We have to choose our battles in the recovery of New Orleans. We all have to perform a triage of the things we think we know about and can fight for.

We who live here can’t stay on top of every issue. We’re supposed to be able to trust those we elect to act in predictable ways which align with our interests. Otherwise, the demands of civic activism would be a full-time job.

On of the issues I haven’t been able to personally get involved in is the VA-LSU hospital fight, but Nagin’s announcement that a decision was made to put it in Mid-City makes me sick. Demolishing block after block of homes in Mid-City for a new VA-LSU hospital, after so many homes were destroyed by the federal flood, is like cutting off an arm after losing a leg.

What’s the point? Charity Hospital can be renovated. So can Lindy Boggs Medical Center.

Karen G. speaks eloquently against developers who won’t show their faces, who don’t give a damn about communities, but are just here to make careers for themselves.

Speaking of people making careers, not communities — I saw Ed Blakely at Louis Armstrong Airport today, on his way out of town. I sincerely hope he was on his way to spend Thanksgiving with friends or family, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone, anymore, if he was off to some other part of the world to collect an honorarium for pontificating about how the cranes on the skyline are right around the corner. With the VA-LSU hospital decision, now he can add that wrecking balls are around the corner too.