St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee

Comments and Suggestions

Thank you for visiting our pages. We would love it if you would Add your comments and suggestions so that we can rebuild St. Bernard together!

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Alex <alexwm@list.ru>
District A, Economic Development

- Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 05:14:26 (EDT)

Is this committee still in existence?? There's been nothing new posted since last summer!
D. Ricard
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, December 28, 2007 at 13:32:28 (EST)

**********WARNING*******WARNING*******WARNING*******
please take the time to read, it may be of the utmost of importance to you, a friend or relative who is living in a f.e.m.a. trailer.

on november 8,2007 an armed indiviual came to our trailer and told us we 48 hours to be off the property or we and our belongings would be out on the street by force

you see, our good old state run "road home" now owns the property, they sent this messenger. on june 25,2007 we closed on our road home grant. at that time we brought up the question of how long did we have to stay in the trailer at our old address while rebuilding another house we bought in the parish. we were told one year to three years before anything would be done with the property so not to worry. this was the first american attorney talking top us and also another first american employee name brian.

another bold faced lie from our good old road home people.
the facts that we had no place to go did not bother these people in the least. we called senator boasso, charlie melancon, craig tafaro, f.e.m.a., road home and of course our lovely lame duck governor blanco. no one had the easy solution to this grave problem. the only help we got came from f.e.m.a. by way of a hotel room in metairie to live in.

none of those big brains that created road home considered
this issue. we were the first to bring it up but we will not be the last. road home says blanco gave them orders to evict people living in trailers on what is now state owned properties. her henchmen "corporate security services" through mr. robert holiday is carrying out those orders as if they were the nazi storm troopers of hitler's germany.

what has happened to america, where has freedom gone. the citizens of iraq are receiving better treatment than we are and at a much higher cost. we didn't ask for special treatment just humane treatment. afterall we are americans.

the road home has been the biggest diaster to hit this aerea and its people since katrina. how much hurt are we expected to indure? until this happened, i didn't know you could break a broken heart. i wonder how many innocent people have died long after katrina came ashore because of the long and pothole filled road home.

please pass this on and tell all whom you share this with, that they will be in our prayers.
daniel oneil
District B, Not Sure

- Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 22:52:10 (EST)

Well, I am Back in St.Bernard Parish.Now we own our first home. Thanks to my sister in law. We,stated living in while it was still gutted, we do have most of the walls up. But things are tough. I'm hoping to have the house finised by christmas, but thats not looking to good. But thank god we are home where we belong.....
Angela Evans <angela_evens@yahoo.com>
District E, Not Sure

- Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 11:11:35 (EDT)

I think that it is completely ridicoulas that SDT will not pick up the garbage out of the old WM cans. It the same thing but a different color. If SDT will not pick up out of these cans than why don't they take the cans & dispose of them?
Kelli <kroot1019@yahoo.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Monday, August 20, 2007 at 17:46:20 (EDT)

Hi,I am Richard a Liberan who is working in DR Congo as a volunteer.I came across your site through a friend and was told that your organization in search of skill individaul to voulnteer in helping to re-bulid cities that were destroyed by the hurucain.If this is true ,i will like to contribute my quota in re-buliding part of the first city.
Richard Gegbae <rgeegbae@yahoo.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 04:45:14 (EDT)

Please add my company to the up and running list.Thank You.
P.S. You are doing a great job mr Taffaro.The Ricord Family
Charles Ricord
District D, Not Sure

- Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 21:09:51 (EST)

I do not see my name listed as a member.Could you contact Judge Gorbathy as he appointed me to the environmental committee and I did attend many meetings as a member and would like the record to show that I Kenneth Ford was on the environmental committee. Thanks Ken Ford
Kenneth Ford <kenngenny@aol.com>
District A, Environmental

- Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 21:35:19 (EST)

To the Councilman of St. Bernard Parish, everyone who lives or lived in St. Bernard is well aware of why the "Rental Premit" was created. Instead of worring about who I might rent my property to, maybe the council should focus on holding property investors responsible for the condition of their property.
Using Village Square as an example, was any of those property investors held accountable for the condition of their property? It's very clear that the councilman do not truly understand the relationship between property investors and tenants. Here's a clue, tenants will only do/destroy what the property investors will allow them to do. Meaning, if you do not allow tenants to fall below your standards they wont.
I never understood why the council fought Mr. Dean so hard on his idea's or suggestions, maybe now the council will stop fighting with Mr. Dean and start to listen. Then maybe you guys would have a clue because right now you don't
Peaches Saacks <jpsaacks@yahoo.com>
District C, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Saturday, October 07, 2006 at 22:40:29 (EDT)

Has anyone realized that with the contamination in the St Bernard area, that this is a toxic waste area such as has never been seen before and that the mix of chemicals, heavy metals, molds and bacteria still in the air, dried sludge, homes and building debris and standing homes that this area can not ever be cleaned up tolive in safely?

Why is noone informing the residents, and the young volunteers- kids- who are coming down here to help you gut your homes and move your debris? these kids nor their parents have absolutely no idea how toxic this area is right now, nor are any of the nonprofits giving them this info. they are simply being made to sign waivers not to hold anyone respnsible if they get sick or hurt. They can't give informed consent becuase they haven't been informed of the real risks. The volunteers think they are coming down to help people and serve their fellwoman and have a wonderful time doing it. they are unpaid hazmat workers without the training, equipment, adequate respirators, or decontamination that real professional hazmat workers would consider mandatory. No one else wants to do this job-

The parish council was given at least three reports, - by the Bucker Brigade,Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker a nationally known mold specialist, and Dr. Richard Lipsey a forensic toxicologist regarding the safety of this area, and they are still allowing the residents to stay without adequate knowledge or treatment of the illnesses already occurring as a result of these contaminants.

some of th evolunteer who are helping you all so much are being housed in the Rowley School- where tests show the dreid sediment in the playground to be contaminated 33 times above the acceptable limit.

For God's sake, somebody at least tell the volunteers this stuff!

Is anybody thinking about the health of their own kids, or the people who have come down to help you? They are sacrificing their health and so is everyone who stays there.

someday the unknown toxic mix of contaminants here is going to reveal health effects that make Love Canal look like a picninc.

elaine west <onus1@aol.com>
District A, Environmental

- Friday, September 22, 2006 at 18:22:49 (EDT)

I would like to know when the drains are going to be cleaned out in the neighborhoods where we are back living. Everyone on my short block is back. Two of us are in our houses and the rest in FEMA trailers. With a hard rain, the streets flood. This is a great concern to us.
Jeanine Pellegrini <dunnedunne@bellsouth.net>
District C, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, September 22, 2006 at 14:57:56 (EDT)

I am a contractor from Ill. I am looking to help some of the people effected by the hurricaine. I am not looking to come there and build big homes because it takes too long and I would not be able to help as many people in a timely manner. We build mainly post frame buildings,smaller homes (70,000-150,000 dollar homes) now them numbers are prices here in Ill, in your area they would be approx. 120,000 - 220,000 dollar homes. We are capabable of bringing materials fom our area to yours to keep the cost down drasticly,we also build garages and decks but there would not be enough work at one time to get me to to bring one of my crews down there, it would be too costly to my business and to the patron. At these prices there might be alot more people able to afford to rebuild. Please feel free to e-mail me at duckhunt1972@yahoo.com, if anyone is interested please e-mail me we can talk on the phone and I am available to meet in person. thank you and god bless.
K&C POSTFRAME CONSTRUCTION <DUCKHUNT1972@YAHOO.COM>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, August 25, 2006 at 21:23:55 (EDT)

please obosi is deyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
obosi <obosi@juno.com>
District B, Not Sure

- Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 14:43:27 (EDT)

I just read the post below, on the St. Bernard forum, on NOLA.com. Not having read yesterday's paper, I can't vouch for the validity of the information, but, I thought the green spaces were no longer valid issues. Are green space areas still viable? If so, where is the authorized list posted? I am interested because I have a property that is located in one of the intially identified green space areas. A few months ago I was told that the green space areas were no longer up for consideration, because the Parish doesn't have enough money to purchase the properties.
Any information will be more than appreciated.

Thanks

"18645. GREEN SPACE(AGAIN!!)
by marilynarabi, 7/24/06 9:11 ET
OK, WOULD OUR OFFICIALS MAKE UP THEIR MINDS. VERY LARGE ARTICLE IN YESTERDAYS PAPER ON ST. BERNARD. COVERED A LOT OF GOOD POINTS. HOWEVER, IT WAS STATED AGAIN ABOUT THE LONG NORTH STRIP OF PROPERTIES ALONG THE 40 ARPENT BEING GREEN SPACE. I LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM THE CANAL IN ST. CLAUDE HEIGHTS - A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS INVESTING MONEY IN FIXING, (INCLUDING RAISING) THEIR HOMES. WE NEED A DEFINITE ANSWER ON THIS. IF IT IS GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE, OK, TELL US SO WE CAN MOVE FURTHER SOUTH. THEIR WISHY WASHY ATTITUDE IS DRIVING PEOPLE CRAZY AND KEEPING A LOT OF US IN "LIMBO". MY HOUSE WILL BE DEMO'D SORTLY, DO I REBUILD?MOVE?. CAN WE REBUILD OR NOT??????? THE ONLY ANSWER I RECEIVED FROM MADARY IS "IF YOU REBUILD AND THEN DESIGNATED GREEN, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY YOU YOUR NEW HOME VALUE" LIKE ITS NO BIG DEAL. NO ONE WANTS TO REBUILD TWICE"

charlie fos <charlesfos@bellsouth.net>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Monday, July 24, 2006 at 12:22:49 (EDT)

I understand that in order to be grandfathered in, with regards to not
having to comply with the new flood elevations that are soon to be adopted,
that a permit must have been filed for/rec'd prior to the actual adoption of
the new flood elevations. My questions are:

1) is a structural engr's report stating the structure is sound, an
acceptable substitute for the permit?

2) if it is acceptable, is the report transferrable, should the property be
sold, and, no repairs (only cleaned, gutted, has doors/windows, with mowed
grass) have been made?
a)is there a time limit placed on thestructural engr's report, that would
render them useless after a specifed period?

3) if the structural engr's report is not acceptable, and permits are
obtained:
a) are the permits transferrable, should the property be sold, and, no
repairs (only cleaned, gutted, has doors/windows, with mowed grass)? have
been made?
b) is there a time limit placed on the permits, that would render them
useless after a specifed period?

4) Is August 29 the final date for obtaining the structural engr's report,
or having the permit filed?

