Mardi Gras Crowds Small But Celebratory

[Maddy McCall]

Five parades rolled through the streets of New Orleans today, but they were sparsely attended and shorter than usual. More will roll tomorrow, next weekend, and, of course, on Fat Tuesday.



What would the city be without Mardi Gras?" said 17-year-old Sadie Ables, standing on Lee Circle in the same spot three generations of her family has gathered for decades.

Her mother, 37-year-old Shelly Guidry, conceded she had conflicts about the cost to the city, especially given how many people remain displaced from homes.

Less than half the city's pre-Katrina population of about 480,000 has been able to return since the storm, and New Orleans' efforts to cover parade costs with corporate sponsors flailed, forcing the City Council to allocate $2.7 million to cover expenses.

Still, Guidry was on the street with family members and her 3-year-old son strapped in a seat atop a ladder, a tradition for children who grow up here during normal years when towering crowds of adults make it too difficult for children to catch beads.

"It's memories here," she said, gesturing down the street.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NEW_ORLEANS_MARDI_GRAS?SITE=MSHAT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Please take a moment to watch the short Flash film linked below, narrated by Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club spokesman Jay H. Banks. Will bring tears to your eyes.

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_national/katrina_mardigras/index.html

[KamaAina]

1. That's not fair, Maddy! I recognize that shot!

The revelers in the photo are in the neutral ground of St. Charles at the downtown corner of Jackson Ave. I remember shopping in Williams the time I stayed down the block at the Prytania Park, my second visit, I believe.

Will bring tears to your eyes.

Yeah you right. And I had all this carryover vacation time, too. But then, I never stayed in a hotel at Carnival -- my first one was spent with a woman who had picked me up previously at a prominent French Quarter bar, right in front of my Mom, but that's another story -- so I fell victim to "sticker shock", shame on me. :(

Ah well, maybe next year...

[Gman]

2. And so the great right wing social experiment that now is NOLA

continues. The great right wing experiment that leaves peoples' survival to market forces is already failing.

[pitohui]

3. how are we are right wing social experiment?

do tell?

[Gman]

5. Read this

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/weal-s07.shtml

and don't think about the source. Think about what the article says. I think its exactly what is going on in NOLA.

[pitohui]

6. a silly article w. no facts in evidence

i've lived here a few decades, i wonder if the writer of that article has visited for even two weeks!

this is just pure-dee flat-on-its-ass invention that proves the writer knows not thing one abt the greater new orleans real estate market or new orleans labor market

wages which were stagnant at poverty level have soared post-katrina, the housing market stagnant for decades has enjoyed some increases in some areas -- and high time too -- but the famed developers who were going to buy us out and re-build w. happy shiny glossy buildings have not materialized, likely because they don't exist

i got no sympathy with those who would keep us in a slum forever because they think misery is more authentic or more colorful than decently housed and decently compensated people

[pitohui]

4. shitty weather & meter maids

as a local i don't care abt the weather because i'm impervious to rain by this point but when they announced yesterday that the city's newest priority was to add meter maids and tow trucks then bleep it

there is no surprise the crowds are small, we have basically been told we are not welcome to attend because our cars are not welcome

a large number of people including a huge population of the displaced are on the north shore, they cannot go to mardi gras except by car and they cannot risk being ticketed and towed by the psychotic meter maids

what is wrong w. orleans parish to push such an initiative at such a time?

and now they will be wringing their hands wondering why no one attended the parades

sometimes it really does make you want to cry