[StBernard] Fines, Grass, Safety, Health, etc. etc. etc.

[Westley Annis]

I seem to have stepped on some toes regarding my concern for health and
safety in the parish.  

I recently wrote of the heartrendering decision my husband and I made to
relocate from the parish, much to my 14-year old daughter's discontent.  

Hurricane Katrina caused so much damage over such a wide spread area,
distributing tons and tons of debris, chemicals, waste, you name it, from
the gulf, the MRGO, oil refineries, sewerage systems, and landfills, to name
a few.  While I do not know for certain how all of this will affect the
residents of St. Bernard Parish in the short or long term, I do believe it
is something we should be concerned with.  And I do believe that not all
parishes are the same as St. Bernard is now.

While much of the responses to my original comments dealt with this health
issue, I also said "safety" was of concern as well.

Lack of street lights, no neighbors close enough to hear or see if something
was going on, driving through sparsely inhabited areas to get home are just
as much a concern to my family as the health reasons listed above.  Our
decision was based on these issues as well as where my husband and I are in
our livelihoods and how we choose to live the remainder of our time.

Please don't misunderstand my comments.  I look at this blog as an
opportunity to discuss facts, feelings, comments, and suggestions to a group
of people who have emotional commonalities and a strong feeling of community
closeness.  

If that bothers you, remember that this e-mail forum doesn't allow feelings
to come through in typed context.  You cannot see me or look in my eyes to
know how much I loved living in Arabi and will miss it until I die. 

Good luck to you and I wish you the best.  

Cindy Meyers