Thanks

Charlie Fos <charlesfos@bellsouth.net>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, July 21, 2006 at 07:54:30 (EDT)

Jacquelyn:
RE: grass cutting
Dennis Showalter is a Chalmette native. He is mowing many yards in St. Bernard, including mine, and, my mother's. His prices are reasonable..
His tel's are:
504-251-0669
985-863-0552
charlie fos <charlesfos@bellsouth.net>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 13:42:35 (EDT)

My mother, Marian Schneider, has a house in Bucaneer Villa North. I'm trying to find someone to cut the grass on her property. I don't know where else to go to find someone to do this. Has anyone have names of individuals in St. Bernard who are cutting grass on homeowners' property?
Jacquelyn Schneider <jacqschnd@aol.com>
District E, Not Sure

- Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 11:06:41 (EDT)

For those of you who don't subscribe to Westley's "DA Parish" forum, I posted the following today, after having had the pleasure of trying to have my property removed from the Parish's Blighted list. I suggest you all check the list - -it's no where near accurate. Also, if your property is listed, no one knows how to have it removed .
Like a dumb A$$ I tried to have my property removed from the blighted list, today. I took off work, drove to Chalmette from Mandevlle, only to find out that Mr. Hunnicutt was too busy to see any St. Bernard parish residents today. Yep - he made the rules, - we have to visit him personally - -I read the damned article "God has spoken" - "These are stuctures we've heard nothing on. Nothing.!" That's a bold faced lie - -I followed his bleeping rules from day one - - I placed the property on the free gutting list - -( in December, '05) after having been told several times by Mr Tafarro, and, Mrs Hoffmeister that the area in which my propery was located was deemed for GREENSPACE - - don't spend money there!. BUT, the rules changed - - ALL PROPERTY MUST BE MADE EASY ON THE EYES - -GUT, CLEAN, HANG DOORS, WINDOWS, REMOVE THE BLUE TARPS - -forget that we told you to sit on your hands for 7 months - -we're gonna give ya two months to have it done. Then Mr. Hunnicutts gonna place a lien on your blighted property.
In the mean time, I've had the propery gutted, cleaned, inspected for oil, and inspected for structural soundness - - several $1000's of mine. When is Mr Hunicutt going to see that the pile of trash that was created when the house was gutted, is picked up? I hope it doesn;t take as long as it did to clean the trash from my primary home. Will a lien be placed on the clean up company?

Anyway, like I was saying, I want to see Mr Hunnicutt today, but, had to settle to sign off on an unnofficial form in the Redevelopment office, because Mr. Hunnicutt's office was not seeing us today. Per the ladies in the Redevelopment office, it seems as though Mr Hunicutt has not yet decided what all information will be required of us dumba$$'s. In the interim, people were pouring into the parish since last Friday, in an attempt to have their properties removed from this blasted list.
How dare Mr. Hunnicutt refuse to see people today - - he is supposed to work for us, not against us!. If the parish council really has concern and compassion for their constitiuents, then I ask them to publicly chastise Mr. Hunnicutt - - demand public apologies! His action, or, lack of it, today, has only broadend the gap .
I know my plea will fall on deaf ears - - who cares about me - -joe citizen taxpayer - -just keeping sending in those $'s and WE love ya! - - Just don;t ask us to do anyhting that might help, or, even make sense.

Well, I've had it - after today, if there was any inkling remaining to return to St. Bernard, I lost 'em all - - it;s time to get the Hell otta dodge (St. Bernard). If anyone is interested, I have some investment property to sell - - Oh yeah, I forgot, you can't rent 'em out - - Parish leaders say that that wouldn't be a good thing for you to do. Imagine that - -they're looking out for ya! Only your best wishes in mind!!

Good luck to all. See ya later. I'm outta here!

Charlie Fos

charlie Fos <charlesfos@bellsouth.net>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Monday, July 10, 2006 at 23:13:16 (EDT)

I lived in St. Bernard parish in Arabi all my life. I liked living in Arabi and loved my neighbors but now that my neighbors are not going back to the parish my family is not either. I read the paper and watch the council and I thank God that we made the right choice. Maybe someday St. Bernard will make a come back but only if we get all new council members. The ones that are in office now are a JOKE! They are all a bunch of clowns. They could sell tickets to their meeting and make money like the circus does. I am so glad I moved to St. Tammany parish, cleanand smooth streets. At least now I will see where my tax dollars is going.
Kathy
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Saturday, July 01, 2006 at 01:08:30 (EDT)

I think that because the people in St. Bernard had more people who own there home than anyone. So Ithink that's why we are not getting the help we need.That's why we are getting nothing for what we had. Also the people we put in office could care lets about us. Because I was turn down by Sba & Fema and I can't get anyone to tell me why.
Wanda Varnado <grandbear7@yahoo.com>
District A, Not Sure

- Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 15:51:04 (EDT)

I live in Meraux. I have a large family all from diffrent areas in the parish. We all had insurance, enough to pay off our mortgages. What agers me is the only help being offered is to help uninsured homeowners. The plan makes it sound so good, everyone being offered 150k to fix house or take a buyout. If you did the resposable thing and had insurance, you get nothing. Even a buyout, after subtracting insurance you get nothing. We've been moving place to place waiting on a plan and it's no benifit to us. Even the parish don't have a plan. One minite we have to raise than we don't. A new buyer can't get an affordable insurance policy, so I can't sell and get a decent amount for the property. No one in my family is coming back to St. Bernard. It cost more to repair our homes than what we got from insurance. Around me there is low class contractors buying houses, repairing them to substandard conditions and plan on renting, living or selling. We'll probally do the same eventually, fix it up enough were we can make a quick buck. When you buy a house you make sure it is in a decent neighborhood. Now, you have no idea who your neighbor will be. And by the looks of it, I'm not living next to this new neighbor. If the government would offer, the people who did the responsable thing by having insurance, and incentive to come back, a lot of us would. I work in downtown N.O. I'm not looking foward to the commute but I have no choice. I am building a $250,000 home in Mississippi. The rest of my family to probaly follow soon. And no that's not what I got from inusrance. I'll have close to a $2000 a month note afer insurance. Before my note was $550 a month. Yes, I could take a lean against my Meraux house and rebuild it, but why. St. Bernard will not be like it was before. It is going to be mostly rental property and houses with no one living in them. The parish says they will make people put windows and doors on there house. Like they will enforce that. I'm going to do like the others around me do. Let the parish warn me 100 times than I'll satisfy the requirment to a minimum. Go check out the corner of Margaret lane and Birch st. This junk collector is picking up everyones junk and it is piled in his front yard and back yard. I've complained to the parish for 5 years before the storm and the the parish just says they fined him. Well now after the storm it's ten times as worse. The guy across from him has a tractor trailer on his front lawn. Complaints were made about him before the storm. He still has it there.

My suggestions for the recovery of the parish, which will never happen because it makes since: Bulldoze every home. Let everyone have ther piece of land. Offer everyone who wants to rebuild a no intrest loan or even a very low intrest loan. Set covanents simmilar to Jumavile. I know people don't want to lose there home but if they are offered a loan with no or low intrest you would be crazy not to take it. The parish would be booming in a few years. Everyone's property would be worth a lot since everything around is new. The properties that are needed for better drainage, pay them above market value or trade there land for a piece of land similar in another location.

Just venting my fustration. Been paying a $1000 a month for rent. I have to fight with FEMA for three months to get reimbursed. Than pay another three months out of pocket, fight for three monthes than get reimbursed. I guess I'm more fortunate than oters. At least I getting rental assistance with a fight.
Jason <DJSPA@MSN.COM>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Monday, June 19, 2006 at 14:40:56 (EDT)

I would love to St. Bernard come back as a Parish much better than it was before I am currently trying to return to the parish, but I have one problem I am trying to find some type of grant program to purchase a home going for $53,000.00 dollars I need assistance that can help me and my kids to relocate back to our parish if you can help me with this information Please contact me at (504)4420901 this would be much appreciated.
Ms. Melanie Bienemy <irvinsangel73@yahoo.com>
District A, Not Sure

- Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 14:20:03 (EDT)

Regarding the post in "da-Parish" forum, below, by Laurie, from May 17,
I also have property in the same area. I have done nothing to it, and, the reason I've done nothing is that from day one, it has been "rumored" that this area was to be green space. The Dulauny (sp?) plan has it as green space, also. In one of Craig's reports, when it Buccaner Villa Nort was 1st lated to become a golf course, it was stated that "several doubles in this area were to be green space"....
I questioned that statement and was told that "..it wil be left up to the residents. Well, I haven't been contacted by any residents inn the area - -I only see a handful of FEMA trailer in the area, and all but one are within the 1st block of Genie St.
I called and spoke with Judy Hoffmeister about the plans for the area, about a 2 months ago - -I was told that the Parish has submitted the request to turn this area into greenspace to the State and Fed's. I was told the response could be 4 - 6 months away.
In Dec or January, I placed the property on the list for free gutting - I didn;t see the sense to spend any $ to gut, based on the information I had been give.
Also, an ex co-worker also has property in this same area - -she's relocated to Dallas -- she has spoken with Craig, also, and, was told that it wold not be wise to spend any $ in this area......she has not done anything to her property, either.

What guidelines are we to follow? That which says to not spend more money in this area, or, clean, gut, buy new doors, mow grass, so as to follow the new directive that requires all properties to be cleaned, gutted and have new windows and doors by Aug 29?
I ask the Parish Government to give some clear, concise guidelines, and, I'll bet people will stop complaining and get on with their lives. Until such time, though, don;t expect much to happen - - as we don't know what rule we're to follow any longer - the rules keep changing!
The directions we are being given are extremely confusing and opposing.

On the other hand, my primary home, which is a 2 -story, and, only had 7' of water. Since there are there are no plans to turn this area into greenspace I had this property cleaned and gutted in Nov. There are several people living in trailers the area around this property, and, so I've been paying to have the grass mowed, in an attempt to keep the neighborhood looking 1/2-way decent.

Charlie Fos

Tel: 504-712-7171
e-mail: fosc@randa.net

++++++++++++++

original Question, posted Wed, May 17.

Craig.

I pondered this same question. We have already spent several thousand
dollars cleaning and gutting a double house on Pierre St. Then we found out
it would probably be green space, and the parish was pushing to make it
happen. I asked you about the property on this forum and you advised me to
be very careful about investing additional money in that area as the parish
wanted to make it green space. You estimated it would be 6 to 9 months.
That was a few months ago. Has this idea been abandoned or is green space
still an option? Why would we need to spend additional money and energy on
windows and doors to a house that will be made into green space? I don't
understand that. I don't think there is one fema trailer or person living
on this street. Thanks and looking forward to your insight on this.

