Is Home Really Where The Heart Is?

By Tara Coyle
The Peanut Gallery
on Homeland Security:

Do home and family ties outweigh the dangers of the high-risk areas in New Orleans? This question is bamboozling the congressional district of Homeland Security as they strive for an agreement. Should the danger areas be rebuilt and repopulated or should they be left alone or, perhaps, even abandoned? The real argument is whether or not high-risk areas of New Orleans need to create history somewhere new.

With the ninth ward and other dangerous areas being up to four meters below sea level, it is a high-risk environment. According to reports, the population has decreased 70% since Hurricane Katrina, and many believe that there needs to be tax incentives and reconstruction to restore the area to its original population of 14,000. 
There is a bill currently in the works to try and draw people back to the high-risk areas. Heavily backed by the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives, they are trying to repopulate the now ill inhabited areas. The bill proposes a 5% tax cut to people who move back to the higher risk areas of New Orleans. The bill also includes a 7% tax cut to all green energy that takes place in the areas as well. The Mayor of New Orleans believes in reconstruction, and wants New Orleans to return to its former glory: if that involves incentives, then so be it.

The Republican Party doesn’t see federal involvement necessary. A new levee system does need to be rebuilt, but the free market should be left alone to do its job. The party also feels that the danger may outweigh the benefits of living in the high-risk areas. The issue of money is also prevalent. 170 billion dollars have already been spent in New Orleans, and there was only 100 billion dollars worth of damages. The government owes it to the people to protect their well being, and that includes bringing them back to the higher risk areas.