New Orleans Revisited

How can you devote a three-page update on rebuilding New Orleans without figures on the billions of dollars taxpayers have been forced to pay for this ["The Road Back Home," June 23-30]?

It is a waste of American resources to rebuild an area that is mostly below sea level, is sinking while oceans are rising, and is subject to periodic floods and hurricanes. In the same issue, "Attacking the Deficit" reminds us of our rapidly increasing national debt of $31,000 per capita. It might be of interest to know how much of [one cause of that debt] will be permanently washed away in the next monster storm.

Allen Hyde
Newland, N.C.

Pontchartrain Park is not a ghost town. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of former residents are back home, and more are in the process of rebuilding. A neighborhood school, university, several churches, a theological college, a playground, the baseball park, and bus transportation are up and running. Our neighborhood organization, Pontilly, has worked tirelessly since October 2005 to help our residents.

Clara Carey
New Orleans