Laurie

Charlie Fos
Not Sure, Economic Development

- Friday, May 19, 2006 at 14:24:12 (EDT)

I am very diappointed at our government officials with the Road Home plan. This plan DOES NOT assit middle income or people that did have flood insurance coverage. What a lot of people don't realize is that even though we had flood insurance, we also still owed mortgages that required us to use those funds to pay off the mortgages. My husband and I both were fortunate enough to still have our jobs, but because of this we had to take our contents money and purchase a new home to live in so that we can still work. A state buyout without penalizing us for receiving insurance money would have been wonderful for us, but by deducting the insurance money the only thing that the state is doing for middle income people is to force us to leave blighted properties. We don't have the funds to fix the old house and can't sell the property because no one wants to buy it for a resonable price!! It's bad enough that we lost everything, but the insurance money received is also a loss because there is absolutely no way to even partially recover any of the dollars that were used to pay off the mortgages on these homes. I personally do not want to spend any more dollars on my home in St. Bernard because I have already invested at least $150,000 or more in the home and will never EVER recover any of the equity that I had in my house. Through this disaster the middle income citizens have been penalized for having Flood insurance and left out of any assistance. If it was not for my husband and I helping ourselves, we would have been homeless and lost our jobs because of not being able to find a place to live to be able to go to work!! We are still living in Louisiana because we love this state, and we should be awarded for staying and trying to rebuild our lives!! We should not be penalized because we did the right thing and purchased flood insurance. Wake up people, we live in southeast Louisiana!!! There should be no one living in this area without flood insurance!! Someone needs to help the middle class citizens before there is no middle class!! To all government officials at the State and Federal level, get up off your butts and help the backbone of this country and not just the uninsured or freeloaders!!!
Hilda Hartmann <hilda1116@cs.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 10:42:49 (EDT)

I am trying to get information on Federal Employees retirement club of St Bernard. My aunt is 96 years old and enjoyed going to the meetings to socialize with her old friends.
Vincent <va6753@msn.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 16:57:09 (EDT)

Trying to find Peggy Denley on 2712 Palmette St. Chalmette LA. Please if you know where any of the family is have them email me immediately. Was in Chalmette for Easter looking for them. Thanks
Debbie Cupit Martin <dcupitmartin@msn.com>
Not Sure, Economic Development

- Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 21:40:45 (EDT)

I want to come back home, but I have no home to come back to, due to that I was renting. All, I have is time to help out my home town . I just want to be back home. I miss you dearly St. Bernard. I alos lost my mother and brother due to Katrina, and it hurts so bad inside. I want a friendly face to look at. Im tired of being the out cast in another state. As they say we are refugees. Did we become Aleins when Katrina hit. If so somebody needed to let me know. Because I would have just stayed home, then I would have been happier with all of you, or even all of the beautiful lost souls. Please help us get back to my lovely parish..... Hugs to all of you....... Ang
Angela Evans <angela_evens@yahoo.com>
District A, Not Sure

- Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 17:13:57 (EDT)

JUST CLEAN UP THE MESS AND PEOPLE WILL WANT TO COME BACK. I don't believe all the FEMA talk is what is holding up people. I think it is all the mess that is still around.

Nobody wants to live in this mess. I am starting to rebuild my home and am discouraged by all the mess that is still around.

JUST CLEAN UP!!!!!!!!
amcshan <mschalmac@cox.net>
District C, Not Sure

- Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 09:24:16 (EDT)

have been trying to get trailer at one of the trailer sites in the parish - can anyone tell me EXACTLY what the protocol is - FEMA keeps telling me my name is on hold for a commercial site - times running out and so is the money
carol <champcf@hotmail.com>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 11:04:10 (EDT)

I have been disappointed in what I've been reading about the recovery grants. At first it was $150,00 to help people get home - all people. Lately it reads as another low income housing program. What about the middle class who has worked hard, paid taxes, bought homes without government assistance, been contributing members of our community (throgh track clubs, neighborhood associations,computer groups, volunteering with the council on aging. We the middle class are the backbone of our community. We got flooded through the fault of the feds and army corp. Why do we get left out of the help? We can't get back on our feet or on with our life, but the government is going to give more help to the soap opera queens and Nagin's chocolate city, using our tax dollars to help others but not us.
Janel Mumme <philjanel@netscape.net>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 22:36:17 (EDT)

Hi,

My name is Jessica Lemoine and I lived in St.Bernard Parish my whole life . I am currently living with a relative, and on April 11th I will have to leave.I have been trying to get housing help from FEMA , but have had no luck.If anyone knows of anything that could help my situation , please e-mail me back! thanks Jessica
Jessica Lemoine <jml@ahhelaw.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Wednesday, April 05, 2006 at 13:45:11 (EDT)

897652
Please just let those of us who are trying to come back and rebuild do that. We are tired of all the rumors. While we hope all the wonderful changes take place at some time, we all should know that this is sometime in the distant future and at a lot of expense to someone. Just let those of us who are ready to come back do just that and get on with everything else. ENOUGH RUMORS AND JUST LET US REBUILD

amcshan <mschalmac@cox.net>
District C, Not Sure

- Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 15:05:48 (EST)

After attending the 3/15 meeting, I feel encouraged at the possibilities of our future. I believe public support will be necessary to accomplish some of the so-called dreams or pie in the sky. I look forward to the opportunity to participate in this endeavor and have family members who feel the same way. Looking forward to a brighter future.
trina graves <trinachlmtt@aol.com>
Not Sure, Economic Development

- Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 13:02:33 (EST)

I used to lived in Meraux, across from Joe Davis school.I'm very disappointed in the Parish officials!after the storm you dumped all the munk, mud,sewerage & swamp guk in our front yard, yes you did. now they're dumping the debris behind the houses on MISTROT?? my husband & I recently visited our " home" on Mistrot Dr., only to sign papers to demolish our home. to our horror, the stinch, fawl ordor! I got nauseied, couldn't breathe(respiroty probelms),the sight didn't help my mental probelms either since the storm. what the h--- are you people thinking of?? and you want residents to come back? I don't think so. we went to Arabi down Patricia by Schell, you can smell decomposing flesh in the air. while we were at the gov'ment complex, we picked up the St. Bernard news, all advertsments. NO NEWS??? I notice you can subscribe to have it mailed to you at a fee, $25.00 for 6 mos.! come on, your relocated residents aren't going to pay for a paper that they use to get "FREE" & get nothing but advertsments, gives us a break!I noticed Lexington was the first to get cleaned up.what's up with that? riches first. our street, Mistrot & Nunez was HIT BY a TORNADOE, 2 surges & Katrina. don't we need to get cleaned up too?? where's the police?? our house has been vendelized twice, husbands carvette was ok this time someone took a slug hammer to it! everytime we've been down there, I did not see, not one patrol car pass our neighborhood, we were there for hours.but I bet Lexington has daily patrol!Murphy's a joke! you're not helping us by defending them, because they're your only revenue. we have oil in our soil!I have pictures of it coming up after my husband stepped in wet guk. money talks,shit walks. I'm ANGRY & very DISAPPOINTED in the parish officials.
G. Vallas Vixen2849@cox.net
Geralynn Vallas <vixen2849@cox.net>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 14:49:59 (EST)

are stupid
kay <ilekendik@yahoo.com>
District A, Economic Development

- Friday, March 03, 2006 at 20:20:16 (EST)

I attended Saturdayâ s presentation of the recommendations made by the Citizens Recovery Committee and I want to thank each and every one of the Committee members for their hard work! I appreciate the time theyâ ve spent and their patience in presenting their work, especially in the face of some of the frustrated audience members in attendance. Unfortunately due to the actions of those folks, the majority in Sat.'s attendance voted to forego the opportunity for questions at the end of each segment in order to allow the full presentation to be heard. This caused numerous people to leave, but honestly, I think they were trying to get answers to questions that the Committee was not going to be able to provide.

While Iâ ve personally chosen to wait for the new flood guidelines (due March 15) before deciding on whether or how to rebuild my own residence at Riverland near Genie St., I have to admit I was surprised that the Committee also took that stand and proposed â wait and seeâ for the entire parish population (well, at least the ones who were outside of a B flood zone). I was not aware of the La. Recovery Authorityâ s resolution to â only provide HMGP (hazard mitigation grant program) funding in those parishes that adopt and enforce FEMAâ s Flood Advisory Elevation guidance in the construction or reconstruction of all home, businesses, and other structuresâ (see http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/assets/FINAL_QP2006_FEB%2006.pdf pg. 9, number 2).

I thought all areas of discussion (sub-committees) were well thought out insofar as the recommendations are concerned. The proposals made by the Coastal Protection committee particularly impressed me. I look forward to seeing their suggestions implemented as quickly as possible to help ensure the safety of everyone in our Parish. As recommended by those in attendance, all residents should write to our U.S. representatives in Congress to approve funding for restoring our marshes and providing storm surge barriers. (Mary Landrieu and David Vitter in the Senate http://landrieu.senate.gov/hurricanes/index.cfm, http://vitter.senate.gov/, and Charlie Melancon in the House of Rep. http://melancon.house.gov/

Regarding the delivery of the newsletter to residents, why not use the addresses that have been provided to you through the parish website and that weâ ve provided through various documents weâ ve completed with the Parish Government? Or why not create a new page that doesn't have to be posted but just allows parish residents to register our current mailing addresses?

I understand that the Council will have to vote on these proposals, and I would imagine they will want to tweak certain aspects. These would be my recommendations for tweaking:
Infrastructure & Transportation â as part of the comprehensive planning process, will there be new easement requirements between homes and for backyards so that in rebuilding we donâ t recreate the overcrowded appearance of homes on top of one another? I agree with the proposal to build the Florida Avenue corridor inside the 40 arpent levee system, but would also agree with those who want to leave out the portion extending into Meraux if needed to save money and achieve the primary highway.

Financial Outreach/Fiscal Stability â I am definitely NOT in favor of establishing the St. Bernard Parish Recovery Authority. I look at that as an example of parish parochialism--as though the only way for us to receive "our fair share" of any money from the Louisiana Recovery Authority is by asking for our own version of that same authority. I think this would be a huge mistake. If you're applying for Fannie Mae money, or any other type of federal assistance, you go to one single source. I don't see why this should be any different and frankly am mistrustful of any local agencies anywhere being set up to oversee dispersement of these funds.

Dede Ricard <ricarddede@yahoo.com>
District C, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 22:18:48 (EST)

The comments cited below is a response to an Editorial Reply to the Times-Picayune. For the record, this reply was forwarded for publication to the Times-Picayune on
Monday, January 30, 2006. As of this date, the REPLY has not been published, even after several calls were made to the Times-Picayune to determine why the Reply was not Published.

So to all the Good Citizens of St. Bernard, we are entering
our editorial reply on this website for all to read.

The Reply was submitted as Follows:

"Say It Isn't So Joe"

In an article printed by the Times-Picayune on Thursday, January 26, 2006, entitled, "Buyout Hope Hurt, Not Dead," which referenced the White House's public opposition to supporting the "Baker Plan," Joe Canizaro, respected and renowned business entrepreneur and investor, was quoted, " That he belives that the City (New Orleans) has at least 90 percent of the losses and should get the lion's share of the money."

The "Money" that Mr. Canizaro is referring to is the $6.2 Billion Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) funds that are a significant resource within the $29.1 Billion already appropriated by Congress to assist in the Gulf Coast's recovery due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Let's examine Mr. Canizaro's position. First and foremost, 90% of the $6.2 billion earmarked for Louisiana would mean that the city of New Orleans should receive approximately $5.6 billion, thus leaving ONLY $0.6 billion for the remaining 22 parishes that have received significant damage, as well as several parishes devastated and totally destroyed such as St. Bernard. In advocating his position, Mr. Canizaro callously exhibited either his unwillingness to recognize the depth of the devastation of the surrounding areas or a lack of respect that the Greater New Orleans area MUST be rebuilt with the concept of Regionalization as our focused mission. Objectives and goals less than this are shortsighted and clearly demonstrate a lack of vision.

