Concerted. Harmonious. Tight. Soulful. Rhythmic. These are words often used to describe New Orleans music. And what a show we will get starting this afternoon at the French Quarter Festival. I can’t wait until 4:30 to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (sans Narvin Kimball) play at Woldenberg Park on the banks of the mighty Mississippi.

In sharp contrast to our musical expertise, the same words cannot outline our city’s rebuilding effort. Yes, so many work extremely hard to reanimate their former homes and neighborhoods and those of others, yet the effort as a whole is very dissonant*. More hurricanes are coming, people, we need a joint effort to get this city ready now and way past the next hurricane season and beyond. For that, we have to put on a real concert.

Tomorrow is Orleans Parish Election Day. Amidst promises for stronger levees and the growth of business, not one of the candidates has proposed methods to take care of the existing woes of New Orleans. Who is going to get on FEMA to deliver trailers to the homeless living out of their cars in the hot, hot heat of this spring and the upcoming summer? Who is going to sit on Entergy, Bell South and S&WB until they come out to hook up the utilities of those who want back in their homes?

This reminds me of the anger felt by Mark’s wife, which she believes is not shared and focused by the citizens of this city. We’re tired, we’re simply happy to be back, we want to live it up until the next hurricane season. And, quite frankly, this city does not know the meaning of concerted when it comes to citizen anger and activism. The independence and musical discipline that defines this place seldom translates itself into a harmonious concert of vocal and lasting change.

So, what do we DO? For starters, I propose an independent recycling program. It’s useless to talk about saving the wetlands when we dump our plastic, metal and paper into landfills that undermine the very protection we need. I need your help. My vision: We take our recycling to a parish that will accept it. If that is deemed illegal or unsuitable by the parish in question, we get a quorum of interested people who can then create a petition to request a recycling parish to help Orleans Parish in this regard.

Perhaps this can grow outwards from the Metroblogging community. Any takers? I have a pile of recyclables just waiting to find new incarnations.

1 2 3 … all together now.

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* For instance, Brad Pitt and Global Green’s recently-announced design competition, which I do not see as dovetailing nicely with any proposed city plan. On the other hand, I perceive an expenditure of time, money and effort poured into something else that will be shelved. Sure, this city can use the attention and ideas generated by people all over the world, but implementation is another story.

Participants will be asked to put forth designs using green principles for the reconstruction of several New Orleans neighborhoods including a multi-use community center, single family home and multi-family housing.

“It is our hope that this competition will generate and uncover new and innovative ideas which will advance the practicalities of responsible architecture, as well as spark a long overdue rebuilding effort for the people of New Orleans,” said Brad Pitt. “Honoring the traditions of this unique city and the voice of its residents, our goal is to create designs — and ideally built projects — for neighborhoods which are stable, beautiful, sustainable and affordable. This competition asks the question can this catastrophe be turned into opportunity?

While I laud the idea for its principles of sustainability and heritage preservation, can and will the city infrastructure support this movement? Nowhere does the competition mention a plug-in to the existing chaos. Is this a story of lead by example? Build it and they will find a way to come?

“We are excited to participate in this unique design competition,” said Pam Dashiell, President of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association in the lower 9th Ward. “The competition will help bring increased attention to the urgent needs of our neighborhoods and will result in the building of desperately needed homes that are healthier and more energy-efficient for our community.”

Related posts:

1. FHA Mortgage Assistance
2. Making Change For Katrina
3. Future Shock
4. Forecasters Predict Busy 2006 Hurricane Season
5. What Is UNOP?: Sunday’s Unified New Orleans Plan(ning) Meeting