[Vick]

From my limited knowledge the same has been same of current generations of youth dating back to the days of the Romans


Also I don't know how familiar the writer is with how New Orleans actually got built, am sure there is someone here who is more well versed in it than I but from what I've been told (and I have visited NO up to 4 times a year)

The city started with the French Quarter, the inhabitants of the Quarter at that time didn't want the English settling there so the English moved and settled in to what is currently known as the Garden District (Which helps to explain the differences in architecture)
Some slaves were housed or would meet on Sundays a few blocks outside the Quarter (where Louis Armstrong Park currently is)
These neighbors grew and expanded with the Quarter staying the same basic 8 x 13 block grid
With the influx of Irish (and others) into the city the area other areas were developed

Am not sure if anyone was forced into "low lying" areas as suggested in the article
Even the French Quarter is under sea level

Also most of the damage came from Lake Pontchartrain backing up and breaking out of many areas
One of the most devastated areas is Slidell which is a suburb and home to many Caucasians which doesn't exactly agree with the writers take on it being a race issue