New Orleans!?!? Why Would ANYBODY...

[Illbay]

...want to move to N'Awlins?

Well, as I mentioned some time back, I am currently seeking employment.

I am receiving a great deal of interest from a MA-based company that has opened new offices in New Orleans to deal with several years worth of hurricane-related "infrastructure upgrades," which is a political euphemism for "spending taxpayers' money just to watch it go 'kaplooey' again the next time a storm of any size so much as brushes the area." My personal opinion is that it is a ridiculous waste of public treasury, but hey, that's what we seem to be voting for these days.

Anyway, aside from employment that might turn out to be somewhat interesting, I can't think of a single reason to move to NOLA. Not one. High crime, high taxes, high cost of living, and low expectation of it getting any better anytime soon; that's my view of the situation.

Can anyone give me some GOOD reasons to move there? (And please, don't give me "the French Quarter" or "cheap hookers" or anything moronic like that. If I want the French Quarter, I can visit from Houston anytime I like, and if I wanted hookers I wouldn't have bothered getting married. Hmph.)

Anyone?

[Joe Gress]

Cheap hookers feeding you in the French Quarter during a storm.

[Milky]

Hookers and blow

[NOLA Bass]

Due to the tone of your post I suggest you don't move here. If you think a city that was not flooded by a storm but by the faulty engineering that our federal govt. built then I probably wont change your opinion. I suppose that the govt. shouldn't spend any $$ on Galveston either?

Look we have plenty of issues but we also have plenty to offer. It is why so many locals or transplants struggle with staying or going. However, here are some reasons:

1. Although not recession proof entirely, we are in much better shape than lots of other areas. No boom = no bust to a degree.
2. Great culture of food, music, history,etc. No not Bourbon Street, but the rest of the city.
3. Great people and a relaxed vibe that many people the world over love.
4. Many taxes are higher than Texas, but property taxes are a fraction of yours, so there is some balance.
5. While crime is a huge problem, it is somewhat isolated to certain sections. I by and large am not fearful of where I am for work, home or going out.

My polite suggestion is that you ask the legitimate question of why or why not to move to an area than lambast it as crap and why would anyone live here. I could certainly make quite the list both good and bad about Houston after all. However, it sounds like you'll be happier to stay there.

[jrthebassguy]

While some fun/good times can be had in New Orleans, I tend to agree that NO probably isn't a good place to move to.


To the OP, Houston is handling the recession better than most cities, are you having trouble finding work here?



If another big storm hits that area, I'm afraid some areas might be indistinguishable from 3rd world nations.

[funkalicious101]

Gater wrasslin'?

[MJ5150]

I'd love to be able to move to NOLA and continue helping with the rebuilding work. I would move there in a split second if I could.

It would be awesome to work with the people to rebuild their community. The physical, mental, and emotional challenges would stretch a person to their limits and no doubt make them a better person in the end. What a great feeling when the work is complete knowing you played a key role in helping.

Go for it! Take it as a personal challenge. Make yourself a better person while helping others along the way.

-Mike

[chunkstyle]

you should just stay in that cultural epicenter known as houston.

[joeyl]

well I live outside New Orleans (Old Jefferson, which is like 5 miles from downtown) and work in the business district in downtown NO. I moved here after college, more attracted by the French Quarter and the naked girls, however this wears off after 1-2 years.

Pros: there is always something going on: music festivals, concerts (Voodoofest is my favorite) lots of food, generally well seasoned, and I hope you like garlic (however ethnically diverse food, like Indian and African are hard to find) the people are generally laid back, and some talk way too much, if you happen to get a good job, you will have the money to enjoy all what the city has to offer, crime is usually not a problem unless you are dealing drugs, walkable communities if you like to walk instead of always driving everywhere.


cons: a lot of ignorant people, typical for the South, a lot of people are uneducated and therefore poor, or poor hence uneducated. Some people are way too racially aware and mistrust other races. Some are proud to be ignorant.
It is humid but you should be used to it if you are from Houston
After Katrina, some businesses never recovered, making the business district a little bit empty.
Don't get me started about our crazy politicians.

you seem to have a preconceived notion about NOLA from your opening statement. Do you have friends who live here? maybe you could stay with them for a couple of weeks and get a feel of the city.


BTW I am moving out, not by choice, because my wife works for the military and it looks like our next stop is El Paso, it scares me a bit but hey a new adventure is always cool, and despite what people say about El Paso, I'm sure we will find something we like there. I will leave a very stable and enjoyable job but she will make twice what I make here. My next move will probably be Austin.