We wonder whether of not Mr. Canizaro's predisposition to the distribution of CDBG funds is caused by selfisheness and brazen arrogance or by a reckless disregard and ignorance of the suffering of hundreds of thousands of citizens living in parishes other than Orleans. Has he forgotten that the eye of Katrina took a jog to the East, sparing Orleans of a direct hit, mowing down southern Plaquemines Parish, crushing St. Bernard Parish, and then finally slamming into St. Tammany Parish and the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

Has Mr. Canizaro considered in his distribution plan the fact that in St. Bernard Parish every home (26,000) and every business (1,800) was flooded, every school closed, and our entire industrial and governmental infrastructure ravaged? Is he aware of the total destruction of the fishing industry in eastern St. Bernard Parish and southern Plaquemines Parish? Say it isn't so, Joe!

We, as citizens of the Greater New Orleans region, respectfully request that you abandon this traditional parochial position and ask you to join us in supporting the recovery and rebuilding of Greater New Orleans with the vision toward Regionalism. At this time in our State's history, we must speak with one voice. Remember, the whole world is watching.

PS: We THANK Mr. E. M. Roy, Editor, St. Bernard Voice, for publishing our reply in his weekly newspaper.

Daniel Bourgeois & Sandra Gorbaty <Dbourgeois10@yahoo.com>
District C, Fiscal Stability/Outreach Resources

- Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 19:03:04 (EST)

Why is the Parish Government not backing St.B's participation in a regional levee board? This action does not inspire confidence in me at all as to the Lake Borgne Levee District's ability to protect us from future storms. After all, these same levees under the present Lake Borgne Levee District's authority FAILED miserably by being washed away during the storm surge. If we couldn't get enough funds from the Corps of Engineers to properly build and maintain our levees before, what makes anyone think our chances are better to go it alone than to stand together with Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany? Why should I want to return to St. Bernard if Parish government insists on resisting change and progress??
Dede Ricard <ricarddede@yahoo.com>
District A, Coastal Protection

- Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 22:55:44 (EST)

thank you recovery committee and thank you parish council, in particular craig taffaro... thanks for nothing. thanks for choosing a golf course over residents. will this be put to a vote by anyone other than yourselves? does it even matter if we are willing and able to rebuild? does it even affect you in the least at what you are proposing??? do you think a golf course is going to stop future flooding?

i truly feel stabbed in the heart at this latest announcement. i have waited patiently for 6 months. i have planned accordingly for 6 months. and now, you've shattered all dreams and a lifetime of memories. how dare you. how dare you all.
betrayed
District A, Economic Development

- Thursday, February 09, 2006 at 19:51:16 (EST)

With only a short time remaining until the final report is due (Feb 28), is there a site one can visit to view the suggestions/ideas/comments that the St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee has developed to-date?
I ask because at the very 1st subcommittee meeting that was held last fall, I raised this same question, and was told that there would be something set up along these lines, "in the future".. Well, the future is here, as far as I am concerned, and, the future is "unknown". I understand the fact that the committee members are working hard and diligently toward solutions, and, that some of the solutions may not be pleasing to all. I also have the impression that there are still many, many St. Bernard residents who have not done any reclamation to their property (me included) for fear of wasting time, effort, and, money, just to see the area claimed for the rumored greenspace, or, be re-zoned, or, claimed to allow for a wider street, etc. Until these issues are on the table, people will continue to drag their feet, thereby making the return more diffuclt on those who have either returned, or, wish to do so.

Charlie Fos

Charlie Fos <charlesfos@bellsouth.net>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Thursday, February 09, 2006 at 11:08:33 (EST)

1) For everyone who posts on here noting that they see no progress, please realize that this is unfortunately one of those cases where you must look at the small picture and not the big picture. It's too easy to say "I don't see anything happening" rather than noticing that every day that passes a few more houses are gutted, a few more street lights lit, a few more streets cleaned. Debris is picked up regularly in MANY neighborhoods. Trailers are arriving. So are the residents. You can't expect BIG things to happen quickly. It is just a sad truth given the enormity of the damage. We must learn to appreciate the little things that have progressed. And ask yourself if there's something you can do to help, even if it is just helping one person in St. Bernard. If you can help on a bigger level, even better. Volunteer to help gut. Bag some loose trash the next time you're in your area. Look, ask, and act.

2) For the members of the St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee, parish council members, and anyone else of high authority -- do you realize you are losing your residents, one after the other each day, not because they are not interested in returning or have not achieved financial means to do so (insurance, SBA, grants, etc), but because they feel as if there is NO DEFINITE answers and instead, they are buying into the rumors. Do any of you ever log onto the forums (on nola.com) or read the postings on this site? If you did, you'd see that there is so much FALSE information being put out there by people who have no authority whatsoever. What's worse -- even if it's not believed, it becomes like all other folklore out there -- it puts enough seeds of thought and doubt in one's mind that you don't know what to think anymore. Even the official parish government website is ambiguous.

All of you must be aware of the rumors going around. ADDRESS THEM.

For example: What is going on with the areas being considered for mitigation/green space? ARE they actually being considered? When will a decision be made? Do you really think residents north of Patricia, along the 40 arpent, want to invest in repairing/rebuilding with the thought of losing it all hanging over their heads? Don't dangle ideas like "compensation" over our heads as if that makes it okay for us to rebuild and pour our hearts and souls into our homes again. Any reasonable person understands that plans take time to develop. But your people are READY TO RETURN. If it were already green space and you were trying to decide in reverse whether to let people build there, it's understandable that you'd want to delay it and look at it more. But this is our homes, our lives. There has got to be something definitive decided. JUST DO IT. We can deal with the bad news if that's what it's going to be, it's the lack of any official news that we can't. We just want an answer so we can plan our next step. No information from YOU is a slow death to US, but a death nonetheless.
Concerned citizen
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, February 02, 2006 at 19:55:31 (EST)

Personally, I am sick and tired of seeing and hearing about all of the progress in New Orleans and not in St Bernard Parish. I have been down to the parish 3 times since the storm and it looks like the only progress that I see is what the people who can afford to rebuild (very few) and the goverment officials are doing for themselves. I can't stand the fact that no questions are being answered for us "little people". We have a right to know what is going on in our neighborhoods. What are the plans for the different areas of the parish. Looking at the Gas map All areas of the parish have an expected date of Gas service. What abpout my area? I lived in the Carolyn Park area. I see nothing being done there. What's going on?? I just want some answers!!!!
Theresa Tusa <theretu@cs.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Wednesday, February 01, 2006 at 18:02:45 (EST)

I am a 4th generation St.Bernardian and have 30 years of business experience in what was a large metropolitan wholesale candy business. I say was because Hurricane Katrina ended that 3rd gneration, 67 year old company. A major component of my business involved the dealing with the shipping industry throughout the country, a majority in the trucking industry.
I envision a great opportunity at this time for St.Bernard Parish to develop one of the greatest natural resources sitting at its doorstep, namely the corridor along the Mississippi River. I know that the St.Bernard Port owns land in the Violet Canal-Miss. River area, and what better time than now to being planning for the next 5, 10, and yes even 20 years. Rail service is already in the area, and with the development of the port into that area, the rail service, and the addition of an industrial park to develop the trucking industry, all elements for the expansion of our port development would be in place.
The time is now to completely develop that Florida Avenue thoroughfare into the far ends of the parish, connecting in the Violet area.
For years I have heard truckers and their terminals complain about the lack of available roads and easy access to their terminals and the pickup and delivery destinations. Many have left the City, gone out to Elmwood, only to leave that much congested area to go out even farther to the St.Rose area industrial park. Why not seize this wonderful opportunity of redevelopment to bring these many jobs to our parish, providing good paying jobs to our citizens, thus allowing people to return and to come for the first time to our parish.
I also wonder what ever happened to the development of the Dixie Belt Freeway, which was planned in the early 60's. A bridge was planned in the area of Paris Road, connecting the West and East Banks of the river in St.Bernard, with the corridor of I-510. Gee whiz, a bridge, I-510, Florida Avenue corridor down to the Violet area - everything would be there to grow St.Bernard. I have knowledge of this old plan, as I was the first secretary of the Regional Planning Commission in 1965 and saw first hand the maps and the plans. Where did it all go?
In conclusion, I hope that maybe our citizens can seize hold of the planning for the future of St.Bernard and the surrounding metro areas, as all of our politicians seem to do is argue who is in control! The time has come for the citizens to move St.Bernard forward into the next 20 years with strategic planning and vision.
Suzy B. Gilbert <suzygilb@bellsouth.net>
District A, Economic Development

- Monday, January 23, 2006 at 23:02:08 (EST)

ONCE AGAIN I AM COMPELLED TO WRITE YOU CONCERNING THE LAND GRAB DEAL THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED BEHIND CLOSE DOORS. I KEEP HEARING RUMORS ABOUT MAKING ALL OF THE AREA OF ST. BERNARD PARISH, NORTH OF PATRICIA STREET, FROM ARABI TO THE VIOLET CANAL AND "INDUSTRIAL PARK". THIS WOULD ELIMINATE A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION OF ST. BERNARD PARISH. OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS KEEP GETTING ON THE NEWS AND TALKING OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THEIR MOUTHS TELLING US TO COME BACK HOME, AND BEHIND CLOSE DOORS ARE CONSPIRING TO GRAB OUR LAND AND NOT LET US REBUILD. WHY IS IT THAT I DO NOT SEE ANY INFORMATION OF THIS "INDUSTRIAL PARK" ON THE EVEING NEWS, OR IN THE NEWS PAPER. WHY ARE THE DETAILS OF THIS BEING KEPT OUT OF THE PUBLIC FORUM. I AM SURE THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY AND MOVE ELSWHERE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME BACK AND REBUILD ON THEIR PROPERTY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO. THE FACT THAT THIS INFORMATION IS NOT BEING PUT OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC FORUM TELL ME THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON.
CHERYL DORAN <SWEETPEA@LWHINC.COM>
District A, Economic Development

- Monday, January 23, 2006 at 12:59:01 (EST)

This is a listing of suggestions that I submitted November 15th through da.parish.com that I still believe bear consideration as we move forward rebuiding St. Bernard:
1) It is not realistic to expect the parish to be comprised solely of single family residence, however, we can limit the number of doubles/tri-plexes, etc. that can be built in a single area so that we don't have a repeat of Village Square. Clear, concise regulations should be implemented such as having waste recepticles "hidden" behind cement or steel walls. Out of state owners should be required to perform an on-site, documented inspection of their units with a parish representative at least once annually. A reasonable fee to cover the expense of the parish representative would be appropriate. Any deficiencies would be documented and the owner would have a specific period of time to have the deficiencies corrected or be fined.
2) Place the Sidney Torres Park under the supervision of the parish to control use of the shelter. Additional shelters should be built and any RESIDENT wishing to use the shelter would pay a nominal fee to reserve the shelter.
3) Elminate the placement of as many signs as possible along Judge Perez Drive and St. Bernard Highway. Many of these signs could be attached to existing light poles rather than staking them, eliminating obstacles that would insure a thorough cutting of the neutral grounds.
4) Perform a thorough clean-up of the parish canals, dredging where necessary to insure an adequate flow of water during heaving rains. Perhaps trustees could be utilized for this effort. We also need to have the Sewerage & Water Board and Lake Borgne Levee District assign employees to periodically ride around the parish during heavy rains to identify problems. For example, the drain behind Chase Bank and Arena Plaza has been stopped up for over five years, and every time there is a heavy rain it floods at that corner.
5) The Sewerage & Water Board should actively promote the use of the automatic payment option, reducing the workload for S&;W personnel, while insuring that the parish gets these payments on deposit as quickly as possible, to maximize interest income.
6) The street sweepers should be in use daily, and fines should be issued to litter offenders.
7) Each neighborhood should be encouraged to have a neighborhood associations so that all neighbors get to know each other, which will make them more cognizant when strangers are in the area.
8) We should allow new businesses no more than six months before requiring that their parking lots be cemented or black-topped, elininating "shells" that result in broken windshields, blocked drains, etc.
9)We shoud revise our MardiGras schedule to insure that at least one parade is scheduled for Mardi Gras Day. This would allow residents the opportunity to enjoy the parades locally, and would provide temporary jobs for residents and tax revenue for the parish.
10) All schools should be air-conditioned, including the middle school and high school gyms (which are used for various activities). The time to address this issue is now, while we are renovating our schools.
11) When the expected reduction in population, we need to reevaluate the number of signal lights and stop signs in place throughout the parish, resulting in a more appropriate flow of traffic.
12) We need to continue to work with Orleans Parish to improve the appearance of Paris Road, and to continue the moritorium on adult book/movie stores along Paris Road.
13) Parish residents should know the staus of various projects. As the St. Bernard Voice is the offical means of communication to parish residents, perhaps a monthly report could be published identifying when and what projects are schedule for completion. Residents would be aware of what is being accomplished, and know what the estimated completion dates are.
Thanks for the opportunity to represent my suggestions.

