As noted here, BrainJams New Orleans is tomorrow. A few quotes via Jerry Cashman, who has traveled down for the event.
Jerry writes: I took time on my flights and during the hours it took me to find a wireless connection to pulse the “spirit of New Orleans”, ask locals a lot of questions, and listen, listen, listen. Here are some of the quotes:
“You go BrainJams! There are so many needs in New Orleans. We will need help for at least 10 years. The help can be almost anything. However, it needs to be on things we have identified that we need help with.” — Small business owner with four food processing plans on the Louisiana gulf coast and a fleet of 10 fishing vessels.
“You mean the technology community wants to help? We got all these checks from technology companies into the American Red Cross for the first few months after Katrina. Now, they are nowhere to be found. Don’t people know thisis when we really need the help!!! We haven’t even cleaned up and the Hurricane season is just about to start again.HELP!” — New Orleans City government employee.
“This is my first time back to New Orleans after Katrina. If I known things were still this bad, I would be organizing a group like BrainJams for the Airlines industry. In fact, I will bring it up at our convention today,” — Continental Airlines executive attending an Airlines industry conference in New Orleans.
“BUSINESS SUCKS! Please help us,” — small business owner on Bourbon Street.
“We have so many technology needs it isn’t funny. For example, it would be great to have a community web site with functions like bulletin boards. For example, we still don’t know where all our former staff is after Katrina. Each hotel, such as us, posts a request for updates from our employees on our web site. But, it would be much more efficient if there was a New Orleans wide web site for that kind of information, updates on the rebuilding process (so dispersed people know about key updates – such as the Superdome reopening on September 24, 2006), etc.” — Hotel manager, Central Business District.
“Jazz Fest used to bring in a lot of tourists who’d revel in staying at one of the many Historic Hotels in New Orleans. We just haven’t seen it yet. We hope Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will be better. But, right now it is mostly locals. Could you use the web to simulcast Jazz Fest performances next year. I bet people would pay good money and the proceeds could go to the festival and to the rebuilding efforts. We need virtual events to supplement our biggest treasure and asset – our music!,” — Night club owner.
“Could you link Houston and New Orleans better electronically? They are currently housing 400,000 of the 500,000 Katrina refuges. There is no effective linkage on schools, housing, FEMA assistance, rebuilding efforts, and basic details for the residents of both cities in one simple, easy to read spot on the web. Plus, there are lot of dirty little secrets no one wants to talk about. For example, crime has gone up by 36 percent in the past three months in Houston (mostly in the neighborhoods where Katrina refugees reside). I don’t want to say there is a corelation, but it is very interesting that crime went up right when the federal assistance started to slow down or go away).” — Business owner in Houston that has involvement with three partnerships in Louisiana.
“People do not what is going on here!!!!! A girl from a club at Bourbon Street was killed two days ago because a dispute over $500. $500!!!! Guys can’t find jobs and they are killing people because they are desparate. And no one is telling the story. Why can’t you use those blog things you are talking about to get the stories out that the media won’t tell????” — New Orleans native and Bourbon Street bar patron.