[5StringBlues]

Thousands of delicious nutria?

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by joeyl

My next move will probably be Austin.

Cool place. I was just there for the first time last week.

6th Avenue is like the Austin version of Bourbon Street, but not nearly as cool.

-Mike

[burk48237]

Good Redfish fishing and great rhythm sections.

[wazzel]

I have lived in New Orleans. I am from the area (Houma) my wife is from Metairie. All of her family live there so we go visit often. It is an odd place for outsiders. You either love it or hate it. For the locals it is hard for them to see the bad. They are very attached to the area.

The people are generally friendly to a point. Most have been friends since grade school and don't really have time for new friends. They are not rude, they just spend their time with the people they have known for years.

The economy is not the greatest. Pay for a comparable job is lees in NO than in Houston by a good bit. Pay raises come slowly since their is not a lot of competition for the employees. Most locals will stay there for less money so they do not have to move.

Housing is expensive compared to Houston, esp the Houston burbs. Expect old houses on small lots. The other option is to live across the lake then you have to deal with the causway, not fun.

If you have school aged kids be ready to pay for school. The public schools around the city are as bad or worse than HISD.

There are lots of things to do around the area. More than in Houston, esp the free stuff.

Climate is about the same.

There are lots of poor and uneducated in the area and quite a bit of crime.

The city is on the decline in population. It was before Katrina. All the storm did was speed things up a bit.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Cool place. I was just there for the first time last week.

6th Avenue is like the Austin version of Bourbon Street, but not nearly as cool.

-Mike

Agreed. Before my first trip to Austin I was also told, "you'll dig it. It's like the Texas version of Berkeley." Not spot on, but a pretty good reference point.

Back on topic, I really enjoy visiting N'awlins but I couldn't really envision myself living there, but then I'm pretty much a California guy through and through.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Illbay

...want to move to N'Awlins?

Well, as I mentioned some time back, I am currently seeking employment.

I am receiving a great deal of interest from a MA-based company that has opened new offices in New Orleans to deal with several years worth of hurricane-related "infrastructure upgrades," which is a political euphemism for "spending taxpayers' money just to watch it go 'kaplooey' again the next time a storm of any size so much as brushes the area." My personal opinion is that it is a ridiculous waste of public treasury, but hey, that's what we seem to be voting for these days.

Anyway, aside from employment that might turn out to be somewhat interesting, I can't think of a single reason to move to NOLA. Not one. High crime, high taxes, high cost of living, and low expectation of it getting any better anytime soon; that's my view of the situation.

Can anyone give me some GOOD reasons to move there? (And please, don't give me "the French Quarter" or "cheap hookers" or anything moronic like that. If I want the French Quarter, I can visit from Houston anytime I like, and if I wanted hookers I wouldn't have bothered getting married. Hmph.)

Anyone?

any city can be high crime ,and all the bad things you mention but if you have a solid job,and maybe a gig here and there you will be more likely to find the good things the city has to offer......if you are inclined you may even be able to invest in nola on the ground floor so to speak and im betting nola bounces back.....

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

and im betting nola bounces back.....

nice thought, but it won't happen until the locals wake up and start pushing for a real change around here. the bad thing about laid-back attitudes is that it is counter-progressive: businesses are leaving? well somebody else will come back. Politicians stealing money? well what can we do, we'll just hope nobody else votes for them at the next election. Schools are bad?let's move 5 miles to the suburbs and we won't have to deal with it. Crime in the area? well it's not affecting me yet. We can't have a good levee protection? well nothing worse than Katrina can happen, can it now?

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by chunkstyle

you should just stay in that cultural epicenter known as houston.

Mike

EDIT: I'll echo a little bit of NOLAbass' post. If that's all you can come up with about New Orleans, don't come here. Here's three more reasons: It's way too hot, still under water and they cancelled Mardi Gras.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by joeyl

cons: a lot of ignorant people, typical for the South

That's interesting.

Originally Posted by joeyl

Some people are way too racially aware and mistrust other races

I'm sure history has proven reasons why.

Originally Posted by joeyl

Some are proud to be ignorant.

OK.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by joeyl

cons: a lot of ignorant people, typical for the South....

Man, I love stereotypes. On the plus side, New Orleans has just instituted a "Mirror City" plan where they've chosen one northern city to use as a beacon to guide us to racial harmony. We chose Boston.

Mike

[NOLA Bass]

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

Man, I love stereotypes. On the plus side, New Orleans has just instituted a "Mirror City" plan where they've chosen one northern city to use as a beacon to guide us to racial harmony. We chose Boston.

Mike