To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Monday, September 25, 2006
I'm Getting Cranky
So... I'm watching the Saints/Falcons game. The Superdome is open for business once again. The pre-game and game commentary has been all about the recovery effort (and/or how horrible the Bush administration has been to the people of New Orleans). Yippee skip.
Yeah, I have problems with the Superdome being rebuild a little over a year after Katrina (with the help of some of the fine, upstanding citizens of NOLA) pretty much destroyed it. Why do I have a problem with it? Well... let's see... let's start with the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana paying the owner of the Saints millions of dollars to keep him from moving his team. Then we can add large chunks of the city are still a mess, but the Dome is shiny and sparkly and new. But, by far, the biggest problem I have with it is who paid for the dang thing. Not the owner of the team (remember, he was PAID to stay) ... not the NFL (well, they pitched in a bit... about 10%)... not the city of NOLA (not like they actually HAVE the money right now)... not the state of Louisiana (though I'm sure they'll tell you otherwise). When all is said and done, FEMA (that would be the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is covering 85% of the $170+ million bill for repairs and IMPROVEMENTS.
You read that right. I said IMPROVEMENTS. Think I'm joking?
When the hurricane hit, we donated clothes and food and toiletries to the emergency shelter set up in Austin. I was all about helping the people who were in the middle of a crisis. Then I got a little annoyed when I heard stories about people using their FEMA debit cards for manicures and trips to strip bars and who-knows-what-else. Then I got irked when I heard about people in NOLA blowing their FEMA checks on big-screen tvs and leaving their homes in disrepair (and then whining for more money and more help). In fact, I get peeved every time I hear that the "victims" want more money... more stuff... more everything. I pretty well hit angered when the stories came out about increased crime in the cities who took in the Katrina evacuees (I'm sorry- if you're still there, you're not an evacuee/victim... you're an immigrant.)
That's the problem with a liberal mindset (which is all most of the citizens of New Orleans have ever known). The government (or someone... anyone) takes care of them. They are not responsible for anything on their own. They depend on others for their existence. And the libs (the politicians, the celebrities, the activists) keep telling them that they aren't getting enough... that the country needs to do more for them...
What does all of this have to do with the Superdome opening tonight? Well... that cost $170+ million. How many houses could that have built? How many schools? How many people could that have trained for new jobs and new lives? But, no... it went for sky boxes instead.
Yeah, I have problems with the Superdome being rebuild a little over a year after Katrina (with the help of some of the fine, upstanding citizens of NOLA) pretty much destroyed it. Why do I have a problem with it? Well... let's see... let's start with the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana paying the owner of the Saints millions of dollars to keep him from moving his team. Then we can add large chunks of the city are still a mess, but the Dome is shiny and sparkly and new. But, by far, the biggest problem I have with it is who paid for the dang thing. Not the owner of the team (remember, he was PAID to stay) ... not the NFL (well, they pitched in a bit... about 10%)... not the city of NOLA (not like they actually HAVE the money right now)... not the state of Louisiana (though I'm sure they'll tell you otherwise). When all is said and done, FEMA (that would be the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is covering 85% of the $170+ million bill for repairs and IMPROVEMENTS.
You read that right. I said IMPROVEMENTS. Think I'm joking?
The improvementsI couldn't find any reference as to whether or not insurance is picking up any of the tab. Honestly, I'm not sure they should pick up much. Maybe the cost of the roof and the water damage inside caused by the roof leaking. If there was any other external damage, that, too. But all of the internal damage? Nope. The fine citizens of the city of New Orleans caused all of that damage, and they should pay for it. Not the citizens of any other state in the Union.
Besides repairs, improvements and upgrades were made during construction. About $42 million was spent. The most noticeable change for fans will be new scoreboards.
Scoreboard system
Two larger (41% bigger) video boards (27 by 48 feet) in the end zones, with high definition quality.
Four LED ribbon boards, or video halo boards (3 feet, 6 inches by 193 feet).
Four color scoreboards (8 feet by 44 feet) replace a black-and-white system. Located in four corners in the 400 level.
Concessions
All 38 concession stands and three kitchens modernized with stainless steel.
80% will be open for the first game.
Stadium seats
8,000 club-level seats and 4,000 box suite seats replaced with leatherette seats.
Future renovations (September 2006-August 2007)
Four club lounges, each 19,000 square feet (in design) in each of the four corners.
137 suites remodeled and refurbished.
When the hurricane hit, we donated clothes and food and toiletries to the emergency shelter set up in Austin. I was all about helping the people who were in the middle of a crisis. Then I got a little annoyed when I heard stories about people using their FEMA debit cards for manicures and trips to strip bars and who-knows-what-else. Then I got irked when I heard about people in NOLA blowing their FEMA checks on big-screen tvs and leaving their homes in disrepair (and then whining for more money and more help). In fact, I get peeved every time I hear that the "victims" want more money... more stuff... more everything. I pretty well hit angered when the stories came out about increased crime in the cities who took in the Katrina evacuees (I'm sorry- if you're still there, you're not an evacuee/victim... you're an immigrant.)
That's the problem with a liberal mindset (which is all most of the citizens of New Orleans have ever known). The government (or someone... anyone) takes care of them. They are not responsible for anything on their own. They depend on others for their existence. And the libs (the politicians, the celebrities, the activists) keep telling them that they aren't getting enough... that the country needs to do more for them...
What does all of this have to do with the Superdome opening tonight? Well... that cost $170+ million. How many houses could that have built? How many schools? How many people could that have trained for new jobs and new lives? But, no... it went for sky boxes instead.
