Day 449: The Lower Ninth With Tim Tagaris

MyDD’s Tim Tagaris is no carpetblogger.  First of all, he’s here to cover the controversial LA-2 runoff between William Jefferson and Karen Carter.  Secondly, the way he dresses and talks is most unassuming – again, he’s here to report on the subject matter, not himself.  Last, he takes the time to email, meet and write about local efforts, especially those of local bloggers.  Having covered Connecticut’s Ned Lamont campaign, Tim is of the strong opinion that bloggers have a strong effect on spreading messages, be they political or, in our case, of rebuilding.

On Saturday, after a late lunch at Liuzza’s On Bienville, Oyster, Ashley, Adrastos, Tim and I headed into the Lower Ninth Ward, where we were all simply astounded by the extent of damage and stagnation.  While new to Tim, the sight is not unfamiliar to the rest of us. Yet, it brings us to our knees.  Each flooded and unrepaired house is another piece of evidence and each lot another testimony to the plight of New Orleans almost fifteen months after the storm.  Had I not been sitting in a car with four guys, I’d have broken down and wept the moment we turned onto Jourdan Ave.

Tim is originally from Chicago, but lived in Champaign-Urbana and Carbondale, Illinois during his undergraduate years.  In fact, he worked at Po’ Boys on Market St. in Urbana around the same time I lived there.  Small nation.

Here are some posts and videos he did with us:

* Ashley, Maitri & Adrastos on the flood (So, I’m not the most articulate speaker after a lunch of shrimp & artichoke soup and almost bleeding through my eyes on photographing an as-yet-untouched house on Jourdan.  And, boy, does the mane need more anti-frizz serum.)

* Oyster on the Jefferson-Carter runoff

Thanks, Tim, for your time and encouragement.  We look forward to your thoughts on the upcoming (bleak-looking) runoff.