John F. Richardson <john.f.richardson@gmail.com>
District D, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 21:54:52 (EST)

The Council for a Better Louisiana website includes a link to a document with 20 very good questions to consider when creating the new "plan" for rebuilding and they apply to St. Bernard Parish as well. http://www.cabl.org/pdfs/CABL_Framework.pdf
In particular, will our plan result in a community that is safe from flooding and will our rebuilding effort coordinate with flood protection milestones? Why is the parish encouraging residents to rebuild NOW when they acknowledge there are currently 8-9 miles of missing levee at the MR-GO? Yes, the Corps is working on repairs, but with the rush to complete the work before the June 1 hurricane season begins again, how well will we truly be protected? I, for one, am not reassured at what I read in the T-P about MR-GO levee repairs. Why isn't the latest technology being used in the repairs, such as cement mixed with the material taken from the marsh(!) to add strength to our levees? I can't afford to lose everything I own twice. I MUST wait until after next hurricane season to see how well the area fares and to allow more time for sufficient coastal protection measures to be taken.

Ideas are being discussed in the City for slightly raised rail and transportation lines and other means to act as internal levees. I think we should look at something like that, even if it involves building up the entire length of Judge Perez Blvd. throughout the Parish.

Also, why encourage rebuilding slab homes, especially in areas that were also flooded during Betsy. The SBA told us that if we are mandated to raise our home (by new community flood guidelines), then the cost to do so would be included in our "damage assessment", making us eligible for a larger loan. There are numerous websites for elevated house plans with "daylight basements" which don't look anything like camps and can be quite practical and attractive. Why doesn't the parish Office of Community Development look into some of those and offer suggestions to residents who would rather raise their homes for greater protection than rebuild at the current level? Craig Taffaro mentioned in one of his posts that Community Development has restrictions on building height. What are those and would that prevent a resident from building an elevated two-story home?
Dede Ricard <ricarddede@yahoo.com>
District C, Coastal Protection

- Saturday, January 14, 2006 at 23:59:47 (EST)

This is the email address.
Anonymous Resident <wanttoreturn@yahoo.com>
District A, Economic Development

- Friday, January 13, 2006 at 18:40:41 (EST)

Which St. bernard Parish Official represented the Parish when the President visted the area, Thursday? I ask, because I have not seen, nor read anything that was mentioned about St. Bernard, relative to the Pres's visit - - no comments from any St. Bernard Officials
Charlie Fos <fosc@randacorp.com>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, January 13, 2006 at 16:20:03 (EST)

BUILD AN OIL REFINERY IN THE OIL SPILL AREA SINCE THERE IS ALREADY OIL THERE. THAT WAY FUTURE RESIDENTS ARENT BORN WITH TWO HEADS AND FOUR EARS. AFTER ALL, WOULD YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN IN AN AREA THAT WAS CONTAMINATED AND TAKE THE CHANCE OF FUTURE HARM TO THEM. I WONT. SINCE I WONT, THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHO IS STUPID ENOUGH TO WANT OR BUY PROPERTY IN THAT SAME AREA. BUY US OUT AND MAKE THE AREA SOME SORT OF ECONOMIC DRIVING DISTRICT SIMILAR TO THE PORT.
Big Lou
District C, Economic Development

- Friday, January 13, 2006 at 00:52:43 (EST)

I don't agree with any buyouts in St. Bernard Parish. What is wrong with our parish president, councilmen and councilwomen? We are individuals of United States, also and we should have a right to say if we want to live in homes or not. And what makes ya'll think that any of us are gonna donate 25% to the local Government. Well, don't get ya hopes too high for that money from me!!!!! All the residents of St. Bernard need to start a petition drive for no buyouts and probably eventually to get our "suppose to be" leaders of our parish removed from their offices. Since they are not looking out for their residents!!!!!!
Anonymous Resident <WantsToReturn@Yahoo.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 20:04:22 (EST)

We saved for over 10 years to buy our home in Lexington Place, and my family has lived in St.Bernard for over 35 years now. Since Katrina, on florida Blvd. we are the only home that has cleaned and gutted. I look both East and West on my street and feel that perhaps this is a bad thing to do. Over 17 homes were completly leveled on my street, down to the slab foundations. We only had the opportunity to live in my home for 14 months, before it was destroyed. 10 years of saving for 14 months of enjoyment. Makes you wonder. What frustrates me the most, is the lack of firm information that can be found or gotten on exactly what our parish leaders are doing for the present as well as the future. What are thier long term plans, what restrictictions to rebuilding are we to be aware of? It just seems that more information could be given out, and if you ask our officials if they are doing anything, everyone will tell you yes, well, lets share that information where everyone can have access to it. The official parish site is some help, but not much, try finding a general contractor listed there. God bless the residents of St.Bernard, I would love to return, but in this case, no news is considered bad news.

Daniel Wilkinson <n2netr@cox.net>
District D, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 08:05:38 (EST)

I AM NOT WAITING ON THE PARISH GOVERNMENT, TO GET ON WITH MY PLANS. I HAVE SETTLED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANIES AND AM PRESENTLY HAVING THE PLANS DRAWN UP FOR MY NEW HOUSE WHICH I PLAN ON BUILDING ON MY PROPERTY IN ARABI. THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ME FURIOUS IS THIS CONSTANCE PUSH BY MR. CRAIG TAFFARO TO BUY OUT THE AREA WHERE I LIVE TO MAKE IT GREEN SPACE (YEAH RIGHT, LIKE THEY WILL NEVER REDEVELOPE IT). I AM READY TO CONTACT THE ACLU AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT CAN HELP ME FIGHT THIS PROPOSAL. I HAVE LIVED IN ST. BERNARD PARISH IN ARABI MY WHOLE LIFE, I PLAN TO RETURN AND REBUILD THERE, AND LIVE THERE TILL I DIE. AND IF MR. TAFFARO GETS HIS WAY (AND I AM SURE MONEY STUFFED IN HIS POCKETS) I WILL NOT RETURN TO ST. BERNARD, I WILL GO GIVE MY TAX REVNUE DOLLARS TO SOME OTHER PARISH.
CHERYL DORAN <SWEETPEA@LWHINC.COM>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 13:01:30 (EST)

I posted some thoughts on Dec. 10; it's now been 30 days and other than one more internet format for blowing off steam... I've seen nothing informative or benefical. I'm waiting for the "recomendations" to come out later this month; but I have the feeling they will only be good words on paper with no way to turn them into ACTION. My wife has lived in St. Bernard all her life (60 Years). I've lived there the last 42 years, we'd like to go home to St. Bernard, but every day that passes where the only ACTION is more arguments and fustration trying to get sad 28' campers established - makes me wonder how will complicated rebuilding issues get solved and how many years will it take? We're currently living in Ft. Myers, Florida where our resolve to "return and rebuild" in St. Bernard is getting weaker everyday.
Larry Packard <l_packar@bellsouth.net>
District E, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 06:38:46 (EST)

Chalmette Vista What will happen to the trailer site in our "back yard" in the future. It was residential zoned before Katrinia .We want to rebuild but not with a "village square " on our "prorerty line." We are still questioning who decided to place this trailer park next to this residential area ,We had in mind to bring St Bernard back and rebuilding by rebuilding our homes, now we wondering if it would be right to rebuild ? Would you ? Would the council members bebuild their homes if they were in our sisutation? Shame on someone who dod not consider us on placing these trailers in our once Beautiful area , I suggest befor going back to St Bernard ,think twice ,We trusted our council members to protect out interest.They let us down. Can we trust them in the future? Ken Ford
Ken Ford <sbceq@aol.com>
District A, Economic Development

- Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 13:18:37 (EST)

Here is my VISION of what I would like to see in our parish:
1- continue with the plans for enhancements for St. Bernard State Park â levee pavilion, boat launch, cabins, etc.
2- have another area of the levee for gatherings, an open area with gazebos, picnic benches, trees, similar to Natchez, MS
3- have a bike/jogging path with trailheads and tree plantings, similar to the St. Tammany Trace, but maybe on a smaller scale
4- have more turning lanes by major intersections with more/wider lee ways for cars to enter the turning lane area â it is too congested right now when you want to make a turn
5- make that third lane on St. Bernard Hwy 2-way leading into New Orleans in the mornings, and make the third lane 2-way leading back to Poydras in the evenings, with blinking traffic signals to tell you when it is appropriate for motorists to be going in which directions -- this system worked well in Montgomery, AL
6- continue to pursue Excellence in Education â I am so proud of Doris Voitier and her accomplishments for the children of St. Bernard thus far
7- and a BIG issue to me â we need to have master-planned community developments where each neighborhood provides services to the residents â strip malls, doctor offices, pharmacies, etc. This is a strength that Houston, TX has that is lacking in the New Orleans-metro area â a real design of neighborhoods. So letâ s do it right this time. Master-planned Community Developments.
8- Most importantly - GREEN SPACE. For example, each neighborhood in Savannah, GA has dedicated green space for the locals to enjoy . Have open areas and playgrounds for the kids, walking areas, trails, benches, trees, a fountain or two. Not just recreational parks for ball games. Just natural beauty and a place to â get-away-from-it-allâ . Let me qualify this by saying that I am NOT referring to demolishing homes to create this green space. I think the perhaps the Meraux Foundation could help out with the dedication of some of the land that is adjacent to our neighborhoods to create some of this new green space. Also maybe one or two areas that could be created that are â Urban Wildernessâ , similar to what exists a half-block from busy apartment complexes in Portland, OR.

I will end with this thought â all of the planning and design and new beauty in the parish is for naught if we do not get necessary LEVEE PROTECTION for all residents.

