Night Lights

One of the last houses on its city block - a block which used to have 22 primary structures and many more individual addresses (many were shotgun doubles) - the top floor of 223 S. Galvez sits awaiting a move off the site to be rehabilitated elsewhere in New Orleans.  Moves for this week are set to start tomorrow, Thursday.

Off in the distance on the left, you can barely make out a few lights in two houses that are still occupied - Ms. Gaynell's place and Robert's house.

All told, about 6 houses and one business remain at least partially occupied in the site, even at this late hour.

End of Utilities Eve

Tomorrow, the State of Louisiana will begin to disrupt and cut off utilities to the residents of the VA Footprint who still have a legal right to be there.  Yes, even still, they remain.

I went out tonight to ram home that point, all while trying to respect the privacy of the people in their homes.

While several families moved out this weekend, it's clear that there will still be nearly 20 households that remain as the utility shut-down begins tomorrow.

Even if the state provides back-up utilities, as it has promised, to those who legally remain, the disruption that the utilities removal process will likely cause and the "opt-in" nature (residents have to request continued services) is insensitive and mean-spirited.  Plus, given the track record of less than stellar treatment and confusion thus far, I'll wait to see if anyone actually gets the back-up services.

A reasonable developing party would simply work something out with the VA and wait until everyone has left the site.