As the semester ends, I reflect on what this class meant to me. I learned so much about disaster law and Katrina, but I was most surprised about what I learned about myself. I had convinced myself that I truly hated getting up to go to classes and that law school was pretty much useless after the second year. But what I actually learned was so much more--that the law can transform a society--that the law can create opportunity--that it can actually bring about fair play and justice. Mind you, change is slow--especially in the law at times--but it is an actual reality. After helping with the Pro Bono Project, I felt a sense of actually helping someone who needed it. I have completed various internships, private and public organizations included, but the end goal was always some exorbitant sum of money to redress (albeit perceived sometimes) wrongs and for compensation. No amount of money could repair what was lost during Katrina, but knowing that I helped in the process had me paid in full. I have so much more hope for law now...

okay this is an old news story

So this is not a new story, but its a good video and I just finished a paper on school segregation for Intl Human Rights class and I was thinking about the crisis in U.S. schools as compounded by Katrina. Some highlights:

71 Millions!!! dollars is federal money unaccounted for in the NOLA schools BEFORE Katrina.
Someone on paid leave for 35 years. omg.
Some years parents had to send toilet paper to school with their kids since the schools didn't have any.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec05/neworleans_11-01.html#

Worker's Rights Video

We are very excited to have finished the worker's rights small claims court instructional video. If you want a copy see me or Greg.

We turned down aid.

I know that this class is over, but I saw this news story and just felt compelled to share it (if anyone is still reading this blog).

Although this doesn't come as a surprise to any of us, this is a news story about the amount of aid that the US was offered post-Hurricane Katrina, and how much of it was declined or not collected. I was really struck by the statement that the US declined 54 out of 77 recorded offers of assistance from its 3 closest allies-Britain, Canada and Israel.

US used tiny part of aid sent after hurricane Katrina.

Research Project Reflections

Our research topics are important in analyzing disaster law. However, we tried to discover what changes are needed in disaster law based on the problems observed from Hurricane Katrina.

After looking into my research area (police actions during Hurricane Katrina), I realized that there were several important factors to take into account when a Natural Disaster is clearly insight. First, the general welfare of the people must be taken into account as the primary goal. That is when preventative measures are utilized by local, state and national governments, people are first, not property preservation. Second, general citizens are not the population of disaster victims taking advantage of property theft. Rather, in areas like New Orleans where the police are notorious for corruption, it is the local police that take advantage of natural disasters by property theft. Third, property loss should be the last worry to law enforcement. Rather, law enforcement ought to prevent trauma by saving lives through immediate rescue. This is particularly important when the government, as in Hurricane Katrina, knew that a catostrophic event was likley to occur and tens of thousands would suffer.

In sum, the government, in the height of the information age, ought to be better prepared to ease the harms caused from major natural disasters.

Better Late than Never

I wake up early morning (measured by college standards) to do a task that adults do-- perform a 40 hour work week--an action that hasn't been quite my cup of tea. But waking up in New Orleans to arrive at the beautiful law firm of Jones Walker, working on the 52nd floor in front of a view of the city, 3 blocks away from the French Quarter, and doing work to help those affected by Katrina, definitely makes waking to an alarm clock a joyous occasion.

My daily routine has been thus far: walk in, take in the incredible view, grab a bottle of water, and read the cases I've been working on. It has been a privilege to work with the Succession project with the Pro Bono Project which entails following the succession line of property from a descedent. The complicated part of this process is figuring out the Napoleanic Laws of succession (commonly reffered to as Wills and Estates). By being able to prove who legally owns a particular property (according to LA law) has provided some of the clients with the opportunity to receive aid from the Road Home Project.

Sucession and Beyond

It took me a while to process New Orleans. To see so much devastation made me appreciate the many now seemingly simple things that I complain about. Katrina had such a deleterious affect on New Orleans--it literally changed the cultural landscape in the course of a few days.
After completing the succession work with the Pro Bono project and speaking directly with those who had been affected, I was much more resolute in my decision to give back to the community now and after law school. Possibly, had the level of concern regarding the citizens had been as heightened as it is present-day, the injuries may not have been so severe. It's as if the residents are just throw-aways--most of them being of color, of seniority status, poor, or a combination of the above.
It was difficult to see that class and wealth continue to drive the shaping of the community. Nevermind that the crux of New Orleans culture was shaped by the poor and brown people. Nevermind that those same people have been the bread and butter of the working class. Nevermind that those same people long to rebuild New Orleans and return it to the place it once was.
I continue to help. Some of the friends that I met while there have called and requested my help. My heart couldn't say no. I just pray that other hearts feel the same.