Marlene Himel <marlene.himel@shell.com>
District E, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 13:45:12 (EST)

I am planning to rebuild in Oakridge (Violet) as soon as insurance money comes in and I get a bit more direction from local government â structural inspection, hazard mitigation plans, levee protection plans and redevelopment designs for our community. It is difficult for me to get info unless it is posted on this website, as I am currently working out of Houston, soon to return by the end of February. Thus I, and many others in the same type of situation, need more ONLINE INFO.
Here are some of my concerns:
1- post information on what areas, if any, will be required to raise their homes ( and to what height ) to be in compliance with FEMA using the current FIRM maps
2- more info for electricity availability for homes, a timeframe for getting service and how to contact Entergy to apply for such service
3- I would like to see on THIS website some RESPONSES to all of the comments and suggestions â no answers/ replies have been posted for all to see. Are you really taking what we all have to say to heart ?
4- list of contractors
5- list of structural engineers who will come out to re-inspect homes where the initial inspection report is in question
6- please update the inspection web page â homes that were inspected in late November are STILL not listed. AND a better explanation is needed of the inspection report categories and what percentages mean!
7- can I get utility services needed on an empty lot that I have so that family/friends can hook up FEMA trailers there ? Who do I call?
8- concern for deputy security of building materials when I start to rebuild my home when I am not on the work site to watch for looters
9- list of landscaping services â at least 98% of shrubs are dead â many homeowners will need service for vegetation and shrub removal, new garden bed preparations and replanting of shrubs annuals and perennials. This is in addition to the need for tree removal and tree replanting.
10- there needs to be a master landscaping plan for the parish â Old Blush roses/crape myrtles on the neutral grounds, garden islands by the Welcome Signs at entrances and key intersections. I have heard nothing of this - this needs to be part of the rebuilding plan that is submitted to Baton Rouge

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION is key for residents to make intelligent decisions on rebuilding their lives in the parish

Marlene Himel <marlene.himel@shell.com>
District E, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 13:05:19 (EST)

I don't understand why so many citizens have sent their children back to school in the parish.It irritates me to think these people are more concerned about seeing old friends and neighbors than they are about the health of their children.I had some great neighbors and some lousy neighbors.Maybe some of you were living in Paradise and had no bad neighbors.Very unlikely!!! But even if all your neighbors were like Mother Teresa your children are still more important.I've been to Northeast Texas and in the Alexandria area and found people to be as friendly or more friendly than the people in St. Bernard. The people in Texas were especially more friendly and more helpful than in Louisiana.Get over it!!! There are good people everywhere and most of the people you knew and loved as friends and neighbors will likely not be going back.
David Jochum <djjsr44@webtv.net>
District C, Environmental

- Friday, January 06, 2006 at 08:20:05 (EST)

Greetings! I am Reverend Shawn Conley, an interfaith, non-denominational Minister living in Vermont. I am here doing disaster relief in your community. I would like to offer my services as a Minister. I do Spiritual Counsel with out attempting to convert, NO judgement or dogma, just the Unconditional Love of Spirit we ALL deserve. If you or someone you know needs to talk, please contact me revmysticfogg2@yahoo.com
I would love to help!
Reverend Shawn Conley, Alliance of Divine Love Ministries
www.allianceofdivinelove.org
~BLESSINGS~LOVE~HEALING LIGHT TO ALL~
Reverend Shawn Conley <revmysticfogg2@yahoo.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, December 30, 2005 at 11:51:13 (EST)

I am coming back!
Issues that need to be addressed:
1. 30% to 60% is a non-answer. Give it to us straight more than 50% or less than 50%. Then we can make well informed decisions.
2. Get some regular citizens on the committee. Not just lawyers, doctors, and polititions that have the mean$ to move out of town until its safe to return.
3. Fight to get thr MRGO closed or block it our self.
4. We have over an acre of cleared land in the front of our property that could house FEMA trailers for displaced friends and family. but can not get a response from the parish or feds on houw to get this done.
5. At our land - 1332 Bayou Rd. either the parish or debris removal people tore up a culvert on our access into our property knocking almost half of our driveway into the bayou. They also scraped a few hundred dollars worth of rocks out of our driveway. They did this removing a tree and stump. This left a mud hole and now we can't get appliance delivery trucks in due to the mud hole nor can we get entergy trucks in to restore our power. We DID NOT sign any right of entry and DID NOT request anyone to remove anything. We would have used the tree as firewood and caused no damage to our land. we had less than 3 feet of water and parish done damage is the biggest deterrent to getting us back home!
6. Where is all the $$$ from the Meraux foundation. Certainly they would have wanted to provie grants to hard working home owning parish residents to rebuild our parish.
7. Its about time they start iding residents using the "free store" at walmart. Why were they not doing this when crews of 10 spanish speaking mexican workers were in front of me depleting the supply of shovels, rakes, and bleach? Now that they only have diapers & shampoo they id people.
8. If the orange shirt religious group spent half as much time gutting houses as they do praying and singing our parish would already be rebuilt. We need people to work not sing and pray.
Janel Mumme

janel mumme <philjanel@netscape.net>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 20:25:50 (EST)

BREC - Baton Rouge Recreation Dept has a great model here in Baton Rouge. They offer many great opportunities for seniors and children to get involved in a variety of activities. There are many community programs and it runs the BR zoo, a skate park, a bicycle track, archery and golf. With impending hazard mitigation producing green space for the parish, maybe some of this could be instituted in our parish.
Sherri Mills <Sherri.Mills@OLOLRMC.com>
District E, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 10:51:09 (EST)

I am hoping to return to St. Bernard in early Jan. How can I apply for one of the trailers at Chalmette Vista? I applied for a trailer but have not heard any thing. Is it possible to go through the parish? Who is in control of this sight? I have been offered over 15 teaching positions in lower Louisiana but could not find housing.
Dave Dessens <ddessens409@yahoo.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 10:10:52 (EST)

There a lot of issues that need to be resolved, and I understand that. The problem is that no one wants to step up to the plate and start making them. Leaders make decisions, right or wrong. We desperately need a leader to step up and starting making some decision regarding the future of St. Bernard. Four months later, and we have plan. No plan for housing, no plan for re-development, nothing. I just want to see some progress, because everyday that passes by is another day people from St. Bernard move on with their lives and buy property elsewhere. Can we afford to wait until the end of January while we have meetings? We need answers two months ago, and we need a plan. Surely it will take time to execute, but as of right now I see a parish that is dying a slow, unnecessary death due to the lack of leadership and ideas from those who are supposed to be our LEADERS.
Shawn O'Neil <hurrcane@bellsouth.net>
District C, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, December 23, 2005 at 23:28:56 (EST)

Bad soil? The MRGO has taken lots of land from St Bernard property owners in the past years. How much soil will be removed from St Bernard parish and brought to the River Ridge land fill area which I have been told is over 30 miles from St Bernard. Why not keep the soil for future use in our parish. Store it on property that the parish owns on Parish road it would be a lot less expensive to truck it a few miles than over 30 miles. This soil is being removed and replaced at the constructing trailer site across from Kaiser's old 525 foot stack. I have been told for several reasons .No matter why lets keep the soil in St Bernard; surely there are areas that the parish could suggest that is needed of fill. When houses are "bulldozed" there will be a need for fill. Many of my neighbors are saying that they will have there houses "bulldozed" , this soil that is being trucked away from St Bernard surely could be used in those areas . Our land fill on Parish road could use this soil to top off the low levels on parish road. Letâ s save the tax payers money and stop giving our soil away, seem like all the land that MRGO took from us should be an eye opener. Letâ s keep the soil in St Bernard and bring some of the land to the required FEMA height or is there another reason for removing this soil? I was told by --- that the soil is bad with toxics and is handled as hazard material. What is the real reason why our council is letting this happen? Ken Ford
Ken Ford <SBCEQ@aol.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Thursday, December 22, 2005 at 00:59:33 (EST)

I hear that 47 people are still "missing". Why not publish the names and all St. Bernardians can assist in locating those that are alive and well but out of touch with the authorities.
Steve Estopinal <steveestopinal@cox.net>
District E, Public Safety

- Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at 11:11:01 (EST)

Thanks to all who have been expressing their concerns, many of which I share. My question is, "when will we be given answers to these questions?" I would also like to resume my life as much as possible but when will decisions be made regarding rebuilding and the requirements.
Dave Dessens <ddessens409@yahoo.com>
District A, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at 10:21:11 (EST)

C.R.C WILL HERE PRESENTATIONS BY THE LAKE PONTCHATRAIN BASIN FOUNDATION AND DR. WOODY GAGLIANO ON COASTAL RESTORATION\FLOOD CONTROL BARRIERS.C.R.C. MEETINGS ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON THESE IDEAS.THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS @ 1PM WEDNESDAY 12/21.SEATING IS LIMMITED ,YOU MAY WANT TO BRING A CHAIR .
AL WALLER <info@fradellascollisioncenter.net>
District A, Coastal Protection

- Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 11:16:30 (EST)

QUESTION__Raise level of house or raise ground level to above sea level (or level required by FEMA). I am 68 years old and soon it will be hard for me to walk up to the upperlevel of my house if I am required to raise my house. It would be better to have my land and my neighbors lots filled to the FEMA required level. Any one who has raised their houes (To this day) could either fill their lot or have parking area at the lower level. Most likely this would be less expensive. If the complete parish land was filled in to an above FEMA required height, sub servic drainage , new sewerage lines, streets etc. could be achieved. St Bernard parish would be above sea level. No low sections such as those on livingston street (Rowley school area) would be corrected. Add this to your ideas along with other sugestions.Ken
Ken Ford <SBCEQ@aol.com>
District D, Economic Development

- Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 22:35:11 (EST)

On behalf of the Officers, Board of Directors, and General Membership of Operation Merry Christmas, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a safe and peaceful Christmas. As with all of you, we too are scattered near and far. Many of us were able to meet briefly in St. Bernard Parish recently. We agreed that we will be unable to produce Operation Merry Christmas this year. Our goal is to be back with our traditional activities for Christmas 2006. Our organization will remain intact. We are currently exploring our options regarding other activities that we can support regarding the rebuilding of our beloved St. Bernard Parish. Please know that our thoughts and prayers have been with all of you during these trying times. We look forward to working with and serving St. Bernard citizens for many years to come. God Bless You All.
Sincerely,
Peggy Murla, Chairperson
Operation Merry Christmas
Peggy Murla <pbmurla@cox.net>
District D, Not Sure

- Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 (EST)

