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Big Easy Homicides Soar
CBS NEWS ^ | 1-11-2007

Posted on 01/12/2007 5:39:39 AM PST by Cagey

Waist-Deep In Urban Decay, Katrina-Ravaged City Sees Wave Of Murders

(CBS) In New Orleans today, there was a rare sight: A predominately white crowd in the predominately black city, marching in what organizers called a "war protest."

It wasn't the war in Iraq they were protesting, CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports, but the one in one of America's most-beloved cities.

"We have come to declare that a city could not be drowned in the waters of the storm will not be drowned in the blood of its citizens," says Rev. John Rafael, a New Orleans resident.

Since June, homicides in New Orleans have soared to a rate of 90 killings per 100,000 residents, according to the University of New Orleans. Compare that with the national average of 5.6 murders per 100,000 residents.

Residents like Nora Natale are fed up.

It took the recent murder of a local schoolteacher and a documentary movie maker for Natale and her neighbors to say enough is enough.

"More so than the death of a white woman, it was the death of a mother just like that. The death of a father; people who were murdered in front of their children," Natale says.

Add to the murder rate that nearly 18 months after Katrina's floodwaters receded, New Orleans is still waist-deep in urban decay. The unemployment rate for returning evacuees is 7 percent, and 49 percent of the schools are still closed, according to the Brookings Institution.

"When you add crack cocaine and the AK-47, you have New Orleans today," says James Bernazzani of the FBI.

Most of the murders have been drug-related. While the criminals have come back after Katrina, many of the city's working class simply can't afford to. So a non-profit organization had an idea.

Today, while the demonstrators were downtown, Halena Cunningham's non-profit foundation was showing a group of investors around a neighborhood —investors who will help fund affordable housing.

"It will impact the overall successful recovery," says Cunningham, with the NHP Foundation.

But for many hear the fear remains when it comes to reducing the city's murder rate; is it Mission: Impossible?


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: ak47; banglist; fbilies
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1 posted on 01/12/2007 5:39:40 AM PST by Cagey
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To: Cagey

It's a quagmire, a quagmire I tell you. Nagin will never get his government functioning as long as we are in there to prop him up. Pull out now!


2 posted on 01/12/2007 5:41:11 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Saddam is Dead! Bush's Fault. [Pray for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub.])
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To: NonValueAdded; Ellesu

I think the murders will stop if we just throw a few more billion into NO.


3 posted on 01/12/2007 5:43:32 AM PST by Cagey
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To: Cagey
'When you add crack cocaine and the AK-47, you have New Orleans today," says James Bernazzani of the FBI.'

And I say BS, g-man. Exactly how many of these murders has been done with an AK-47, or, for that matter, ANY so-called "assault weapon"? Cards on the table, or fold.

Sounds like just another gun-grabbing big-government shill to me.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

4 posted on 01/12/2007 5:44:50 AM PST by Joe Brower (The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
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To: Cagey

Don't dare send more police that will only make the murderers even madder and will cause more killings.


5 posted on 01/12/2007 5:47:49 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Cagey

This is what "liberal" government leads to.


6 posted on 01/12/2007 5:50:16 AM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: NonValueAdded

Yeah, we should be asking the democratic mayor, govenor, senators, representatives, etc. WHAT IS YOUR EXIT STRATEGY??


7 posted on 01/12/2007 5:52:16 AM PST by fatrat
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To: Joe Brower

Good point and I bet this g-man was all for confiscating guns from homeowners right after Katrina.


8 posted on 01/12/2007 5:53:19 AM PST by Cagey
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To: TexasCajun
More police will only create more criminals and murderers.

We also need to find out what we have done to make them criminals.

It's our fault, you know.

/sarc

9 posted on 01/12/2007 5:54:09 AM PST by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
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To: NonValueAdded

MEMPHIS had its 8th homicide this week for 2007! It must be the Old Muddy that does it!


10 posted on 01/12/2007 5:54:25 AM PST by Sybeck1 (Southaven Mississippi Freeper)
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To: Cagey

Send more Heinekin and guns.


11 posted on 01/12/2007 5:56:46 AM PST by showme_the_Glory (No more rhyming, and I mean it! ..Anybody want a peanut.....)
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To: Cagey

Most of the murders have been drug-related.

If we stop enforcing the black market monopoly this violence would decrease significantly. I don't see Camel and Marlboro reps shooting it out in the 7-Eleven parking lot, nor do I see the Budwieser and Heineken reps doing drive by's in thier beer trucks. Why is that?


12 posted on 01/12/2007 5:58:38 AM PST by TheKidster (you can only trust government to grow, consolidate power and infringe upon your liberties.)
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To: Cagey
Related article on Drudge..
Big Easy Residents Protest Killings

naturally there's this beaut blaming Dubya,

"Protest signs targeted Nagin, Gov. Kathleen Blanco and President Bush, accusing them of failing act on the city's crime problem.

Some faulted Bush for sending more troops to secure Iraq while New Orleans - where the police force is already being augmented by the Louisiana National Guard - needs help.

"I want more troops here," said Eddie Ecker, 38, a musician walking with a snare drum strapped to his chest.

These 'people' are beyond STOO-PID and have zero idea of how our gubmint works, i.e.; Federalism, the limitations on the president and the Federal Gubmint, or say the 10th Amendment.

These mopes seem to want a 'Police State', or a 'Benevolent Dictator'. Uh-huh, sure. Until the troops actually start arresting people that is.

13 posted on 01/12/2007 6:05:34 AM PST by Condor51 (The Dems don't want another 'Vietnam' - they want another Dien Bien Phu.)
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To: Cagey

Murders in the Big Easy ?

How in the world can this be ? It's run by democrats for democrats, it should be the land of Utopia, where everything is perfect !!!!


14 posted on 01/12/2007 6:05:34 AM PST by Veeram (why the does the left HATE America ?)
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To: Cagey

What Nwalins needs is conservative law and order...and 'chocolate city' boy needs to be put out to pasture....\

........barring that I think the next time the hurricanes blow and fill up the spaces between the levies, we let it stay that way......


15 posted on 01/12/2007 6:06:43 AM PST by Vaquero (Moderate Islam is Radical Islams Trojan horse in the West)
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To: Cagey

16 posted on 01/12/2007 6:09:00 AM PST by Vaquero (Moderate Islam is Radical Islams Trojan horse in the West)
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To: Cagey
In New Orleans today, there was a rare sight: A predominately white crowd in the predominately black city, marching in what organizers called a "war protest."

White people protesting black crime? Why that's outrageous!

/sarc off

17 posted on 01/12/2007 6:11:02 AM PST by Kenton (All vices in moderation. I don't want to overdo any but I don't want to skip any either.)
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To: Vaquero
Just like we can't enforce democracy on Iraq, we cannot force law and order on Nwalens.

At least Nwalens has the government they wanted. /sarc

18 posted on 01/12/2007 6:12:00 AM PST by Tolkien ("It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong." ---Voltaire)
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To: Bosco

yes indeed...we need to evaluate why they hate us so much. We need multi-lateral talks...the police need to cut and run and let these poor innocents run their own city.


19 posted on 01/12/2007 6:21:29 AM PST by woollyone (a man self-deceived is twice deceived)
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To: Cagey

There has already been 10 deaths in Baltimore. Home of our new Governor.

Well: Maybe more than 10 by now I read that yesterday.


20 posted on 01/12/2007 6:22:55 AM PST by sgtbono2002 (Peace through strength.)
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