I do not understand why the President doesn't send the Army Corps of Engineers to New Orleans (I know they are there, but hear me out) to train those left in the city to rebuild. By that I mean, train the majority on building. Train some on wiring and electricity. Train some on plumbing. Their training would be on-the-job and their graduation would be in the streets.
Once this is started, you start putting them to work-- pick a street on which to start. Send the lumber and the other supplies. And put these people to work rebuilding that street, using the plans that must be on file somewhere for each house. Rebuild the street as it was before. When they finish that street, those who cannot do the construction can make the phone calls to tell those who used to own that home that it is back and ready for them to move in. Have others working on the moving aspect; helping to drive trucks, haul furniture, paint walls, and get those families moved.
When that street is done, rebuild the next street. And the next. These people will get more skilled, their sense of community will skyrocket, and the job will get done. Plus, this will create jobs, economy, income in New Orleans.
When the project is done (which will likely take years) you have a city of skilled workers available. They have the pride and knowledge in new skillsets and marketable job experience-- they can go anywhere in the country for new building jobs.
I see no real reason for the dicking about by those in the positions of power for the rebuilding nor any reason for the lamentation of those left behind; rebuild what was lost and put the people that are homeless and destitute to work doing it-- both problems are solved. New Orleans is rebuilt (no more dicking about, stealing the land from those who currently own it, etc.), the homeless and destitute have new, marketable skills (no more groaning about no jobs, no skills), and people come back to the city.
Why is everyone trying to overcomplicate these things? Get in there, rebuild it, and get this thing turned around.
One of the trite truisms is that God helps those who help themselves. I donated a lot of money to Katrina relief--and, I thought, rebuilding--but no one wants to step up to the plate and get the job done.
ReplyDeleteSome lower income communities become caretaker communities, where the residents are so used to being provided with their home, their income, their way of life that they don't know how to do it themselves.
Your idea is excellent and, as you point out, solves so many problems on so many levels. The majority of the people affected by Katrina did not own the homes in which they lived, so, perhaps, they do not feel responsible for rebuilding them, but somebody has to do the job--and I vote that the person who needs a home (and a way to earn a living) be the person to do the job.