Yesterday ground was broken for the mixed income neighborhood on the site of what was once the St. Bernard Housing Project. Now it will be called “Columbia Citi Residences at Bayou District,” a name that leaves me nostalgic for the banal poetry of “River Gardens.” And does “Citi” tell us about a bank with an investment in this, or is this New Orleans’ subliminal way of trying to bolster the economy?

In Katy Reckdahl’s coverage of the ceremony in the Times-Picayune, she writes:

“Are we here for a celebration or what?” asked Mayor Ray Nagin. His jubilant remark was echoed, albeit less boisterously, by most officials who spoke at the ceremony.

 Yeah, I suspect all those displaced by the demolition of the projects were getting their celebration on last night. And the 80 percent reduction in the amount of low-income housing means there were a lot of celebrants. Merry friggin’ Christmas, y’all!