How to Succeed in New Orleans

by Don Boudreaux on March 23, 2007

in Complexity and Emergence

My friend and former NYU classmate Sandy Ikeda has this outstanding op-ed in the current issue of Forbes.  In it, Sandy argues that New Orleans would be rebuilt better if neighborhoods there secede from the City.  Here are some key paragraphs:

At first blush this idea [of secession] probably sounds radical, even absurd. But
secession is the logical extension of the Unified New Orleans Plan,
which, in an earlier incarnation, allowed each neighborhood to hire
urban planners to coordinate post-Katrina reconstruction. If
neighborhoods can be trusted with this vital task, why can’t they
manage their own security, garbage collection, noise ordinances and
road maintenance? Devolving power in this way goes far beyond UNOP’s
proposed "citizen participation" and enables neighborhoods to more
effectively mobilize their energy and know-how.

Consider this:
Secession has been happening for decades. Almost a fifth of Americans
now live in suburbs, private neighborhoods with deed restrictions and
community-oriented governance. Why shouldn’t urban dwellers have those
options?

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  • How Nagin got re-elected is beyond me but he did and now the city government will be run by somebody who refuses to take responsibility for any problems or complications.


    I think it is a great ides.


    Chris

  • Cade Roux

    Nagin was re-elected through an unholy alliance of blind Republican voter loyalty (Nagin was a Republican prior to running for mayor and currently is a Democrat in name only) against Landrieu (and the Democratic party machine of the Landrieu family) and cynical manipulation of black voters against a white Landrieu - aided by using the voters' natural contrariness in a masterful stroke of reverse psychology.


    As for the idea that New Orleans is any different than anywhere else:


    The United States has always been a better country than its leaders deserved and when they reelect incompetents like Bush you wonder if there is any hope.

  • Donald Zeiter

    I think Pete Townsend foresaw this situation:


    Meet the new boss:

    Same as the old boss.


    What are they to succeed to? Does anyone really believe that a neighborhood parting ways with the city will escape the corruption or incompetence that permeates the city and state? Unless a neighborhood can wall off the current leaders it will take more than succession to make their lives better. New Orleans has always been a better city than its leaders deserved and when they reelect incompetents like Nagin you wonder if there is any hope.

  • Cade Roux

    Please post comments when you know what you are talking about.


    << a site that has sunk a dozen on more feet below the surrounding water table? >>


    False, and clearly you have zero understanding of either the water table or the sea level concept, and are also continuing to perpetuate incorrect myths of the relative elevation in the areas in and around New Orleans.


    << Why not dredge these locales to make causeways, let the rest flood, and call it a marina? The existing levees would offer some protection, there would be no more flooded basements >>


    There are not very many basements in New Orleans. And it's pretty clear that the existing marinas didn't fair terribly well. Why don't you spend some time here and get a better understanding of the issues involved?

  • True_Liberal

    From a purely practical view - What could be more insane than rebuilding on a site that has sunk a dozen on more feet below the surrounding water table?


    Why not dredge these locales to make causeways, let the rest flood, and call it a marina? The existing levees would offer some protection, there would be no more flooded basements, ......

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