New Orleans is Getting Back to Normal

The Louisiana Irishman sends me this clipping:

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The number of deadly shootings here has prompted city leaders and those in the tourism industry - a mainstay of New Orleans' economy - to worry about the city's image and economic recovery.

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There have been 78 homicides here this year, down from the 134 in the first six months of last year when Hurricane Katrina forced thousands of residents to move out. But the number is growing steadily. There were 17 in the first three months of the year and 21 in July alone.

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Murder and other crimes plummeted in the first months after Katrina hit New Orleans on Aug. 29 and flooded 80 percent of the city, forcing an exodus. The population is estimated to be about half of the pre-storm total of about 455,000.

On June 20, Gov. Kathleen Blanco sent 300 National Guardsmen and 60 state police troopers to assist the city. State police are patrolling the French Quarter and the Guard is covering the still thinly populated areas of the city.

The reinforcements freed city police to patrol more violent areas. Initially, arrests were up and the murder rate appeared to be slowing.

Read it here.

Gee, it's nice to see Mogadishu on the Mississippi's culture of violence reasserting itself after the devastation of Katrina. Soon things will be back to normal.

Duck and cover!!!!!