I attended last week's 1st Fiscal committee meeting. In the meeting it was stated by an attendee, I think the man's name was Bill Schmidt, that, unless St. Bernard Parish Govt gets off its duff, and, begins open discussion with its constituents (Ray Nagin is using "Townhall Meeings" to do so), there's a strong chance that most residents won't return. They don;t know what to do, they need some guidance.. Well, it's been several hours, now, since last night's news reported that there will not be repairs made to St. Bernard levees, and, that St. bernard should be prepared to flood, again, should another Katrina blow thru. Now, I ask:
Where is the response from our leaders? What are we to do? - - gut and clean - why? try to rebuild - -why?
sell - - we can't because the insurance companies aren't writing new policies - -only reinstating existing policies, and, only because of government mandates, to those of us fortunate to have had pre-Katrina insurance....
So, it seems that the only route to follow is to hope and pray that the Baker plan will buy out the entire parish. Gee, that's just great -- let's all be delighted to settle for some crumbs (maybe I'll be fooled, and we'll actually receive a just and fair price), as I would think that the LRC knows they have St. Bernardians over a barrel, what with the limited ability to sell, coupled with the lack of levee protection.
I have considered not returning to St. Bernard, as early as the 2nd week following the storm, for the simple fact that our govt didn't bother to make any, or much of an effort to communicate with us. I called the 1st St. Bernard citizens meeting, for all stuck in Baton Rouge, approximately 4 days after the storm.. We made in the parking lot of Tiger Stadium.... We updated ourselves, as we couldn't wait on govt to do so.
As time has gone by, this lack of communication continues to haunt our parish leaders. Craig Taffaro must be the only Council person reading the "da-parish" websites, as he is the only responder from the Council..
I've e-mailed (and included my tel#) the council, from the "contact us" field on the website, I've e-mailed the sheriff's office, and the assessor's office - - many, many, times - - I've not rec'd a response, nor a return phone call. Am I (we) a non-entity in their eyes, as it seems we all are in the Fed's eyes?
Yes, I'm frustrated, and, damned mad! Like most of you, I've worked hard and long for all that I have - 12-13 hrs a day, 6 days a week, to try to build a good life style for my family. I've paid more freaking money into income tax than many earn, and I don't say that to brag -I say it because it's been for NAUGHT! Where'd it go - - Iraq? to the Tsunami victims? It sure seems to have been wasted! I would now like to receive some of it back - - I (we)need some justice. When are we going to receive it - - when are we going to get some direction form our local leaders? If things continue as they've been, someone will need to be deemed the "last one out", but, won't have to turn out the lights, as there will not be any lit...............
Very Sincerely and Frustrated,

Charlie Fos,
formerly of 316 E. Urquhart St
Now a resident (and homeowner) of Mandeville

Charlie Fos <fosc@randacorp.com>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Friday, December 16, 2005 at 12:44:05 (EST)

Where is the levee protection? St. Bernard was under water by the time the 17th Street and London canals were breached. Where is the government commitment to strengthen our levees and protect our homes and businesses?

I want to come home, but I have many questions. Will we be protected from future storms? Do I have to raise my house off the ground? How do I pay for all of this? Where do I send my kids for childcare while my husband and I try to find jobs outside of the Parish, since nothing is open yet?
Where do I shop for groceries? Where do I buy uniforms to send my kids to school in? When is Walmart gonna open? When will the smell go away? When will all the flies leave? When are the birds coming back?
When will it stop looking and feeling like a 3rd World country? I don't want to raise my kids in a town that looks like Iraq?

I'm still trying to figure out how to pay for all of this. And I'm still wondering if it's worth it. I miss home, and trust me, I'm not sitting somewhere in Metaire or even, Baton Rouge. I'm more than a 10 hour drive away, in Arkansas. I just don't know how wise it would be to re-invest in something that could face this again next hurricane season.
Brandalyn <brandalyn74@yahoo.com>
District D, Not Sure

- Friday, December 16, 2005 at 10:08:45 (EST)

First of all I would like to commend the Sheriffs Office. I thought they were no wear around, but was mistakeing; I called 911 when I saw a suppicious van full of people(about 10 white people to be exact), within minutes 3 units showed up to question the Volunteer Church Group.False Alarm! But law enforcement was there.
All I hear is LIPSERVICE from ALL politicians. COME BACK REBUILD! I have had trash in front of my house for over 3 weeks now, still not picked up. I took this week off of work to start the clean up. Trucks are all around, but not my street. THEY SEAM TO FREQUENT JUMONVILLE ALOT. I have seen crews sweep through there numerous times, but not one crew on my street (Claiborne).
What is going on with our water bills?? I turned off my water to my house the night I evacuated, it was still off when I returned that Monday. One day a few weeks ago I had water all over. Some nice RELEIF WORKER decided to use the water, and never turned it off. Will I get billed for this? How will you contact me, to pay the bill? Or will it wait till tons of late fees are imposed.
My property tax bill; am I going to be billed for the whole year when I only lived there 8 months? How will you find me to send me this? Or will I find out about it after penalties are added.
I guess I will have to put a fence or barbed wire around my whole property to keep RELIEF workers off it. Entergy destroyed my fence, left there mess, and used my front lawn as a work site. People have lunch on my porch on a daily basis, etc....
I may come back to the PARISH when some of the many questions are answered. Answered in writeing, and not LIPSERVICE. MAJOR QUESTIONS; Is the Mr. GO Going? What will be the new elevation requirements, and how much will insurance be? What will my neigborhood look like; will it be rezoned and now I have a commercial bussiness next to it, will the government or bussiness people but out around me and turn it into TRASH (VILLAGE SQUARE).
Once I see a blueprint of the Parish, I will make up my mind then if I havent set down roots somewhere else by then.
DOMINICK SPADONI
4001 CLAIBORNE
MERAUX , LA. 70075
504-231-7549

Dominick Spadoni III <nmspadoni@aol.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Friday, December 16, 2005 at 09:57:36 (EST)

I saw on the news today that the Prez is going to beef up the levees in New Orleans and close the London Ave canal, the Orleans canal, and the 17th Street canal. Why weren't the parish officials in Washington with Mayor Nagin demanding to close the MRGO? Where was St. Bernard's voice in the recovery effort?
Betts <nhb50@bellsouth.net>

- Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 20:23:46 (EST)

i feel that if we close the mrgo it would better protect our community. This was supposed to bring in revenue to the parish but all it brought in was greif. I have a family of 4 and would like to start rebuilding, but i am in a standstill because i am afraid of the levee protection.
lynn b chouest <lbchoues@hibernia.com>
District C, Coastal Protection

- Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 09:48:43 (EST)

I agree with many of the comments I have read on this web site. We need neighborhoods to be neighborhoods, not commericial and industrial sites for whomever has the right connections to have the zoning changed. We need strong, honest, ethical leadership from our elected officials. Where are they, anyway? In Baton Rouge we never hear anything about St. Bernard. CLOSE THE MRGO and demolish whatever is left of Village Square.
Betts <nhb50@bellsouth.net>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at 20:47:19 (EST)

Why I am staying in Da Parish.
Because there are things here that i can"t find anywhere else. I know we will lose some of them to fear of the unknown and slow indecisive leadership but we will as we always do develop new and better ones. Lets see if I can give you an idea of why my family is staying.
Craw fish boils,crab boils,fish fry,s,shrimp boils,jambalya, chicken gumbo's soup, all made by your mama,daddy or your neighbor and eaten in someones yard. A sportsman's league that truly cares about having a good time and helping the community, Da pope and his boat launch, Joe at the marina,hopedale ,ycloskey, delacroix and the serine,s, and last but not least Campo so loving and loved that even the surrounding parishes borrow him now and then.Being able to go fishing or hunting after work because its close. Hearing the geese pass over prior to the start of the season,waking up to the muffled sound of the shooting from the duck hunters back in the marshes. The shrimp season, The availability to get fresh seafood from some of the best fishermen in the world. Oysters from the Robins, Crabs from Tino Mones. B and J,s,Chalmette seafood,crabby J's, Joyce and Johnny's. The bar at pips. Oh what resturants we have, everyone in this parish can cook and cook well. What about Par 3 and ton'ys,franklins grill,mutts,charlys,arabi diner,arabi food store,shrimp and oysters sandwiches at Joyce and Johnny,s. StyXXX, and our own nationally known Rocky and Carlo's. The feeling of passing Jackson Barracks and letting out a sigh because you are in the parish,
How about the festivals and the talent in this parish. The crawfish festival is here even though the MRGO killed our crawfish stock years ago. The prompt succor tomato festival where Bobby Cure would bring his friend and ours Arron Neville to close the show every year. That damn blacktop yard where the heat baked you but you were there to see your child or grandchild get on stage and for that you would endure anything. Shine the talented group who put on monthly shows where anyone could sing and who put on shows that surrounding parishes and states could only be envious of. Such as the ALPOS, Remembering Betsy, The king and I with a high school girl in the lead performing and singing on a par with any movie star whoever played the role. Oh we have talent all right, we have musicians and performers, artist and craftsmen and we have them in abundance. What about our schools ,we tried the packet system and it was a failure. we didn't quit,we took one of our own and made him the superintendent, Frank Auderer, he transformed our system we were catching up with the leaders and with Doris As super now we will pass them. New Orleans has used our shools as am reason to open theirs. I put 27 years in the military and never saw a leaders that were better and that i could be more proud of then I see in our school system.
Crime ,we had our share of crime ,still do but we have a police force that hasn't had scandal and I feel safe when I am in the parish
Businesses. Most of our businesses are owned by local people but they are excellent possess integrity and talent to do the job right. How about Fradella's Collision center on Parish Road. There slogan is if you want it right bring it to them. They are recognized as such an excellent shop that state farm designated that they did not have to see the car they would take Fradella's word for it. Look who owns it. Al Waller Jr,the son of two chalmette school teachers , Mike Fradella, played linebacker for chalmette, Dave Fradella another ex chalmette high athlete, All the young men represent what is right about our parish and we have hundreds of them throughout the parish.
What about fishing, I challenge anyone to find me an area where i can within thirty miles fish saltwater and freshwater on the same day without leaving my boat.We have some great fishermen and excellent guides. Sports our little leagues are second to none producing the bigget bang for the buck we have state and national champions in every sport and every level. Oh I know we don't have the best facilities but that is going to change, I predict we will see a sports complex that everyone in Da parish will be proud of and the surrounding parishes. will be envious of .
Our people ,where did they come from ,well some have come from the Canary islands and they are fiercely proud of this ,rightfully so, others came with the french. WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT CAN TRACE THERE ROOTS TO THE AMERICAN RVOLUTION.But most recently many of our families came from the ninth ward. Listen to the way we pronounce our words, no one else talks like us and if you as i were in numerous places after the storm you could tell a person from St Bernard just by the way he talked, we are unique and I am proud of that. I love this parish i and my wife Ticka have been travelling East all of our lives. We were both born uptown 66yrs ago at age seven My Family moved to the ninth ward. At age 17 I went and found her uptown and we moved to the parish. We have been on Pecan drive ever since and no Damn storm is going to drive me away. Our next move is to the St Bernard graveyard in Toca. Please stay we love you all, down the road ,up the road ,black,yellow ,gray and white. This is a unique place and we have a chance to
make it better Stay and help us.

With love
Bill and ticka Schmidt

Bill Schmidt <tickabill@yahoo.com>
Not Sure, Not Sure

- Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 07:09:12 (EST)

I was born and raised in the 9th ward and took residency in da parish in 2002. I chose St. Bernard because it IS a great place. It IS community oriented, quiet, friendly, away from the daily grind of the city, "Awesome value for your money!" a GROWING area etc.... I have to say I really miss home "Dr.Gators, Today's Catch, Good Children even
Winn Dixie. I'm living in Atlanta now and I will be here for at least a year to get my life together. However, I am eager to get going on the reconstruction of St. Bernard parish by re-building my home but just like other residents I don't want to sank money into a place with no future.

