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"Tent City" in New Orleans does, in fact, exist
When Democratic presidential nominee hopeful John Edwards dropped out of the race late last month, he stood in front of his supporters in New Orleans and talked about an unfortunate site he witnessed on the way into town. "We passed, under a bridge that carried the interstate," he said, "where 100-200 homeless Americans sleep every night."In response, everyone's favorite hatemonger, Bill O'Reilly, took a jab at Edwards by questioning whether the homeless enclave actually existed. "[W]e called the Edwards campaign and asked where exactly is that bridge so we could help those people. Apparently, they don't know or they wouldn't tell us. The Edwards campaign can't pinpoint the bridge." Watch a video of his response here.
Well, Bill, I was in New Orleans last week, and on the way out of town, I passed under a bridge where hundreds of tents were pitched. It's known as "Tent City" and it's a very, very real thing. I'd estimate that there were well over 500 tents stretching in both directions at this location alone.
If you're interested in staying true to your word and helping those people, Bill, they can be found, among other places, under the I-10 bridge at Canal and Claiborne. In fact, here's a map to help you get they're a little quicker. People need help, and they're waiting for you.
Bill O'Reilly can be contacted at oreilly@foxnews.com or 1-877-9-NO-SPIN during show hours.
Filed under: Activism, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Willy Feb 11th 2008 1:44PM
Thanks, Bill. It's so kind of you to offer to help these desperate people. Can't wait to see what you do.
iomatic Feb 17th 2008 2:40AM
It is about travel. So there are some homeless people, and there was some political discussion? BFD. Conservatives sure turn into a bunch of crybabies when their favorite spokes-prick is burned, huh?
Same for the wacko Lefties. Hell, even those confused Libertarians.
See, I'm an equal-opportunity flamer! :D
Ryedawg Feb 11th 2008 2:27PM
Yeah, because this is on topic and appropriate for this blog. How is calling out Bill O'reilly related to travel??
There are many blogs out there for liberals to spout their bollucks Justin, go do it there and not here on Gadling. Stay on topic with your posts, it makes for better reading.
Justin Glow Feb 11th 2008 2:36PM
I'm actually fairly conservative, but O'Reilly's still a punk. Thanks for reading!
ANB Feb 11th 2008 8:53PM
Agreed with Ryedawg. Please keep politics off Gadling. You have no clue how many people want to stop reading this blog just because every liberal thinks he/she just has to throw their political propaganda out in the open. Keep it to yourself, and keep Gadling free of politics.
Joe Kennedy Feb 11th 2008 6:15PM
Thanks, Justin. People really should know what's going on down here. It's not the famed poverty of Calcutta, but I think it's important, even for travelers, to know that New Orleans still has a huge number of homeless that weren't homeless before Katrina.
If it helps, some of them were moved to local motels in New Orleans East last month, and the city moved very, very quickly to get them into apartments or homes of their own. People are trying, but some of it just isn't fast enough.
Anyway, if anybody wants to help the homeless out down here, they should still bring blankets, because New Orleans winter is like sleeping in a 40 degree bath.
BERNIE Feb 11th 2008 6:23PM
BILL SAID HOMELESS VETS
Justin Glow Feb 11th 2008 6:30PM
Did you watch the video? "...homeless Americans" were his exact words. At no time did he mention veterans. (I watched again just to be sure.)
lin Feb 11th 2008 6:59PM
So Justin , what are YOU doing to help?
Justin Glow Feb 11th 2008 6:59PM
Spreading the word, to start. You?
Jen Feb 15th 2008 10:07AM
Vets or not, they're still people who deserve better. Even the people who got temporary FEMA homes are pretty screwed now. The things are toxic, unsafe to live in, but they're stuck in them until at least summer:
http://www.gogirlfriend.com/travel-news/fema-plans-trailer-exodus-new-orleans-6680
Mike Apr 6th 2008 3:13PM
I was just in NO for an academic conference and very few panels, of the hundreds listed, addressed issues related to Hurricane Katrina. I was "fortunate" enough to have a friend who drove me by Tent City, and I just felt really disillusioned about the conference - much of us believe in social action, and here we were at the conference hotel, give papers on social action in a city that needs it so badly, and we never even had to see the devastation because of the direct paths we took from the airport to the hotel.
I posted a response to this and used your image on my blog for school:
www.mtmdacademic.blogspot.com
Thanks for this blog post.