[StBernard] TAFFARO recall attempt - my opinion

[Westley Annis]

Originally my wife and I thought that the parish would be back in 3-5 years (this was our discussion when we were taking a break from digging thru the mud and debris trying to find something to save) it wasn't long when we realized it would be more like 10-15 years and it will NEVER BE AS IT WAS BEFORE.

I will say that I have  been working on my home, mostly by myself, the entire time since returning to work 2 months after returning from north MS. I'm  95 % finished living in the house, but the wife is in Hammond and will not return to Chalmette. Too sad a place. 

I guess what I"m trying to say is if you didn't think the parish would look like it does 3 1/2 years later (your math is correct) then you were dreaming when you rebuilt. My area had mostly returned, but recently I drove down 
Genie to Blanchard to visit someone and was surprised to see so many homes torn down and slabs everywhere. I personally think an abandoned home being kept up is better than a slab on a lot. Easier to sell and to rebuild.

Now having the parish pushing to demolish homes to the point of demoning homes that were being worked on is ludicrous and insane. Although I had to deal with alot during my rebuild, I'm not sure how I would have handled going to the house and finding the water or sewer lines dug up. I really feel for the people having to deal with that.
 
I've lived in St. Bernard my entire life. Maybe that is why I'm holding on but it isn't without a cost.

Sincerely
David