Table Talk

By Laura

February 9, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

I am from New Orleans and I found Emeril’s comments to be extremely frustrating. Let’s say he was emotional; let’s admit it’s not his job to booster the city. Why no response now? His press release lament was lame. Something like I support New Orleans blah blah blah upset with the politicians. He needs to get out there and ask for help. And to talk up the positive of the city that gave him so much. New Orleans needs tourists and money. We don’t need a millionaire in a snit.

By Annoyed

February 9, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

I live in New Orleans and I don’t think Emeril had ANY idea how demoralizing his remarks were. Everywhere you go, it’s all anyone is talking about. He owes the city an apology and some action. People are very, very, VERY hurt.

By Beverly

February 9, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

Oh, I thought you might have been commenting the recent show where he tried to cook ‘Southern” I blanked out after the praises of instant grits vs the over an hour to prepare kind.I’ve never cooked grits for an hour - I don’t remember any more. I have watched curiously at some of his programs with wonder, now I know he doesn’t know what he’s doing. So I guess the New Orleans comment would be in line with his thinking.Just an entertaining talking head.

By NOLA

February 9, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

What are you talking about???? Emeril is exactly right…. The leadership of New Orleans and Louisiana is a joke. How do you have any respect for a mayor who calls for a “Chocolate City?” The whole Katrina catastrophe is another example of how people, who were doing nothing to help themselves prior to the event, now want the government to give them everything…. What happened to the old adage, “Give a man a fish and and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.” Don’t get me wrong, there are many honest hard-working people who are working very hard to make New Orleans great again… Emeril is one of those. But there are a lot of people on the dole… doing nothing but looking for their next handout.

By Elizabeth

February 9, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

The truth hurts, doesn’t it? I bet you also think it’s all George Bush’s fault. There is no excuse for the mayor and the governor’s ignorance, and for their reactions and excuses thus far. Emeril has been affected in the same way everyone else has, and is actually working to save his businesses. He tells it like it is, so what’s the problem??

By NOLA Ex-pat

February 9, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

I was a resident of NOLA for 9 years before Katrina right in the heart of town. I’ve been back several times now, and I can’t say that I really disagree with Emeril. 2/3 of the city is scattered to the four winds without any plans to return mainly because the leadership hasn’t given them any hope that things will improve anytime soon.

It pained us greatly to leave our beloved hometown, but it is no place to raise a family right now and who knows if we’ll ever get to rebuild our houses so that we can try to get on our financial feet again.

Even before Katrina, NOLA was a place you had to really love to live there. The city wasn’t healthy even before Katrina. So many people have now been forced to leave the city and are now seeing how much of a contrast in terms of taxation, opportunity for jobs, schools and the like that they are making the painful decision to remove themselves from the culture of New Orleans in the best interests of their families and futures.

That isn’t to say that I look down upon anyone who chooses to return and rebuild. I have the utmost respect for those that choose to do so. For me though, it wasn’t the most prudent course of action for me and my family.

We miss NOLA each and every day in many ways, but our lives will continue without it.

By Leslie

February 9, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this

I was a resident of New Orleans for over 15 years and love the place but it will never be the same as it was in my parents and my grandparent’s days. Those who have left realize that they are better off in their new homes (better education, jobs, housing) and don’t plan to return. They will use the insurance money (for those who did have it) to make a better life for themselves and only go to New Orleans to visit. The consensus of those who are returning are the elderly who are just too old and homesick to go anywhere else. And many of them are on fixed incomes and they won’t be spending the tourist dollars that the city relies so heavily on to survive.

It is really sad it is an excellent city but I agree with Emeril it will never be the same the politicians are taking too much time blaming each other and worrying about Mardi Gras to help those that were affected most by the hurricane….its residents.

By Carl

February 9, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this

I believe NOLA can be great again. Gen’l Sherman marched and destroyed Atlanta, Georgia. Yet,Atlanta rebuilt on top of the ruins. You know, this great nation is on its way to a manned landing on the planet MARS someday. America can clear the ground, raise the city above sea level to a point theres no need for levees. And, then rebuild this grand ole’ lady to far surpass what she used to be. I’ve heard talk of the rebuilding of IRAQ, a country in the middle east. What about New Orleans, one city in America, …Where’s our resolve, faith, and power.

