. In fact we were already back in the game a year ago when the city was nothing more than an open wound. And the next three years should see over $200 million in feature films in our state thanks to Element Films of Los Angeles and it’s local partner, Lift Films. So, as New Orleans and our state are captured on film we in turn will capture more and more hearts -- hearts that might lead us towards a promising future.
But we can not make the same mistakes again – putting all or most of our eggs in one basket. Tourism, Oil and gas, these were not the answers. So let us be vigilant. We must insist upon diversifying and never settle for the quick fixes. The failure of our levees should be our constant reminder that business as usual can be unusually dangerous.
Comments: debbie @whereyat.net