More good news!

There's more good news in New Orleans today. Most importantly, the water has been declared safe to drink by both the state and federal authorities. Now all the restaurants and hotels need to open are employees. If you need a job and ever wanted to move to New Orleans, this is the time. In a recent speach to the city's business leaders, the mayor outlined the huge amount of re-building capital coming into the city over the next 10 years, and pointed out that it is a once in 300-400 year opportunity. Hear his speech.

It's clear to me that people are already taking advantage of the opportunities. One of the city's main real estate companies, Latter and Blum, reported that the New Orleans housing market is "sizzling" in areas of town that did not flood, like the French Quarter, the American Sector and Uptown. It's a 25 to 1 ratio of people moving in to people who are moving out.

I speak first hand because I'm here now and I know this town. While the national press is concentrating on the bad, and there's enough of that to go around, the entrepreneurs and the creative are pouring into town. Read more about the re-birth of New Orleans.