By Joyce

February 9, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this

Emeril talks too much anyway, and now he has talked too much. He is mad at the city because he isn’t making money, now BAM that!

By Young, Detroit MI

February 9, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this

Be realistic. Your city is Atlantis (underwater) the population is 1/3 of its size. If people speak the truth than you can began to accept what the future will be like. NOLA is not NYC or DC after 9/11/01. To pure billons in to it is to admit that the feds, state and city messed up. Don’t blame Emeril for speaking the truth.

By Beth

February 9, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this

Any city can be great again with the right leadership and the right plan. Please don’t use Atlanta as an example of a great city. I personally think it is a southern embarrassment and is a current ruin. There is no great southern history, heritage or even hospitality. If you want to go to a great city go to Portland where you aren’t afraid to walk down the street.

By NC Emeril Fan

February 9, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

I’m agree with at least half of what Emeril said. The Mayor of NOLA seems pretty clueless. For a city below sea level, any hurricane should have mandated a full evacuation of everyone. Even if you don’t have the money to put people on a train or bus, you do everything possible. You’re still finding corpses and you can’t say no to Mardi Gras!

Any NOLA resident probably suspects that Bush and the Anti-Regular American Republicans will NOT keep their word about helping the residents get back some/most of what they lost. Nagin should use every dollar to help real people get help. You see how long it took for the US Fed Gov’t to get help as compared to Indonesia et al. Nagin needs to get with it or move out of the way.

By Ann

February 9, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

Bam! Somebody told the truth for a change. Get over it.

By Markus

February 9, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this

Emeril just told it like it is. The corruption of NOLO is notorious, as is the incompetence of the current governor, who’s only concern after the hurricane was what she was going to wear for the media. Regarding Nagen, he never DID ‘splain himself on why hundreds of school buses were left in a parking lot and were later flooded.

Incompetence should be exposed at all levels with regards to Katrina’s aftermath, and not just at Bush & Co. that the liberals love to do so much.

By stayinvolved

February 9, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this

Does anyone think the mayor and governor are competent? Emeril spoke the truth, what’s the problem? No one, especially Emeril, OWES New Orleans anything.

By strap

February 9, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight. Nagin is incompetent and Bush IS competent? What are you people smoking?

By David

February 9, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

Anyone with a family would be crazy to move back to N.O. Anyone with a busines license would be crazy to move back. Bulldozers and blow torches would be the best solution. What has been left existing there must now be thought of as a small town and let capitalism takeover and grow again. It can’t be rushed and think that it can be the same great city within a year or two.

By harris

February 9, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

Emeril can’t spell let’s cook. that crap he be doing on television has nothing to do with new orleans. Only tourists eat at his place anyway. Locals can find better food than that at the corner stores. Want he just sell the restaurants and take his little short but back to where he came from. Tell him in the words of martin lawrence get to stepping.

By stayinvolved

February 9, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this

Harris, I hope you are 8 years old, otherwise, that is just pathetic and sad.

By susie pearce

February 9, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

Emeril is right on the money about new orleans, I agree with the statement someone else said, the mayer is showing his stupidity with stupid statements like “chocolate city”, black people everywhere should be embarrassed by that statement ,new orleans is a dump,always has been,not Bush’s fault, a lot of the people just want free handout to continue.

By Cathy

February 9, 2006 05:08 PM | Link to this

So glad someone finally said what MANY would like to say but don’t have the public forum to do so. Everyone wants to blame Bush but not the Mayor or the Governor. Katrina just exposed a MAJOR problem in this country. Most of those left behind relied on the government to support them financially, they couldn’t even manage to get themselves up and out of the way of the hurricane, they were waiting on someone else to do it. How many people did you see on TV before it was coming saying “I am not leaving, seen this all before and nothing happended, so I am staying put”. I live 3 states away and new several days beforehand that the hurricane was coming that way and people needed to get out, everyone on every station was saying it was going to be a disaster. I don’t feel sorry for anyone that stayed. IT IS CALLED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!

