I think the critics are a lot right. And I think they are a little wrong. |
New Orleans routinely has hosted conventions of 20, 30, 40, 60,000 people. This is a convention town unlike anything you've ever seen. So they've got to get that back. That fuels the economy. |
One of the things that many people have been watching in this whole great human tragedy ... is what's happening to this extraordinary cultural and historic landmark of America and how much of its going to be there to help the city recover -- because this is what draws a lot of people there. |
That's part of the great beauty of New Orleans. That's where Ann Rice sets the scene for her vampire books. |
These are invaluable treasures to this nation and to the city. That's what drew all these tourists here over all these years.... The French Quarter clearly has a lot of damage to it from wind and some from water, but it may be that it is largely intact at least in terms of the structures. |