New Orleans is actually better now than it was pre-Katrina.
Prior to Katrina, this city (where I've lived my entire life) was absolutely dying. People were moving away (usually out of state) in droves - particularly people with post-graduate degrees. They were moving away b/c there were very few opportunities for professionals like that. And it's jobs that require post-graduate degrees that dictate how healthy a local economy is.
Katrina, while very difficult and awful in the short-term, was maybe the best thing that could've happened to the city in the long term. New Orleans got the chance to start over. The local educational system was THE worst prior to Katrina. Because of Katrina the Feds came in and took over the educational system and improved it dramatically. Pumped time and money into it. Young enthusiastic teachers from Ivy League schools have been moving here since around 2007. The overall climate for business is waaaay better than it was pre-Katrina. There are numerous articles on how New Orleans has become the best city in America for young entrepreneurs. That was not remotely the case pre-Katrina. Also, Katrina is actually what kept the Saints in New Orleans. The Saints owner, Tom Benson, was very intent on moving the team to San Antonio in the 3-4 years prior to Katrina. The team was as good as gone - and that would've been the final death-blow to the city. When the devastation of Katrina happened the NFL made it a point to not allow Benson to abandon the city. The NFL knew that would be cruel. And the Pelicans (formally the Hornets) wouldn't still be here if Katrina hadn't happened. No one could have imagined this effect at the time but that's actually what transpired. Also, there are more restaurants and clubs in New Orleans now than ever before in the city's history. That's correct - more restaurants and clubs open now than at any time in the city's history. Who could've seen that in September 2005? No one could've - but that is indeed what's happened I'm happy to say. All the new young people who amazingly moved to the city in the years just after Katrina have pumped new lifeblood into the city. Many New Orleanians who had moved away either before Katrina or right after Katrina are now moving back. It's amazing.
Crime is still an issue no question. In fact, the crime problem is the only thing preventing New Orleans from being the single best city in America at this point. I hope the crime rates go way down. It's a problem in every major city in America and New Orleans certainly has a big problem in this area.
But culturally the city is second to none. Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, jazz, blues, the amazing food, the overall good-time vibe - it's awesome. It really is. Do thankful that it's come back better than ever.
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