Fix the pumps

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

That's all folks

As some of you may know, I'm trying to step away from all of this. It's taken a huge toll on me, as if Katrina weren't damaging enough.

So this is my last post. For a while, I'd considered this a closed loop process, where a defined end would be reached at some point.

However, I've concluded "Katrina" will never end, and at this point the only way to find my end is to declare it.

I had thought about continuing for a while, despite some major transitions in my life, but I just don't think it's worth it. I've got to move on. I've put out as much information as I can get, and if people don't understand the issues at hand by now, they'll never understand.

Thanks to all those who have supported me. I wish the best for New Orleans.

posted by mcbrid35 at 4:12 PM

25 Comments:

  • Thank you, Matt.

    By Blogger rcs, at July 03, 2007 5:28 PM  

  • I think those of use who have been as dedicated as you are to monitoring for transparency, an essential part of rebuilding successfully, have realized is that this could take some decades. In the case of Fix the Pumps, a good solid storm will reveal the essential nature of where we stand today in reality. We have Mother Nature as our ultimate fact-checker to back us up. Thanks for your work. I know it is essential to one's sanity as an advocate, to step back. But I also know you are there for us on the back end but what you have done on the front end cannot be matched. I thank you. The value of your work will only become more apparent. You have laid the essential groundwork and it is invaluable.

    By Blogger nolareno, at July 03, 2007 5:42 PM  

  • Great posts and research. It would have been better if the problems identified were fixed.
    Good luck and hope you and I are completely wrong.

    modeldon

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 03, 2007 6:12 PM  

  • We will miss you, more than you know.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 03, 2007 8:30 PM  

  • Thank you, Matt, for all the work you've done. It has been downright heroic.

    I wish you well.

    By Blogger Leigh C., at July 03, 2007 9:40 PM  

  • Thanks man!

    You've done yourself proud.

    Charlie
    katrinafilm.com

    By Blogger katrinafilm, at July 04, 2007 9:28 AM  

  • Matt, you are New Orleans own home grown SuperHero. I salute you.

    Take care of your life, its something I am doing more and more of myself.

    Be well, be safe, stay dry.

    By Blogger George "Loki" Williams, at July 04, 2007 10:26 AM  

  • Matt,

    Thank you for all of the research and hard work. I'm sorry that the ACE see people like you as an impediment and not as a much-needed resource.

    Happy trails,
    Maitri

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 04, 2007 11:58 AM  

  • Matt,

    Thank you for all your work with this. You have given folks much info about the realities of our "protections".

    Be Blessed!

    Morwen Madrigal

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 04, 2007 1:24 PM  

  • Great information. Please take care.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 04, 2007 1:30 PM  

  • Thanks and good luck.

    Clay

    By Blogger Clay, at July 04, 2007 9:15 PM  

  • It's a chapter, Matt. Perfection of character. Do not be discouraged: once the book is complete, you will find the work to have been of historical importance. Projects like yours with in-depth analysis take time to process and be processed. There were two types of feedback you could never have received: the gobsmacked layman's, being unable to respond sufficiently but enraptured all the same, and the kind you longed for, the DoJ kind, whom none of us can know the inner workings of, lest our knowing create interference whilst we are in the way.

    I understand your reasons for getting out; I am slightly disappointed you did not anoint a successor, but perhaps this is one of those relationships that you could not entirely give up that way. Your toaster in the lake analogy lives on in local lore; you fixed that, and the roofs, and provided other value besides.

    Yes, the ACE needs an overseer with both heart and conscience, but God Himself is overseer of all things, and sometimes we burden ourselves with a weight of self that becomes unbearable because we failed to see our quiet appointment TO the one, true DoJ. The huge toll came from the huge investment, which I know from watching accompanied huge growth for you as well.

    We'll see you again. It's a small world, after all.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 05, 2007 1:09 AM  

  • Thanks for all your efforts.

    While you may be stepping away from these efforts, I hope you will stay engaged.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 05, 2007 9:14 AM  

  • Merci and bonne chance

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 05, 2007 4:20 PM  

  • Good Luck and Thank You.

    By Blogger mominem, at July 05, 2007 10:36 PM  

  • Matt:
    Thanks for everything. You will be missed more than you know.

    For the people who don't understand the issues-they consciously choose not to. They don't want anything as trivial as facts to get in the way of their re-building efforts.

    What a shame.

    ThinkSnow

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 06, 2007 1:41 PM  

  • Thanks for all the work you've done. New Orleans is better for it.

    By Blogger Michael, at July 06, 2007 5:08 PM  

  • "And in the end,
    the love you take
    is equal to
    the love you make."

    Matt, it is clear that you love the city of New Orleans.

    It is too bad that some politicians and bureaucrats might not love or appreciate the fine work you did to try to help make this city safer for us all.

    But anyone who has read your website or heard you on the radio knows the good that you have done.

    It is because of people like you that New Orleans might have a chance to survive.

    Best wishes from a Hurricane Katrina Survivor

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 07, 2007 12:09 AM  

  • Thank you for the love and the passion you have shown the city. Your hard work has been greatly appreciated by us all. Best of luck on your future road.

    By Blogger Unknown, at July 13, 2007 11:00 AM  

  • I appreciate your HARD WORK and read your well-reasoned and informative updates regularly. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK! You've done more than your part and I know that you have made a difference.

    Wish you the best!

    New Orleanian
    Flooded Mid Cityite

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 16, 2007 2:19 PM  

  • Thank you so very much for 'Fix the Pumps' - it has had the most informative and revealing info that I've seen anywhere post-K.

    Yours was more than just one voice - it was the voice of all of us. But you were the one who did all of the work, the research and investigation. Thank you!

    I will miss reading your blog whenever the Corps announces some "new improvement in our flood protection." Who will we turn to now to get the 'real story?'

    Thank you so much again. You will be sorely and sadly missed!

    Levee Breach Survivor

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at July 17, 2007 9:49 AM  

  • I know it feels demoralizing and pointless. People like us are too hard on ourselves sometimes. I don't know you, but you've provided me with info and insights about our situation unavailable anywhere else on the planet, as far as I know. Clearly, you reached a lot of people.

    Sometimes the work we do doesn't bear fruit right away, but you've created an incredible resource for the next crusader.

    You done good. ;-)

    By Blogger E.J., at July 20, 2007 7:07 PM  

  • Thanks for the gift of your work. Best of luck.

    By Blogger BWB, at July 25, 2007 4:37 PM  

  • We need you back. I saw your post on nola.com. There is too much work to be done yet. In case you do not come out of retirement, thanks for what you have done.

    By Blogger LatinTeacher, at August 09, 2007 11:17 AM  

  • Hope you will look back at this one day and decide to start blogging again...we need your input. As you know the Corps just got bused by WWL for patching holes in the levee support system with newspaper and spackle. I am sure this does not surprise you.

    Take care of yourself and hope one day you will find the strength to continue giving forth such great information to all who love New Orleans so much...so much it hurts.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at June 12, 2008 4:49 PM  

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