What is Going on with Houston?
 

I was reading an interview with Louisiana Senater Mary Landrieu in which she replied to questions and comments put forth by Yahoo readers regarding the aftermath of Hurricaine Katrina.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/judy_woodruff/j_woodruff9174

One reader comment that jumped out at me is this: ""I am from Houston. While I am proud of us taking in thousands and thousands of evacuees, the statistics are now showing that it has taken its toll…."

I wondered if anyone more familiar with Texas than I might be able to clarify that statement? It seems a shame if the people of Houston are suffering in any way as a result of their generosity toward the Katrina refugees.

The NYT had an article recently comparing how the Katrina refugees have fared in Houston vs. Atlanta that I thought addressed a lot of the problems New Orleanians have had assimilating in Houston quite well.

17% of homicides in Houston since the influx of refugees have been attributed to the refugees themselves.

Houston's murder rate increased 70 percent in November and December of 2005 compared to 2004's levels.

Levels for robbery, assault, and other small crimes have dramatically spiked aswell.

Yeah, I saw that on ABC. I didn't think I would like Charles Gibson, but he's doing an alright job. I really liked the working dynamic between Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas. I thouht it brought depth to the reporting.

back on topic: I'm really not surprised about these findings. I'd be willing to bet that in simillar situations throughout archeology (it's better than history). People get stressed and desperate and do desperate things in times of crisis.

I didn't move here until this year, so I have no idea what it was like before...but I think Houston sucks. I know of several friends who have had their cars broken into, I have personally seen a guy destroying property in a downtown parking lot, and I'm constantly approached by bums on the street for money, using the "I'm a Katrina victim" card. I'm from Florida, I should start telling them I'm a Hurricane Charley victim, and they should give ME money.

I’ve lived in Houston all my life. Were the forth largest city in America and it’s natural to have the crime that goes along with it. Has there been in increase in crime in areas where Katrina refuges have been placed? Yes. But in my opinion the Houston law enforcement community is taking great strides to curb this recent increase. I don’t think I have to tell anyone how Harris County residents feel about murderers and I believe that overtime the crime rate will go back to post Katrina numbers.

I've also seen statistics that show the Houston crime rate is still WAY down from where it was even 10 years ago, and has also historically had some pretty broad fluctuations from year to year.

But, Shaedy, overall, I'd say most of Houston kind of sucks. I have family there and there are some lovely things to do when you visit, but it's not a town I'd be thrilled to live in.

I had always believed (either by reading or by hearsay) that the people who ended up in Houston tended to be poorer or more likely to resort to crime because they tended to be the ones stuck in NOLA after the hurricane, while people with more money (regardless of race) got out to other cities beforehand.

I'm a Houston native and my sister is now an elementary school administrator in neighboring Fort Bend County. She said that the many kids who fled to her school district are grievously behind in academics, that most of the fifth graders are reading at about a 2nd grade level. She said that right off, the kids were complaining because they didn't get 2 recesses like they did in NO and some teachers from their school who came with them confirmed that they did get 2 recesses over there.

The teachers are desperately frustrated because all these kids are taking up their time and they hardly have time to deal with the kids who are average and better learners.:(

This is one of the worst things I've ever read on this site.

I'm guessing this is one of those "walk a mile in my shoes before you criticize" things.

Everyone has their limitations and if yours are being exceeded and you can't do anything about it, of course you're going to be frustrated. If you signed up to teach kids who are learning far below their grade level and know it's coming, that's one thing. It's quite another to have it thrust upon you w/ no warning.

That's right, 33girl. I know my sister and her neverending drive to help kids learn to read better (she's the reading specialist) from her little janitor's closet. Literally. They put her there because so many kids came from NO that they had to use all the classrooms for regular classes. She was flooded with students before Katrina and this has sent their county into a tailspin.

How many of you guys have taught classes in which even 2 misbehaving or misplaced students ruined the class for everybody else because the teacher had to concentrate on those 2? I have. And these teachers suddenly have a lot more than 2 of those.

That kind of frustration=goodbye teaching and hello, any other kind of job-even with a salary cut.

Houston sucked before Katrina. An increase in the number of homeless and illiterate people because of NOLA refugees really hasn't changed much except increase the number of Social Darwin experiments to clean out the gene pool. I will say that the area I have lived in over the last year and a half has gone from semi-decent urban to complete ghetto and I look forward to leaving the city next spring.

Thats why you should live in River Oaks.