Deadlines in New Orleans

The New Orleans City Council thinks that setting a deadline for homeowners to gut or otherwise clean up their properties is a good idea. When exactly did they make this decision? That would be this past Friday, when they agreed to a certain number of exemptions as well.

Why would they set a deadline? Because those homeowners who didn't comply with the deadline would be subject to penalties, fines, and liens. So, on top of all the other problems facing homeowners trying to rebuild in the Big Easy, they have to deal with a 12th hour decision that could hit them in the pocketbook just as the height of hurricane season hits.

The Lower Ninth Ward, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by Katrina, is exempt from the gutting deadline, although residents will be expected to take care of their damaged houses by an unspecified future date.

Others may be exempt, too, if they have an "acceptable" excuse, such as being on the list for a gutting service that hasn't gotten around to their property yet, according to the ordinance.

Enforcement could begin any time after Tuesday.

That bothers Patricia Jones, who works at a recovery center. She said many people remain displaced or are waiting for checks or direction from city officials before deciding what they should do. And she wonders how the city will handle the open-ended deadline for the Lower Ninth, where she lived before Katrina.

"The city hasn't even done their part in a year," she said, noting that many public schools remain closed and housing is still in short supply.

That's not an excuse, Lakeview resident Jim Roy said. Residents aren't being asked to rebuild by Tuesday, just to clean up and secure houses that could become health hazards. Roy said the city might be providing too many exceptions that may hinder the intent of the measure.

The City doesn't have enough inspectors to check properties, and hasn't managed to clear all the debris from city streets, and yet they want to hit up homeowners who might consider coming back to the city. Nice. Real nice.

We know where the City's political priorities lay, and they do not coincide with the needs of residents and businesses. That would go a long way in explaining why so many are reluctant to return to the city, and some of those that have returned have decided to move away.