Previously: Five years after Katrina, New Orleans' charm calls again and Restaurants leading NOLA resurgence
Editor's note: Were government promises to rebuild New Orleans kept? CNN's Anderson Cooper returns to the Gulf Coast to see what has changed since Hurricane Katrina. Don't miss "In Katrina's Wake," an "AC360°" special at 10 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN.
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Has anyone in these areas ever heard of a bicycle? In an area like New Orleans, the climate is favorable to bike a few miles most of the year. You can get a used bicycle trailer, and there you go. Not expensive. Modest effort. I do it all the time. Unless you live in mountainous terrain way up north where you have snow much of the year, no excuse for not riding a bike to the grocery store anything under 5 or 6 miles. You also get the added benefit of some exercise.
I am a vegetarian who moved from NYC to NOLA 11 years ago. This article is rubbish. There is a plethora of farmers markets and fresh fruits and vegetables in New Orleans... and btw, the city is so small and level, that one can ride their bike all across the city within a hour. I have done it many , many times... (and for those who will say some people cannot afford a bike...i have had 8 bikes stolen out of my backyard in the last 10 years, so if there is a will, there is a way).
Now that we have read about food on reservations...imagine their government run health care. That's what we will be getting next. Why do we spend $800 million in Haiti and $150 million in Pakastan (they're trying to kill us) and do nothing for our own? I hear it's because we are free....free to make the choices that can ruin or elevate our lives.
It's good that lots of these problems are finally being acknowledged at least. It is almost impossible for poor people to have access to healthy food. There's the lack of money to buy the healthier food, which is several times more expensive than junk food, and then there's the lack of transportation just to get to the healthier food. It is no wonder that diabetes is sky rocketing amongst the poor. Diabetes in not a disease of poor food choices, it's a disease of poverty and no choices. I noticed that some people write in and suggest that poor people ride a bike to the store. Maybe they can't even afford a bike or aren't healthy enough to ride a bike. That's a very real possibility if they've been forced to live on junk food.
Why not just take home a shopping cart. That way you can just push the food 2 miles to your house.
2 miles? that's like having a supermarket every other exit off the highway.
the real problem is the lack of money to buy food - they even say that not too far in. thank the last mayor for chasing away half the tax base.
2 miles for a grocery store isn't much worse than most areas. That may be 40 minutes by walking, but only 10 minutes by bicycle. I bike with my kids routinely to a grocery store 2.3 miles from my house for grocery runs. The bike trailer is loaded up with ~30 to 40 lbs of produce and foods, sometimes more. An inexpensive bicycle greatly expands your accessible horizon even if you aren't in great shape.
Agreed. 2 miles is not unreasonable...heck, my home in a major suburban area is 2 miles from a major store. Guess what...I bike it. Get yourself a Burley bike trailer used off Craigs, hop on your bike, there you go. Bikes are also plentiful and cheap used. No excuse for not riding your bike to the store most of the year. 2 miles on a bike is nothing.
There has been a food desert on the Pine Ridge Reservation for years. Few have cars. The walk to a decent grocery store is three times as long as the one displayed in this story. The result of decades of this is an 800% higher rate of diabetes than the rest of the US.
I'm sorry for what the residents of New Orleans have been going through since Katrina and wish fresh food for them again as well. But we need attention brought to the Rez as well.
Melissa-I am sorry for your plight yet as a Truck Driver going thru many reservations in Arizona and New Mexico I witness more and more Drunk Drivers-Hear of Family Abuse caused by alcohol and wonder how much of the Federal Funds are actually used for food? If Alcohol is so readily available-Why not food?
Thank you, Richard. It is true what you say about alcoholism and abuse. Many, many abuse alcohol – for many reasons, none of which are justified. On Pine Ridge, alcohol is much more readily available than healthy food even though alcohol is only sold at the seven gates going into the rez and nowhere on the rez. On the rez, the limited food is junk food and convenience store food.
Think of this – 97% of the Lakota live below the Federal poverty levels. 83-85% unemployment. Median income $2,600 – $3,500. That is extreme poverty and hopelessness. It is why 19 Lakota children, ages 12-19, have committed suicide THIS SUMMER. With such hopelessness, many have turned to alcohol to numb their pain. Whether it is right or wrong, it is what it is.
Like I said earlier, it isn't NOLA or Reservations. It needs to be both. So, please don't continue to neglect the Native People.
Melissa, you have a valid point. It's sad to think that we ignore ongoing want in this country and rush to take care of the latest disaster in other countries. There's nothing wrong with helping others elsewhere and, indeed, we should; but it makes no sense to me that we let our own people suffer.
With regards to Richard's comment, alcohol has a much longer shelf life than fresh produce. It's a sad fact of life that the poorest communities often suffer the most nutritionally and have the biggest substance abuse temptations because that's where the predators look for prey.
We have some very low-income communities in New Jersey where farmers' markets are brought into empty lots throughout the year. They're very popular and are often supplemented by local shops that bring things like citrus and other non-local crops out at low prices. It's a shame that something similar can't be done in locations that really need it, especially since it would probably be very lucrative even when the cost of transporting the goods is factored in.
Melissa-As a person who has studied American History for many years{I won't tell you how old I am},the Lakota people are the most beautiful of all. I will also say"They have proven to be the toughest of them all"! Without the Lakota language or what was stated in the past{The Windtalkers}-The United States of America would have lost WWII without the help and understanding of these beautiful people.I hope and pray that someone higher up is listening to our conversation. Please take care.
@Melissa Hatfield: Thank you so much for bringing the plight of your community to our attention. It is appalling that the mainstream media has ignored this. This is the first time I have heard about the tragic loss of so many children within the borders of our own country. (To the folks at CNN, are you reading this? Why hasn't this made your front page?) I just can't understand why so many people will donate to help children across the globe, but then turn a blind eye to those in need within the USA. We have so many going hungry in our country and despair is spreading like a disease because of unemployment, which stresses families and leads to problems with addiction, abuse and mental health problems. I am so angry that our government can bail out fat cat bankers but leave everyone else to fend for themselves.
My sympathy goes out to your people and everyone else who is suffering in our country. Readers, if you are able, please donate to your local charities and food banks.
Thank you, everyone, for you comments in support of attention toward the Native people. In reading your encouraging responses, I realized that I, unintentionally, gave the impression that I am Lakota and live on the reservation. Neither are true and I apologize for the confusion. I partner with an organization that is based on the Pine Ridge reservation and has partnered with the Lakota for fifteen years. I love them, work with them, and speak on their behalf but am not Lakota. However, the horrible statistics are true.
If anyone from CNN will accept the challenge of bringing attention to the needs on the reservation, I am glad to speak with you but more importantly, connect you with those who can tell their own stories of extreme poverty and hopelessness.