A Mixed Report on New Orleans

The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program has published a second-anniversary reporton the statute of New Orleans. Here is the most disquieting finding:

Housing repairs and construction continued over the last year, but repairs to essential infrastructure have largely stalled and public services are still limited. The pace of demolitions and new housing construction approvals has increased, while residential repairs have slowed as the Road Home program has awarded checks to only one-quarter of applicants. Basic services -- including schools, libraries, public transportation, and childcare -- remain at less than half of the original capacity in New Orleans, and only two-thirds of all licensed hospitals are open in the region. Further, lack of repairs to public facilities is undermining police effectiveness.