Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see the "hate" that the natives insists exists. It's a sentiment widely held by many native New Orleanians, but my personal theory is that it's something created in their head by virtue of people not holding their native city in as high regard as they do. No one loves New Orleans like the natives do and there's no other city that will ever compare. To not hold this same sentiment dear to your heart seems to equate to "hate" for them. Personally, I dig New Orleans. I question how much the natives love their city if you are to look at how the population of the city post-Katrina shifted to the outlying metro areas instead of NOLA proper. The biggest issue in these arguments seems to be the LSU vs Saints argument. I know very few people who are not fans of both teams. Personally, I don't see the conflict. Neither will ever play each other and neither will ever play at the same time, on the same day. I do have issue with paying a pro sports franchise to remain, just like I have issue with tax money used to build college sports stadiums. I see the fiscal sense in both however, so it's an evil that can be lived with as long as the price isn't too high. I was not a fan by any means of the deal that Foster brokered with Benson. There's no excuse or reason that's justifiable in paying $20+ million dollars in cash to Benson Football, LLC and if that had continued, then I would have been pretty upset. I think that the proposed deal that gives Benson a few buildings to develop as well as rent money from the state for office space, upgrades to the Superdome, etc. is a great deal for all parties involved, even if the rent has been escalated above what the state currently pays in New Orleans. I trust that their new digs at Dominion Tower will be an vast improvement over their current spaces that are occupied by the state. So, does this hate really exist and I'm too naive to see it or are New Orleanians just self-absorbed?
The people I know that dont like N.O. feel that way for that reason. The citizens of New Orleans were all New Orleans, all day long -- sort of obnoxious about it. Of course that is a pretty juvenile reason to dislike a place. Personally I love New Orleans, but could have done without the traffic they brought into Baton Rouge...and the coke they brought to Alabama.
Probably you could day that Baton Rouge has mixed feelings about New Orleans. Everyone loves the New Orleans history and tradition, plus the architecture, music, food, and general laid-back, semi-tropic style. Nobody loves the crime, the schools, the racial animosity, sleazy politics, and now you can add the post-Katrina squalor of vacant and abandoned properties. And it must be noted that culturally, Baton Rouge is part of north Louisiana-- mostly white anglo/saxon protestants. It has always been an entirely different agenda between the anglo north and the Franco/Hispanic/African New Orleans multi-racial Catholic cultures. Attitudes about liquor sales, adult entertainment, urban blight, minority poverty, and style of government have always been vastly different.
It's hard to believe that two cities, this close to each other in the same state, can be so culturally different. But I like New Orleans. I wouldn't want to live there, but it's unique, and a fun visit.
I lived in Gretna from 73-77, Mandeville from 77-87, worked at McDermott 76-87. I enjoyed working downtown, slipped into the quarter for lunch a LOT (once a year, we didn't come back that day). I loved the restaurants and the people, culture, lifestyle. I hated the commute from Mandeville, especially when they closed the causeway. Throw in that weather situation a few days a year, and I was glad to get out. At the end of the day, I'm more of a business mind than one who needs nightlife. I said I love NO, but now I just enjoy it when I visit. Houston has provided a national wage scale, with below average housing cost and good public schools, which has allowed me to prepare for retirement better than if I had stayed in NO.
I can agree with this. Where people differ is that you never hear someone from Baton Rouge or Monroe complain or accuse that people hate their respective hometowns.
Well, there are some things we hate about New Orleans. We hate having our homeowners insurance in BR raised to cover New Orleans hurricane insurance costs. We really hate having to pay for a New Orleans football team as taxpayers. We're going to lay off thousands of state and university employees this year so that we can subsidize a multi-millionaire and his multi-millionaire players. If the Saints can't make it in New orleans then they should just leave. I won't miss 'em.
I like New Orleans as a place to go and party. Other than that, I want to stay the hell away from that place. What I don't like is the people outside this state think New Orleans is the only city in Louisiana.
