[MNMike]

I am not usually an alarmist...but after reading several NOLA websites and newspapers about recent crime I am thinking maybe I should reconsider stopping in New Orleans later this month. Even locals seem to not feel safe, and the tourists areas have seen violent muggings from what I have read. So I am thinking of spending more time in Austin, Galveston, and Houston instead...though I still need to fly out of NOLA. It doesn't seem like just media hype, but I could be wrong. If it really is as dangerous as they say, I am not sure I want to be there.

Any regional folks have opinions?????

[austin356]

You will be fine as long as you stay in the tourist areas. Mardi Gras is about to start and there will be hundreds of thousands of tourist in the area over a few weeks and this greatly enhances safety on a relative basis.

[TSmith]

Well, I live in New Orleans. I can tell you this... most of the crime is retaliatory... all related to the drug trade. There is a battle of sorts for turf right now. It's not a suprise to me. Many of the destroyed neighborhoods were dangerous neighborhoods with a pretty big drug problem. Now, as the criminals attempt to return to New Orleans, they have found that their old turf no longer yields the drug business that it used to... obviously... nobody lives there anymore. So, they are attempting to gain control of new turf.

The bottom line is this... while there have been a few innocent people caught in the fray, I still feel safe. But, I live in a safe area of New Orleans. 99% of the victims and perpetrators are involved in a life of crime. Tourist areas are mostly safe, so I'd say come anyway. One important thing is to rely on the locals for advice on where to go and where to avoid. They won't steer you wrong. If you do that, you'll be fine. Yourist areas are always crawling with cops. Come enjoy yourself.

[LSyd]

yes.

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[MNMike]

thanks

Only reason I ask is becuse i have been reading local newspapers and forums where locals seem to feel very unsafe...but I also know alot of people are very alarmist, and most of us here on the forum are the not that way. So I really do appreciate opinions from folks that have recent experience down there, and their honest opinions(hopefully not alarmists or the opposite extreme). Especially folks that live down there...I love to visit your fair city, I have just been reading such terrible things recently, and all my relatives are concerned. I hope to prove them wrong, but want some opinions

[tennreb]

I have been to NOLA a few times since Katrina, and I feel much safer there now than before the storm. I would definitely visit.

[alon504]

The crime doesn't bother me...let 'em at each other. Sorry to sound so cold, but, it's just a bunch of crackheads killing each other in places that none of us would ever come close to visiting. Hey, the more they kill each other, the less on the streets, IMO. Many who have been murdered, have murdered themselves. Isn't that sad...that's why I say, let 'em at it...they aren't leaving their "hoods," so why should people like me (or you) feel threatened?? I comfortably walk my dog every night between 11PM and 1AM and feel totally safe (and I live in the heart of New Orleans proper).

[MNMike]

thats cool, it was the many stories of locals feeling uncomfortable and a few being killed and robbed at gunpoint(innocent people, not criminals) near the french quarter, in marigny that concerned me. If you go to NOLA.com to the newspaper there are SO many horribly negative comments from residents. Thats what scared me. Its reassuring to here from a local that still feels safe. You should go there and read some of what residents have posted, thats what prompted this post really. Anyway, I am glad to hear from someone who is stll positive:)

[LSyd]

thats cool, it was the many stories of locals feeling uncomfortable and a few being killed and robbed at gunpoint(innocent people, not criminals) near the french quarter, in marigny that concerned me. If you go to NOLA.com to the newspaper there are SO many horribly negative comments from residents. Thats what scared me. Its reassuring to here from a local that still feels safe. You should go there and read some of what residents have posted, thats what prompted this post really. Anyway, I am glad to hear from someone who is stll positive:)

i was drunk in the quarter at night with my camera on a tripod and never felt threatened. this was on a thursday night in late may. one bartender told me to stick to the main, well-lit streets because there had been a lot of tourist gunpoint robberies, so i figured it's better to be safe than sorry and take the warning on the way back (which i'd planned to any to hit Bourbon St.)

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[alon504]

thats cool, it was the many stories of locals feeling uncomfortable and a few being killed and robbed at gunpoint(innocent people, not criminals) near the french quarter, in marigny that concerned me. If you go to NOLA.com to the newspaper there are SO many horribly negative comments from residents. Thats what scared me. Its reassuring to here from a local that still feels safe. You should go there and read some of what residents have posted, thats what prompted this post really. Anyway, I am glad to hear from someone who is stll positive:)

That's because they are pissed about the negative publicity these crackheads are giving our city as we recover. Wouldn't you be pissed if you lived here?

[MNMike]

I am sure i would be. And to top it off they kill a somwhat known innocent person with a 2 year old...thats whats gotten a lot of media attention.

[TSmith]

You should go there and read some of what residents have posted, thats what prompted this post really. Anyway, I am glad to hear from someone who is stll positive:)

That's because they're from Metairie... a suburb of New Orleans. They're just like that, that's all. They're afraid of the city... that's why they moved. And many of them are negative about the city. It's always been like that. Just take the advice of people who live here in the city. Avoid nola.com.

