I had little-to-no exposure to New Orleans before registering for this class. Besides seeing video footage of Mardi Gras parades and news coverage of Hurricane Katrina, I didn't know what a complex city New Orleans has evolved into since its founding.
I mentioned this a little bit in class, but the moment of New Orleans' history that strikes me the most is the period of time when New Orleans went from being one of the wealthiest cities in the nation -- a sort of cultural and economic mecca -- to a city plagued with political corruption, inefficient infrastructure, and racial tensions. Obviously there isn't one specific moment in time to which this change can be attributed, but it begs the question: how do some cities avoid this seemingly inevitable fall from grace?
I'm eager to learn more about New Orleans and how its history plays a role in planning today. I consider myself an optimist in that I'd like to believe that whatever caused New Orleans to lose its status as a center of the nation can be reversed. History is cyclical, and I am confident that New Orleans will soon come upon the next upward trend.
I mentioned this a little bit in class, but the moment of New Orleans' history that strikes me the most is the period of time when New Orleans went from being one of the wealthiest cities in the nation -- a sort of cultural and economic mecca -- to a city plagued with political corruption, inefficient infrastructure, and racial tensions. Obviously there isn't one specific moment in time to which this change can be attributed, but it begs the question: how do some cities avoid this seemingly inevitable fall from grace?
I'm eager to learn more about New Orleans and how its history plays a role in planning today. I consider myself an optimist in that I'd like to believe that whatever caused New Orleans to lose its status as a center of the nation can be reversed. History is cyclical, and I am confident that New Orleans will soon come upon the next upward trend.
Hi Paula,
ReplyDeleteExcellent question! A successful planner is always working towards answering this question. After all, as planners, we design not only to fit the needs of the present, but also anticipate a city's needs in the future. In class, we talked briefly about New Orleans vs.other "successful cities" such as New York. What similarities do you see between the two and what differences? What do you think you need to learn more about NOLA in order to develop ideas to revitalize the city?