By Melva

February 9, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

What is it they use to say “The truth will set you free” Well, my friends like it or not Emeril is just telling it like it is. Louisiana state and local governments have long been corrupt, anyone remember Edwin Edwards.And the present govenment is no better. Mark my words months from now there will be reports of funds that were misused. And you have to want to help yourself before you can be helped.

Some parts of NOLA should not be rebuilt in my opinoin becuase no matter how good you build the walls of a fish bowl it still can spring a leak!

I was raised in Louisiana all my life. And I love the state. My parents still live in rural central Louisiana. The culture and food there is great. Emeril, just hit the nail on the head. The Governor is a Clunk!!!

By pamster

February 9, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this

I’ll bet if Savannah flooded, Paula Deen would be out there fixing grits for the relief workers. Where was Emeril after Katrina?

By Gary O

February 9, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

I’ve never been to New Orleans, but I know it is city deep in history for everyone. If we can spend billions of dollars to rebuild New York and Iraq, then money should also be spent to support New Orleans. This was a event that couldn’t have been avoided. Many of the people didn’t have access to transportation if they wanted leave anyway. How can you evacuate hundreds of thousands of people in a 2 days.If you every try to leave during a hurricane you would know, that it is virtually impossible to go anywhere unless you fly! Hurricanes come and go every year, these people were only doing what they have always done.(I’m from FL and we do the same thing.) If they did leave where they going to live or eat.( No credit cards or cash ) Most live pay-check-to-check as most Americans. What would you do if you lost everything tomorrow(house, car,job) and now had to live somewhere else with little or no money? I bet you would have a different perspective.

By John

February 9, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

It still amazes me how ignorant some people are. It’s obvious to me that Emeril and the real victims of Katrina, live in two vastly different worlds. WAKE UP PEOPLE!! GO OUT AND MEET SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T LIVE, THINK, OR LOOK LIKE YOU. Emeril probably only hangs out with his neighbors…..Melva and Cathy.

By Sammy

February 9, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this

Emeril’s comments were right on. The mayor and governor ARE clunks, and they are the ones at fault for New Orleans being in the shape that it is in right now. All they have done since September is sit on their hands and whine that the federal government is not coming down to make New Orleans whole again. Meanwhile, in Mississippi (where the hurricane actually hit) the people are pitching in and working together at all levels to rebuild their homes, businesses, and cities.

By kasey

February 9, 2006 06:52 PM | Link to this

I agree with Sammy and Emeril-They are clunks. The latest I’ve heard proves it. Governor blanco is now threatening the feds if they don’t get millions of more money in aid. Sorry “Gov”, American generosity only goes so far. and you’ve had more than your share!

By MR

February 13, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

The most unfortunate thing about this entire ordeal is that we are reacting to comments that were never made by Emeril Lagasse. Journalist Chris Rose, who in his column and on the radio took Emeril to task about his “quotes,” presented the other side of the story in yesterday’s New Orleans Times-Picayune. In the article, Turning down the heat, Rose reports that Emeril says he was misquoted by “New York gossip queen Cindy Adams.” In the story Rose writes:

Now Emeril says of the quote: “That’s bullcrap. Did not say that. I’m as frustrated as most people in the city about some of our governmental leaders; I did express that. (But) as far as making (statements) about ‘New Orleans is dead and not coming back’ — that’s not true.”

“Cindy Adams came up to me and said, ‘Emeril, so how is New Orleans?’ And I told her, ‘God, we need help with our leadership, and we need help with our city.’ I did say that. But: ‘The mayor’s a clunker, the governor’s a clunker?’ I don’t use those words. Those words are not even in my vocabulary. ‘The city is dead’? I never said that.

New Orleans CityBusiness Editor Terry O’Connor, in his Feb. 10 commentary said it best:

Why does all this concern any of us post-Katrina? Because no New Orleans business can afford to casually be besmirched by controversial comments. Especially now.

How the media treats New Orleans businesses is an extremely sensitive topic.

It’s simply responsible to take great care not to damage any business or any greater New Orleans-area resident in these extremely difficult post-Katrina days. We’ve got enough to do to recover without fighting among ourselves or wasting energy trying to debunk harmful half-truths.