[SlidellWx]

My wife and I spent the past three nights in various parts of the city with a friend visiting from Austin. He had never been here and wants to come back...btw. Anyway...we were all over the city and never had any worries about our safety. The main areas we were in were...South Carrollton near Tulane....the Lower Garden District....Warehouse District...French Quarter...and the Marigny. These are the main tourist areas and most of the tourist activities are located in these neighborhoods.

As previous posters have said...these murders are mainly drug related and are occurring in a select few neighborhoods that were well known crime areas before the storm. If you are not involved in the drug trade and avoid these neighborhoods...( Central City...7th Ward...9th Ward ) you will be fine. Just keep common sense about you as you would in any urban environment. :tup:

[SlidellWx]

Also...yes avoid NOLA.com forums. Most posters either don't live in the city or used to many years ago. They do not reflect the majority of the populace. I find most comments to be overtly racist in the infamous Crime and Safety forum. The large majority of our African American citizenry are hard working and good people. You would think differently reading that forum.

[MNMike]

thanks for the advice....yes there were a lot of racist comments in there(nola.com). I guess its true most of the crime is in the bad neighborhoods...I mean a couple of the murders were in marigny and uptown, but hell, a guy was shot in my minneapolis neighborhood last year, and its very safe. Stuff like that happens sometimes i guess.

[Puddinhead4]

The crime doesn't bother me...let 'em at each other. Sorry to sound so cold, but, it's just a bunch of crackheads killing each other in places that none of us would ever come close to visiting. Hey, the more they kill each other, the less on the streets, IMO.

The large majority of our African American citizenry are hard working and good people.

Yes, SlidellWx, they are....and most of them live in the neighborhoods that for too many decades we've seemed willing to somehow attempt to "quarantine" from the rest of the city, as though they were the "Occupied Territories" in the Middle East or something. If some thought they could get away with it there would have been fences surrounding the "places none of us would ever come close to visiting" with checkpoints years ago. Just supply them the minimum amount of services that the Feds would require, send the police in to break some heads every now and then, and make sure the troublemakers don't spill over into the places where the "good" people live.

Problem is, Central City and the 7th, 8th, and 9th Wards make up about half of the city's land area and are largely populated by African-American New Orleanians....and as you say, the "large majority" of our African-American citizens are "good" people, too. How do we justify our attitude that seems to say, at least to them, that it's OK for the thugs to pretty much run their neighborhoods, as long as we can keep the crime from spilling over into our neighborhoods. Which is pretty much what the attitude has always been regarding crime in New Orleans. How do we expect cooperation from a portion of the populace that thinks that they're considered by the rest of the populace to be "sacrificial" at best and "the same as the thugs" at worst? And I should disclose that having grown up in the 9th Ward and currently living in the 8th Ward (Gentilly), I probably have always resided in parts of town that some have been trying to ignore for years. We'll never get a grip on the underlying problems until we jettison the "Who cares if they kill each other as long as they leave me alone" attitude. We'll also never prosper as other cities across the country who've invested in all their populaces have...but that's another story for another time.

[Teshadoh]

Crime is as much of a New Orleans tradition is as Hurricanes that get tourists drunk that makes them do stupid things like wandering around Louis Armstrong Park overnight.

Stay around the crowds at night, watch your surroundings & have a hell of a time.

[galaca]

Yes, SlidellWx, they are....and most of them live in the neighborhoods that for too many decades we've seemed willing to somehow attempt to "quarantine" from the rest of the city, as though they were the "Occupied Territories" in the Middle East or something. If some thought they could get away with it there would have been fences surrounding the "places none of us would ever come close to visiting" with checkpoints years ago. Just supply them the minimum amount of services that the Feds would require, send the police in to break some heads every now and then, and make sure the troublemakers don't spill over into the places where the "good" people live.

Problem is, Central City and the 7th, 8th, and 9th Wards make up about half of the city's land area and are largely populated by African-American New Orleanians....and as you say, the "large majority" of our African-American citizens are "good" people, too. How do we justify our attitude that seems to say, at least to them, that it's OK for the thugs to pretty much run their neighborhoods, as long as we can keep the crime from spilling over into our neighborhoods. Which is pretty much what the attitude has always been regarding crime in New Orleans. How do we expect cooperation from a portion of the populace that thinks that they're considered by the rest of the populace to be "sacrificial" at best and "the same as the thugs" at worst? And I should disclose that having grown up in the 9th Ward and currently living in the 8th Ward (Gentilly), I probably have always resided in parts of town that some have been trying to ignore for years. We'll never get a grip on the underlying problems until we jettison the "Who cares if they kill each other as long as they leave me alone" attitude. We'll also never prosper as other cities across the country who've invested in all their populaces have...but that's another story for another time.

