Murdertown

New Orleans had the highest murder rate in the U.S. for 2007

New Orleans registered 209 homicides last year, a nearly 30 percent increase from the 161 recorded in 2006.

This is what happens when your populace evacuates to another city and realizes what a hole the real New Orleans was and doesn't come back, and the vultures move in. But there is a ray of hope.

There are hopeful signs, however, Goyeneche said, pointing to improved schools in the city since the 2005 storm, grass-roots efforts to tackle crime, and a growing effort to upgrade city life.

A grass roots effort,translation: the people got tired of waiting on the government to solve the problem and took care of it themselves. This is what America is all about. See a problem, find a solution. Not ask Government to do it. I can tell you from experience that you will not solve poverty, crime, gangs, etc. waiting on Government to do it for you. Until people become emotionally involved in getting rid of these issues they will not go away. I don't mean touchy feely, I mean you don't see open air drug markets in the wealthy part of town, that is because they will not tolerate it.
It all goes back to the saying: "The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"