Are New Orleans' problems, your problems?
| 15:08 UK time, Thursday, 19 July 2007
You can read today's topics towards the bottom of the post.
I'm sitting in a leafy courtyard in our hotel gently perspiring and wondering at the impressive humidity here in New Orleans. We're in the French Quarter, and arriving here was a little like when you push your face to the sea, and there's a hive of activity under the surface.
We hung a left off a non-descript highway coming into town (just after the Superdome) and suddenly entered a tight-knit grid of streets teeming with restaurants, bars, hotels and shops – many nestled under the pretty green colonial balconies that cover many of the sidewalks.
Bright neon signs are offering Mango Daquiris, Larry Flint's Barely Legal girls, 2 for 1 hot dogs and live baseball to the tourists and college kids who meander around. One shop across the road is called Jazz Funeral – something a lot of people might say is apt for a town struggling to get its musicians to return home after Katrina.
We're broadcasting from the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated Jamboree (to give it its full title) and we're here for three reasons. One we broadcast from here in March 2006 and wanted to come back here how the city and its people are doing.
Two, we were invited and are grateful for the opportunity. And three, those of you in America are a crucial part of WHYS and we'd like more stations in the States to take the show so that we can reach more of you in America. This is a country after all that fascinates the world like no other. There are some important people from Public Radio here so it's a great chance to meet them.
HOW IS NEW ORLEANS RECOVERING FROM KATRINA?
Crime, poor prosecution, sub-standard policing, corruption, a lack of public housing, the highest murder rate in he country. If you look for news about New Orleans this is what the search engines give you. But is that the right story? We'll try and find out. If you have a question about life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, then email worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk and put your phone number and question. We'll do our best to get you on the air.
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO HELP NEW ORLEANS?
America is the richest country in the world and yet people here say they're still not getting the help they need to rebuild their city. Is it their responsibility to sort out their home town? Should wealthy Americans be reaching into their pockets? Or do their taxes do that well enough already? Those of you in America – we really want to hear from you today. Are you happy you're doing enough for New Orleans?
WHO'S THE GREATEST LIVING AMERICAN?
A great idea from WHYS' Paul. U.S. agricultural researcher and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug has received the Congressional Gold Medal for 'his lifetime of work tackling world hunger'. It's fair to say not many of the Americans here in New Orleans had heard of him.
Now this is the highest award America hands out, so if you were in charge who would you give it to? Who is the greatest living American? I'm struggling to decide.
Normally on these trips I have a few minutes to tap out some thoughts about where we've arrived. Not so here. We're on air in less time than might be ideal so I shall leave my chin-stroking for later. I'm sure you'll cope.
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