I will come to every meeting available when I can. If I can't make one of my reletives will be there in my place. I pray that St. Bernard be revived.

God Bless everyone. I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON "DA PARISH!"

Julian Pierre <j_pierre_iv@yahoo.com>
Not Sure, Economic Development

- Monday, December 12, 2005 at 19:16:20 (EST)

St. Bernard is my home. I am 46 and a half and have been a Chalmetion for 46 years. My entire life has been spent in Chalmette. In "da Parish!" I bought a home 15 years ago on the street that I grew up on! I have visited Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, California, Washington DC, Rome, Venice, Florence, Sicily and now Florida. But St. Bernard... Chalmette... is where I want to live and I will return.

Unfortunately, many of my neighbors won't be returning, and though I understand their reasoning, the St. Bernard that I know and love will NEVER be the same.

Still I feel a strong since of responsbility to help *buy, build, boost Beautiful St. Bernard*. I have one suggestion for the future and one axe to grind!

Suggestion: Recycling. The average generation of the St. Bernard resident (post Katrina) should have some knowledge of the importance of recycling to make this work. It's time for St. Bernard to join this earthfriendly effort. Perhaps an "Pro-Earth" organization could be solicited to help fund a recycling plant or program for this parish to start a recycling tradition. Our educational leaders at Nunez Community College, UNO or LSU could probably help advise/train parish officials and residents to select proper procedures for a viable program. Right now we have a myriad of material... but we always have plenty of plastic, paper and glass as well as other materials that are suitable for recycling. A program or plant could be started that could pay for itself first, then generate revenue for the community.

The Axe. Cleaning properties. The residents that are not returning or are waiting for answers need to be pressed to clean their property to mitigate further damage from the flood.

There are church groups that are volunteering to clean/gut houses, but what about St. Bernard volunteers! I presently return to the parish each weekend to find new debris in my yard that is being blown by Mother Nature. As long as these properties remain uncleaned this will continue. I have gutted my house, my Mother's house and have helped with my Uncle's house and one of my friend's houses. As I wait for the professionals, my electrician and plumber to get around to my home, I have time to be working and am willing to help others clean up their properties. I wonder if others in St. Bernard feel the same.

I offered to help a friend gut and was flatly refused. It took a while for that to actually sink in. But they didn't want help because they weren't coming back so why should they gut?! My friend actually put it into words for me this weekend. I'm looking the mess in St. Bernard as the community and place where I want to live and they are looking at it simply as a mess that they hold no ties to.

Cleaning up our "neighborhoods" will benefit us all. If selling, the property owner will be able to ask more for a gutted, certified sound structure which will attract a quality buyer and make for a potentially good resident/neighbor. If waiting, the longer moisture remains in the homes, the more damage can ocurr which will reduce the potential price. By helping neighbors clean their property, caring-concerned neighbors will attract caring-concerned residents. The benefits far outweight the labor.

I was aggreviated recently hearing Jessie Jackson on the radio saying that "New Orleans residents have a "right" to return to their property and to know what's going on with their property..." Frankly, I was furious! New Orleaneans! St. Bernardians! Whoever! These people don't mearly have a right to return to their property... THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION! to return to their property and clean it up! An obligation to the community, the city, the state! The vast majority of St. Bernard properties require muscle, shovels, brooms, and wheelbarrels! A group of 5 or 6 people could gut a house in a day!

I realize I'm getting on a soap box, and I know that everyone has their own situation to manage, I'm not trying to criticize anyone, but if you're waiting for answers... in Los Vegas, Alaska, Hong Kong, or just in Metairie, Slidell or Kenner, Please take some steps to clean your property. If you end up selling, you'll get a better price! If you end up returning, you'll have less damage to repair later. And quite frankly, knocking down sheetrock has a very theraputic effect!

If you are a returned resident and you are waiting for answers, call a neighbor who is not returning and ask if they want help cleaning out their house. Activity is a better use of everyone's time! And you will promote a cleaner neighborhood, you'll be a good neighbor and probably end up with a better neighbor for your efforts.

Laura Napolitano <laura.napolitano@navy.mil>
Not Sure, Housing/Community Development/Quality of Life

- Monday, December 12, 2005 at 18:29:35 (EST)

I am second generation St. Bernard resident and live in Angelic Estates in Violet. After 49 years of living, rasing my children, and teaching religion in our Parish, my husband and I have decided not to come back because we are too afraid of this happening to us again and neither one of us are getting any younger!! Fortunately we both still have our jobs and were smart enough to have flood insurance on our home even though it was not required. Because of this we could not wait for St. Bernard to decide what they were going to do so we purchased a new home in another parish.

My question is, when will there be any decisions on what can be done in the Angelic Estates subdivision? I know that the structures were inspected, however there is no way that my house substained 0-10% damage. The studs for every wall has been sitting in a least a foot of muck and water for almost 4 months now, how can the studs possible be sound after this lenght of time?

I signed up to have the debris taken off of my property and to have the National Guard clear my house of large items. I am hearing that the National Guard is no longer doing this, is this true?

If so, how am I suppose to get the house cleared and work at a full time job?

If I do get the house clean and gutted, how long before I will know what will be allowed and what won't be allowed?
Hilda Hartmann <hilda1116@cs.com>
Not Sure, Economic Development

- Monday, December 12, 2005 at 14:05:14 (EST)

This editorial from the NY Times was sent to me and pinpoints what is first and foremost in a lot of our minds:

December 11, 2005
Editorial NYTIMES
Death of an American City
We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum.

We said this wouldn't happen. President Bush said it wouldn't happen. He stood in Jackson Square and said, "There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans." But it has been over three months since Hurricane Katrina struck and the city is in complete shambles.

There are many unanswered questions that will take years to work out, but one is make-or-break and needs to be dealt with immediately. It all boils down to the levee system. People will clear garbage, live in tents, work their fingers to the bone to reclaim homes and lives, but not if they don't believe they will be protected by more than patches to the same old system that failed during the deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city.

At this moment the reconstruction is a rudderless ship. There is no effective leadership that we can identify. How many people could even name the president's liaison for the reconstruction effort, Donald Powell? Lawmakers need to understand that for New Orleans the words "pending in Congress" are a death warrant requiring no signature.

The rumbling from Washington that the proposed cost of better levees is too much has grown louder. Pretending we are going to do the necessary work eventually, while stalling until the next hurricane season is upon us, is dishonest and cowardly. Unless some clear, quick commitments are made, the displaced will have no choice but to sink roots in the alien communities where they landed.

The price tag for protection against a Category 5 hurricane, which would involve not just stronger and higher levees but also new drainage canals and environmental restoration, would very likely run to well over $32 billion. That is a lot of money. But that starting point represents just 1.2 percent of this year's estimated $2.6 trillion in federal spending, which actually overstates the case, since the cost would be spread over many years. And it is barely one-third the cost of the $95 billion in tax cuts passed just last week by the House of Representatives.

Total allocations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terror have topped $300 billion. All that money has been appropriated as the cost of protecting the nation from terrorist attacks. But what was the worst possible case we fought to prevent?

Losing a major American city.

"We'll not just rebuild, we'll build higher and better," President Bush said that night in September. Our feeling, strongly, is that he was right and should keep to his word. We in New York remember well what it was like for the country to rally around our city in a desperate hour. New York survived and has flourished. New Orleans can too.

Of course, New Orleans's local and state officials must do their part as well, and demonstrate the political and practical will to rebuild the city efficiently and responsibly. They must, as quickly as possible, produce a comprehensive plan for putting New Orleans back together. Which schools will be rebuilt and which will be absorbed? Which neighborhoods will be shored up? Where will the roads go? What about electricity and water lines? So far, local and state officials have been derelict at producing anything that comes close to a coherent plan. That is unacceptable.

The city must rise to the occasion. But it will not have that opportunity without the levees, and only the office of the president is strong enough to goad Congress to take swift action. Only his voice is loud enough to call people home and convince them that commitments will be met.

Maybe America does not want to rebuild New Orleans. Maybe we have decided that the deficits are too large and the money too scarce, and that it is better just to look the other way until the city withers and disappears. If that is truly the case, then it is incumbent on President Bush and Congress to admit it, and organize a real plan to help the dislocated residents resettle into new homes. The communities that opened their hearts to the Katrina refugees need to know that their short-term act of charity has turned into a permanent commitment.

If the rest of the nation has decided it is too expensive to give the people of New Orleans a chance at renewal, we have to tell them so. We must tell them we spent our rainy-day fund on a costly stalemate in Iraq, that we gave it away in tax cuts for wealthy families and shareholders. We must tell them America is too broke and too weak to rebuild one of its great cities.

Our nation would then look like a feeble giant indeed. But whether we admit it or not, this is our choice to make. We decide whether New Orleans lives or dies.

As was mentioned at the Coastal Protection session of yesterday's CRC meeting, why aren't we comparing the cost of the devastation caused by failed/poorly maintained levees to the cost of building a levee system that would prevent this from happening again??
Dede Ricard <ricarddede@yahoo.com>
District C, Coastal Protection

- Monday, December 12, 2005 at 13:22:49 (EST)

The Unity in the Community forums held by Rep. Nita Hutter awhile back brought people together at a series of meetings to discuss our vision for the future of the parish. The consensus was that our parish had many strenghts. Our efforts to rebuild and renew should start with ensuring we restore our pre-Katrina strengths such as:
*Excellent educational school systemf from pre-K thru community college/vo-tech
*Relatively low crime
*Reasonable property and sales taxes
*Medical facilities
*Intermodal transportation hubs-rail,port, highways
*Affordable homes
*Stable, community-oriented base of HOMEOWNERS
*Abundance of small business owners
*Numers business, civic, charitable organizations

But we also must address our pre-Katrina and post-Katrina weaknesses. Not mentioned enough as a major weakness that we must overcome quickly as part of our recovery effort is our outdated master plan for community development. It was done once, in 1965, and never been funded for an update, despite universal agreement of the need. Now is our opportunity to receive proper funding. This new, comprehensive, parish-wide master plan, which takes time and money to do correctly, should address the following and provide for not only re-writing our rules, but also stricter enforcement to enhance our quality of life:

Zoning (where is commercial, residential, multi-family, etc)
Ordinances (lot size, subdivision rules, etc.)
Setbacks (size of front lawns, backyards, etc.)
Land use (where are the parks, schools, retail areas, etc.)
Landscaping (minimums for commercial and retail areas, etc.)
Signage (max, size, location, height, etc.)
Building codes
Transportation plans
Drainage plans
Sewerage plans
Water distribution plans
Telecommunication plans
Power distribution plans

As a 30 year resident, a member of the Planning Commission and the St. Bernard Business and Professional Women's Club's representative on the Economic Development Commission, I urge including in our request to the Louisiana Recovery Authority sufficient funds to provide a new master plan, a plan that will be OUR BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW ST. BERNARD.

Deborah Keller

Deborah Keller <ddk120757@aol.com>
District C, Not Sure</