Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans: New Orleans Citizens Organizing for a Better New Orleans by Catherine Koppel

Nearly this time, three summers ago, people in New Orleans realized the results of decades of apathy and complacency. They learned the results of blind trust and dependence on the government. And they decided it was time for a change. Their very lives depended on it.

Hurricane Katrina blew through New Orleans in the early hours of August 29, 2005. While Katrina churned in the Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category Five hurricane, when it came ashore in New Orleans it had weakened to a Category One or Two storm.

As the winds died down, city officials and evacuated citizens breathed a sigh of relief; New Orleans had seemingly survived a blustery glancing blow. But the relief didn’t last long as the levees began to fail, and the city was deluged.

The walls encasing the network of canals leading to Lake Pontchartrain broke in huge sections, and the earth holding water in the Industrial Canal was overtopped and swamped. Eighty percent of the city was awash in what then Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Director Walter Maestri called “toxic gumbo.”

The levees were ostensibly built to handle Katrina’s force. But poor engineering of the federal-built levees didn’t take unstable soil conditions into account. To add to the impending man-made tragedy, separate politically charged levee boards were responsible for the upkeep and inspection of the levees.

St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church member and community activist Ruthie Frierson saw an opportunity to effect change —quickly.

How did Ruthie and other concerned citizens find a way to make their voices heard and improve New Orleans? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the May/June issue of Horizons.

Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping).

Catherine Koppel is a television journalist and freelance writer, who lives in New Orleans.

Photo by Kevork Djansezian

Other Articles Online This Issue

Devotional
A New Day and a New World
Presbyterian Politics in Action
What Does the Church Say?
Celebrating 100 Years of Social Awareness
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
Interview with Cindy Ryu (English)
The Politics of Mission
Blessings without Boundaries
Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church
Mosaic
Nurturing Faith
Faithful Parenting
Strengthening the PC(USA)


How did Ruthie and other concerned citizens find a way to make their voices heard and improve New Orleans? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the May/June issue of Horizons. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping).	Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans: New Orleans Citizens Organizing for a Better New Orleans by Catherine Koppel Nearly this time, three summers ago, people in New Orleans realized the results of decades of apathy and complacency. They learned the results of blind trust and dependence on the government. And they decided it was time for a change. Their very lives depended on it. Hurricane Katrina blew through New Orleans in the early hours of August 29, 2005. While Katrina churned in the Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category Five hurricane, when it came ashore in New Orleans it had weakened to a Category One or Two storm. As the winds died down, city officials and evacuated citizens breathed a sigh of relief; New Orleans had seemingly survived a blustery glancing blow. But the relief didn’t last long as the levees began to fail, and the city was deluged. The walls encasing the network of canals leading to Lake Pontchartrain broke in huge sections, and the earth holding water in the Industrial Canal was overtopped and swamped. Eighty percent of the city was awash in what then Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Director Walter Maestri called “toxic gumbo.” The levees were ostensibly built to handle Katrina’s force. But poor engineering of the federal-built levees didn’t take unstable soil conditions into account. To add to the impending man-made tragedy, separate politically charged levee boards were responsible for the upkeep and inspection of the levees. St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church member and community activist Ruthie Frierson saw an opportunity to effect change —quickly. How did Ruthie and other concerned citizens find a way to make their voices heard and improve New Orleans? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the May/June issue of Horizons. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the May/June 2008 issue (HZN-08-220; $4 plus shipping). Catherine Koppel is a television journalist and freelance writer, who lives in New Orleans. Photo by Kevork Djansezian Other Articles Online This Issue Devotional A New Day and a New World Presbyterian Politics in Action What Does the Church Say? Celebrating 100 Years of Social Awareness Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans Interview with Cindy Ryu (English) The Politics of Mission Blessings without Boundaries Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Mosaic Nurturing Faith Faithful Parenting Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue MAY/JUNE 2008 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the May/June 2008 (HZN-08-220) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call (800) 524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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