Account of French Quarter Looting
The letter below was received by me and recounts first-hand the situation in the French Quarter. It definately deserves a read...
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"Just got out last night. I could have stayed , my supplies would have lasted for seven more days But, the fires have started.
The reports of looting downtown are exaggerated. Yes, they broke into the grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, for food, etc. Canal street had a few hours of thugs doing sports shops, but all other shops and the ENTIRE French Quarter is safe and untouched. The storm did glass and roof damage and trees UPTOWN. Just needs to be swept. Looks LESS dirty than a typical Mardi Gras day. I was never threatened. 99.9% of our people are heroic, stoic, and human beings of great quality.
THE FLOOD did NOT get into the Fr. QTR and along the river to AUDUBON PARK. I stayed and helped and photographed and bicycled these areas every day. NO shooters, some idiots, but everyone doing the best to get along and survive. Other flooded areas, it is very desperate and there are some battles going on, but very isolated. From Monday to late yesterday there were NO military, red cross, fema, or anyone with supplies DOWNTOWN. Even the N.O. Police and Fire Dept were largely absent. I stayed in the Qtr at A Gallery. The building and contents is presently fine. I will be going back soon to help the other people. The Amazing people of New Orleans will survive and rebuild. The media stayed on Canal Street and are missing the real story. Unfortunately, the "looting" story is all they had downtown and its repetitous playing of that footage has setback recovery. IT FALSELY scared off the rescuers, I guess. Too many rumors reported without eyewitness verification. Bad business, needs to change.
Please spread the word. Bush and his people have been bad to us. Every hour matters to the remaining people. The surrrounding region is overwhelmed with recovery. Baton Rouge has 200,000 people to help. LSU is a triage center. EVERYONE is pitching in. The entire situation is complex and difficult for everyone. Many shortages , gasoline especially. BY the way, Since early Tuesday , access into New Orleans via the downtown Miss. River Bridge has been clear to Baton Rouge. Everyone else got in that way, why not the military? Four hours away by CAR is Fort Polk, one of the largest bases around. Bring the boys home, especially the National Guard. New Orleans needs your love and positive thoughts. Email and spread the word. Contact your leadership in Washington and keep the pressure on. Especially today and tomorrow. Remember that these people are the heart and soul of the New Orleans everyone loves.
See you soon
Joshua Mann Pailet, Chief
A Gallery For Fine Photography
Fine Photos, Inc.
www.agallery.com
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"Just got out last night. I could have stayed , my supplies would have lasted for seven more days But, the fires have started.
The reports of looting downtown are exaggerated. Yes, they broke into the grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, for food, etc. Canal street had a few hours of thugs doing sports shops, but all other shops and the ENTIRE French Quarter is safe and untouched. The storm did glass and roof damage and trees UPTOWN. Just needs to be swept. Looks LESS dirty than a typical Mardi Gras day. I was never threatened. 99.9% of our people are heroic, stoic, and human beings of great quality.
THE FLOOD did NOT get into the Fr. QTR and along the river to AUDUBON PARK. I stayed and helped and photographed and bicycled these areas every day. NO shooters, some idiots, but everyone doing the best to get along and survive. Other flooded areas, it is very desperate and there are some battles going on, but very isolated. From Monday to late yesterday there were NO military, red cross, fema, or anyone with supplies DOWNTOWN. Even the N.O. Police and Fire Dept were largely absent. I stayed in the Qtr at A Gallery. The building and contents is presently fine. I will be going back soon to help the other people. The Amazing people of New Orleans will survive and rebuild. The media stayed on Canal Street and are missing the real story. Unfortunately, the "looting" story is all they had downtown and its repetitous playing of that footage has setback recovery. IT FALSELY scared off the rescuers, I guess. Too many rumors reported without eyewitness verification. Bad business, needs to change.
Please spread the word. Bush and his people have been bad to us. Every hour matters to the remaining people. The surrrounding region is overwhelmed with recovery. Baton Rouge has 200,000 people to help. LSU is a triage center. EVERYONE is pitching in. The entire situation is complex and difficult for everyone. Many shortages , gasoline especially. BY the way, Since early Tuesday , access into New Orleans via the downtown Miss. River Bridge has been clear to Baton Rouge. Everyone else got in that way, why not the military? Four hours away by CAR is Fort Polk, one of the largest bases around. Bring the boys home, especially the National Guard. New Orleans needs your love and positive thoughts. Email and spread the word. Contact your leadership in Washington and keep the pressure on. Especially today and tomorrow. Remember that these people are the heart and soul of the New Orleans everyone loves.
See you soon
Joshua Mann Pailet, Chief
A Gallery For Fine Photography
Fine Photos, Inc.
www.agallery.com
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posted by TAG at 6:15 PM
4 Comments:
I posted this at Daily Kos.
Thanks for how informative your blog is. There are so many people around the world who wish New Orleans well.
Thanks Cathie -- Things are flying through the internet. I got it from one of my fellow crew that I sail with. She just returned from Seattle.
Thanks again!
I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ALL SAVING THESE EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS BEFORE THEY ARE ALL ERASED. I ALSO HOPE ALL OF YOU HEROIC PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TESTIFY WHEN THEY START HOLDING THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT ALL OF THIS WEIRD REPORTING, OVERSTATING OF THE SITUATION BY THE MAYOR(10,000 DEAD), THE STATE(25,000 BODY BAGS), THE FEDS, NAT GUARDS, POLICE ETC. MANDATORY EVAC TACTICS AND ACTIONS("WE HAVE TO MEASURE YOUR WAIST SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT SIZE BODY BAG TO BRING FOR YOU"). THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT. YOU MEN AND WOMEN ON THE GROUND THROUGH ALL OF THIS ARE OUR ONLY HOPE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS TRAGEDY. PLEASE KEEP COPIES OF WHAT YOU WRITE, TELL OTHERS TO KEEP JOURNALS TOO. GOD BLESS EVERY ONE OF YOU.
Joshua, glad to hear that A Gallery is doing so well... I'm a long way away, in the mountains near Melbourne, Australia. Every day I've been looking at the little poster card of Louis Armstrong, purchased at your gallery and sent to me by a friend on a visit to New Orleans a couple of years ago, and wondering if the gallery is still there. Came to this site to read about rescued pets and found this post. Louis is right there on the wall of my office, so New Orleans and her wonderful people are never far from my thoughts. Keep on keeping on.
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