Originally Posted on nola.com
K10 is over. The commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was intense, at turns exhausting and exhilarating. I am proud of how our community responded to being placed under the world’s microscope, presenting a narrative that was optimistic but honest: yes, we have come back better than anyone would have expected; no, we do not confuse this remarkable progress with long-term success – we have lots more work in front of us.
Few during K10 questioned the assertion from Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard that the greater New Orleans economy is “the turnaround story of our lifetime.” After decades of job stagnation, we have outperformed most of the nation, earning us a new nickname, “The Big Busy.” But two good questions did emerge: Is this revitalization going to continue? And is this revitalization going to benefit everyone? My answers are yes, and — over time — yes.