I couldn't agree more.

[SlidellWx]

My hope is that the people of this region begin to do just as you said and provide the same level of resources to all parts of the city...not just the "good" areas of town. We are all in the same boat in reality...and the whole region will sink if we do not provide a good education...good infrastructure...and a good chance at success in life to all of our citizens.

We are finally having to face up to the reality that we allowed the school system...criminal justice system...and overall quality of life to decline over the last 20 or so years and that everyone is affected by this.

I still have hope for the future of this region and the city.

[BlessedMobile]

I have had family and friends living in NO for many years. The city has, to put it mildly, slipped a little in the past 30 years. I think the US will spend the money to get the area back on its feet. After all, it will be an "issue" for one or both of the national political parties...you know us Americans. We here in Mobile have seen a few of your locals move in but not too many. About the biggest thing here are a few of the shipping companies who could not longer do business in NO for whatever reason. Our State Docks even bought a couple on shuttered container cranes for the fire sale price of $45,000 each plus 5 million to move them. Alabama loves NO and prays for a full and lasting recovery. New Orleans...a great Southern city.

[neilson]

Also...yes avoid NOLA.com forums. Most posters either don't live in the city or used to many years ago. They do not reflect the majority of the populace. I find most comments to be overtly racist in the infamous Crime and Safety forum. The large majority of our African American citizenry are hard working and good people. You would think differently reading that forum.
Come on, I know you want to be hopeful and look up for the future but remember that racism is a 2-way street and if you think the predominantly white internet posting population on NOLA.com(you said it yourself, most folks are Westbank or Northshore ppl) then I can promise you that the level of racism that Blacks have toward Whites in Orleans Parish is just as high. Ppl can be hardworking, loving to their family and immediate circle and still be racist without burning crosses or littering houses and cars with bullets. That's how New Orleans as a whole is. You guys aren't violent for the most part if you're outside of the drug trade(btw don't do drugs, you'll end up dead. If you are a drug user, STOP.). But racism is a part of the New Orleans psyche. I'm talking about the entire metro area and of all the ppl I've met from the region I can honestly tell you that they are more willing then we are to utter the N word to talk about the poor, drugged up black population in New Orleans. Likewise there are several Blacks I know from the region that put on a smile but behind the scenes are willing to tell me that yes they feel a certain amount of racism toward whites in New Orleans. It's very much a divided city and the tourism sector is the 1 thing that somewhat unites them and gives the city as a whole a positive face. New Orleans should be thankful for the tourism otherwise they would be a southern Detroit in the way that Jackson, MS is a southern version of say, Youngstown, OH among other places.

[rolltide35401]

I was in NOLA visiting my sister just after New Years, and did not feel threatened anywhere we went. The city does have its share of crime, but so does every other city in America...just use common sense.

Go there and explore the city. Go out drinking in the Quarter, have a po-boy Mid-City and listen to some great music Uptown. Also take time to get away from the touristy areas to see those still struggling to rebuild to fully bear witness to what many suffered through and still suffer with daily. All need to see it for themselves, pictures do not do it justice...

[ajfroggie]

Not to mention that there's more in the region than just New Orleans...

[Connect]

The crime doesn't bother me...let 'em at each other. Sorry to sound so cold, but, it's just a bunch of crackheads killing each other in places that none of us would ever come close to visiting. Hey, the more they kill each other, the less on the streets, IMO. Many who have been murdered, have murdered themselves. Isn't that sad...that's why I say, let 'em at it...they aren't leaving their "hoods," so why should people like me (or you) feel threatened?? I comfortably walk my dog every night between 11PM and 1AM and feel totally safe (and I live in the heart of New Orleans proper).


Your line of thought is pitiful.
So by your logic, its acceptable for innocent children to grow up in the midst of violence so long as it doesn't bother you.
That is pitiful.
You need to wake up and learn that its people like you with thoughts like this that create those "hoods".
WAKE UP!!!!

[jowens]

I was in NOLA visiting my sister just after New Years, and did not feel threatened anywhere we went. The city does have its share of crime, but so does every other city in America...just use common sense.

Go there and explore the city. Go out drinking in the Quarter, have a po-boy Mid-City and listen to some great music Uptown. Also take time to get away from the touristy areas to see those still struggling to rebuild to fully bear witness to what many suffered through and still suffer with daily. All need to see it for themselves, pictures do not do it justice...

I live in Central Louisiana and I'm down in the city about 4 to 6 times a year. Just use the same standard of safety that you use when you visit any other major city and you will be ok.

And also check out the areas that was so devestated and still is.

[neilson]

I live in Central Louisiana and I'm down in the city about 4 to 6 times a year. Just use the same standard of safety that you use when you visit any other major city and you will be ok.

And also check out the areas that was so devestated and still is.
The fact of the matter is this: Don't buy drugs. You're likely to die not from the drugs themselves but from the ppl that deal them.

Keep that in mind.