Feb 25 2009
Mardi Gras gunfire stops the Good Times from Rolling…
The economy seemed to leave Mardi Gras untouched. Hotels were at 96% capacity and the number of attendees seemed to be up from 2008. Even the Valentino’s Place d’Armes Hotel was 96% booked by Thursday. The crowds appeared to be very thick—thicker than they’ve been in a long time. So, what went wrong?
Well, speaking as a former Louisiana resident, you can’t control how the gun-toting gangs will act in public. I really wanted to see Louisiana change after Katrina took away a good portion of the population’s livelihood, but, again, the armed gangs work against any success they could ever have at having a strong economy and a safe place for tourists to visit—let alone, the residents to live.
One “sparkling” example of this is the recent shooting at a parade in the Garden District—which was the more affluent part of New Orleans. Shots rang out after Rex Parade had ended and the truck parade began. Seven people were injured including a 20-month-old toddler. The toddler’s injuries were not life threatening but others were not as lucky. Among the wounded were three men, two women and two teenage boys. Two were seriously injured and underwent surgery for stomach wounds. Two men, ages 18 and 19, were arrested for attempted murder and possession of a firearm. The victims of their senseless rampage were innocent bystanders.
This shooting was not alone. There were two other reported shooting with one happening after midnight on Wednesday—the official close of Mardi Gras. The shooting happened after an argument and resulted in a man being shot in the back. He is in stable condition.
I share these details with you not as a surprised ex-resident, but as a disappointed one. I had hoped that the mentality of the residents would change and the complacency of them would disappear, but it hasn’t. I read quotes from witnesses that stated people did not jump out of the way; they just kept trying to catch beads. This scene reminds me of a scene from Men in Black II when J is thrown threw the back window of the subway by the big alien worm and no one on the subway flinches.
There is definately something wrong with the people in New Orleans.
Some people just love to make trouble with no apparent reason. The rest of us have to deal with the consequences.
Diane, there is something wrong with everyone. New Orleans is fantastic place. yeah they got their problems but who doesnt. Ive lived there and now I stay in Hawaii. Guess what with all the aloha people still get beat down and killed here… The world is messed up. Ask anyone in Iraq or Afghanistan. If there is a better place to party than the Big Easy I havent been there …. But I havent made it to Rio yet. Dont lump everyone in N.O. into the same basket as some thugs who live there. There are thugs everywhere.
The most shocking thing in the story I read about this, was the people still clamoring for beads while the paramedics were tending to the wounded right at their feet. That says it all about New Orleans.