- Announcements from Polimom

Welcome Message

Polimom — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 09:41:29 -0500

We've set up this site (polimom.com) as an information repository and resource for the residents of Algiers. We will be releasing information specific to the West Bank of Orleans Parish here.

There are forums for people to stay in touch, discussions about how to get help, photos from people who have been into Algiers since the storm, and information from official sources, to help you sort yourselves out from the larger Orleans Parish issues. This site is not intended to replace wider news sources; there are many local news links in the left nav.

The forums and queries are being moderated / responded to by Algiers residents, either via established phone communications, or online. This site is for you, and is being supported by your neighbors. Feel free to let them know if you have suggestions or feedback.

Katrina Archives

Polimom — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:12:04 -0600

The forums, posts, and pix contained in this Katrina are for archival / reference purposes. All interactive functionality has been disabled.

Set up shortly after the storm, they primarily served the Algiers communities.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact polimom directly.

The List of People Still Missing

Polimom — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:38:48 -0600

Every time I think about the devastation in New Orleans, and how they continue to find bodies all these months later, my stomach turns over – because there are still over 3000 people missing.

Where are they?

Are some still in the rubble waiting to be discovered by relatives? Were they washed into Lake Ponchartrain, as some reports are speculating?

I don’t even want to go there in my mind. It’s too terrible a thought. I’m hoping that the vast majority of these folks are at work today, or at school, or just going through the normal activities of life somewhere.

If they are, then somebody probably knows about it. Everybody needs to look at this list of names, and see if they can help answer some really scary questions.

The alternatives are unthinkable

NOTE: This is copied/pasted from Polimom Says... (the blog). If you get a "hit", please let us all know in the comments section after you've contacted DHH. (Their phone number is at the top of the list of names.)

Make some phone calls - NOW (this is a time-sensitive post)

Polimom — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 10:46:47 -0600

From an email (thanks, Fergie!)

Right this very second, in the back rooms of congress, IMPERATIVE legislation on federal assistance to the gulf for levee rebuilding and business, personal reconstruction assistance is hanging in the balance.

HR 2863 - a Defense Spending Bill - is slated to go to a bicameral conference committee tonight or tomorrow. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi (chairman of the senate appropriations committee) is trying to attach an amendment to the bill which will fund the reconstruction of the levees, among other funding for reconstruction of the gulf area.

Full information about efforts here:

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/washington/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1134633664141790.xml

Senator Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is trying to get a Supplemental Spending bill as an AMENDMENT tacked onto a Defense Spending bill (the full bill is called HR 2863) passed through his committee and onto the full senate. This AMENDMENT to HR 2863 contains earmarked funds to repair the currently defunct levees in SE Louisiana back to a Category 3 and put a hefty down payment on a category 5 infrastructure.

But this REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN is running into resistance from the republican caucus and the White House. On the GOP House side, Rep Bobby Jindal (R-Lousiana) is pushing the amendment there as well and also meeting resistance. The resistance from the White House is over disclosures that the US Army Corps of Engineers will have to provide as part of the rebuilding process.

Coming to Algiers

Polimom — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:54:18 -0600

Algerines,

I'm going to be coming to visit for a few days, right after Christmas.

If you think it would be fun, I'd love to have some kind of get-together. There are so very many of you I'd like to finally meet face-to-face.

I'm announcing here so I can get a feel for whether there will be many folks in town who might have interest.

You can give your feedback as a comment here, or (as ever) feel free to email.

Either way, though, I'll be there, and I hope we can have a party!

Fund Established for Wounded Officer

Polimom — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:12:37 -0500

Shortly after Katrina struck, while many of us had evacuated, there was a story online a New Orleans Police Officer having been shot in the head by looters in Algiers. This incident occurred at the Chevron(?) gas station on General DeGaulle near the CCC (east) exit ramp, next to the Baptist school. The alleged shooter and fellow looters were apprehended by some Gretna Police officers who arrived on the scene. I am deeply grateful for the assistance they provided the NOPD.

I learned this week that the officer who was shot is, Officer Kevin Thomas. You may recognize Kevin as he was formerly Algiers - Crime Prevention Officer. Captain Kirsch, Fourth District Commander reported that Officer Thomas is recuperating in a Dallas (?) Texas hospital. He has had multiple surgeries to remove bullet fragments from his brain and reconstructive surgery.

State Representative Jeff Arnold has opened an account for Officer Thomas at the First Bank & Trust in Algiers. If you wish to make a donation, you may do so at any First Bank & Trust locations, just mention his name.

I hope that the local and national media follow-up on this story. I think it is time that they talked about the heroes of Katrina rather than the negatives........

Specific branch information:

First Bank and Trust
4550 General DeGaulle Drive
New Orleans, LA 70131

On site ATM Hours: Mon - Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm

Curfews

Polimom — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:23:15 -0500

From an email:
"Can you see if you can send some emails to the officials concerning this [ridiculous] 6PM curfew for Algiers? I was allowed to stay out later when I could only ride a bike, and now I own a house and legally drive and have to be home by 6. Nearby Jefferson [Parish] has lots of things opened, even Outback Steakhouse opened last night. Iunderstand and appreciate the law enforecmnet here, but come on now, this is not the east bank!!"

I wanted to give this response to Algiers, more widely. I've been getting some input from various emergency workers in the city. The curfew is probably there because they are trying to monitor who is actually coming into NO (as opposed to who should be). They are, I think, seriously trying to keep the lid on crime.

Since the return began, there have been some problems across the river (not in the open areas). There is also a bit of tension (or was) between various law enforcement agencies around the metro area.

My conclusion is that, while the curfew is a royal pain in the you-know-what, it is likely helping you more than you realize.

Last thought - With a new police chief, I can't even begin to guess what the next steps might look like.

People ARE getting in

Polimom — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 15:56:13 -0500

From the email:

Quick email.

Algiers is open. I've been coming back in for days and I'mhome now.

Read my blog. You might want to tell poeple about it.

http://craigusmaximus.com/blog/

To My New Guests

Polimom — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 09:12:13 -0500

Good morning all,

Since Reuters picked up the story about Polimom, and the mess down on the Point after Katrina, we've had a large number of visitors. This note is just to say hi, and orient you a bit.

First - polimom.com is a support site we launched when Algiers residents were trying so hard to stay in touch with one another. Most of the story they are talking about in the news did not play out at this url, but rather, on "Polimom Says..." - a blog. The community proved its caring on the forums here, after the danger passed.

Next - The aftermath of Katrina and the ensuing chaos happened, for the outside world, on the blog. If you are visiting polimom in pursuit of more information about those events, I suggest you start with the archives for that first week, here.

Finally - Early on, there was traffic on the blog from websites and organizations looking to support their radical right or left racist opinions. I wrote directly to that issue, and if you are here because you think Algiers is a "white enclave", or that I was supporting "vigilante justice", then I strongly recommend this blog entry as your starting point.

You are welcome here. We all feel very strongly that everyone did their absolute best to help one another, and I, for one, am pleased the story is spreading more widely.

About Hurricane Rita - From Polimom

Polimom — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:55:16 -0500

Algiers friends,

Many of you may already know that I'm in TX, not far from Houston. Current models are continuing to predict landfall to the SW of my location, in Katy. As Hurricane Rita strengthens and nears landfall, I am likely to be caught up in events, somewhat, locally.

Please know that I'll do my best to keep an eye on Algiers, throughout. The forums are in the capable hands of your neighbors, and hopefully by this time next week, you'll all be settled at home, and I'll have weathered Rita.

In the meanwhile, feel free to come visit me on the blog, as I sit with all my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed, prepared for the worst but hoping for the best!