New Orleans Hopes to Make Superdome a Home Again
On Aug. 29, 2005, when hurricane winds peeled off part of the Superdome roof and took out most of the power, this stadium was seen around the world as a dim and frightful place. One man apparently committed suicide by jumping off a catwalk. One National Guardsman was shot in a locker room. Bodies were stored in a refrigerator.
We all saw the pictures and heard the stories of the hell that was the Louisiana Superdome in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Death, disease, murder, and mayhem ruled the roost in a place that had previously been the playground of quarterbacks and linebackers. Human waste, dead bodies, holes in the roof…the Superdome took a pounding, and there were those who felt it best and appropriate to demolish what had become renowned as a place that displayed the worst qualities of the human race.
There were also those determind to rebuild the Superdome, to make it better than what it previously was. $185 million later, it appears that they may have been successful…but at what cost? I’m not necessarily talking about the $185 million,of course. I’m wondering about what sort of message is sent when so much money can be spent on renovating a glittering jock palace when so many in New Orleans are wondering whether or if they’re going to be able to rebuild. There is a diaspora of thousands of New Orleans resident spread all over the country (and thousands are still here in Houston), wondering when (or if) they will ever be able to go home. Many thousands have simply given up on the idea of returning to New Orleans. We lack the money or the will to tackle this issue, but there’s $185 million available to rebuild a football stadium?
Here’s another question: where did the $185 million come from? Surely you’re not going to tell me that tax dollars went into rebuilding the Superdome when so many other needs remain unmet? The Times article never mentions where the money came from, and that’s certainly no idle question. Were tax dollars used to rebuild the Superdome? If so, why? When so many other needs have yet to be met, why would public money be used to rebuild a playground for spoiled millionaires?
If tax dollars weren’t used, then where did the money come from? And why is rebuilding the Superdome more important than rebuilding neighborhoods and helping find ways for people to rebuild their homes and lives? Am I the only one who thinks this is a disturbing case of massively misplaced priorities??
I’m all for rebuilding New Orleans…ALL of New Orleans, not just the playgrounds of the wealthy, the White, and the well-connected. This story just leaves me feeling as if New Orleans has its’ priorities horribly out of whack. With so much suffering and uncertainly still remaining in so much of the city, $185 million dollars has been spent renovating a stadium? What’s wrong with this picture?
I am sitting here in my Saints t-shirt full of joy and for one day I am not going to let Texans whining bother me. Look up insurance on state stuctures. Go Saints!!!!!!! Go New Orleans!!!!!
Hey, if it's insurance money, then Geaux Saints! I just want to know where the $185 million came from.
As far as I can tell, 15 Million came from the NFL and the rest from a federally managed insurance program for State owned structures. The owners of the dome paid premiums on a 600 Million dollar policy.
{Has anyone else noticed that premiums for flood insurance along the Gulf Coast now go directly to FEMA?}
Here's some perspective: If instead of repairing the Superdome, the money was spread equally among the former and current residents of New Orleans, each would receive about 450 bucks. When you consider that each major event directly employs over 2000 people, and the sales taxes and other economic benefits, fixing the dome was a no-brainer.
Kick-off's at 7:30... Geaux Saints!
(Man! I have this sudden craving for a Dixie Beer and a Dome Dog!
The benefit-cost ratio of this particular investment is interesting. Yes, that $185 million probably did, as Bob says, provide nearly 2000 jobs, a goodly portion of which are part-time with limited benefits. Giving the money to individuals is clearly a dumb idea, as we witnessed here with the $2000 Red Cross checks. But surely there were smarter ways to invest $185 million that would have created better jobs than stadium hot dog or been vendors. But once again, big money and corporate interests prevailed.
Over at First Draft, Scout has been blogging about NOLa for quite some time. This issue came up over there last week.
The bulk of the funds were, indeed, from insurance.
Much is being made on some right-wing and general nutjob sites about this.
I'll be honest. I'm as annoyed as can be because the insurers didn't have a problem ponying up for the 'Dome, whereas private citizens all over the Gulf Coast are finding themselves victimized by fine print, "water damage" exceptions, and "no flood coverage."