not a hinderance? seriously? Did you see Sunday Money section? Tidewater, one of the LAST publicly traded compnaies is thinking LONG and HARD about moving its headquarters to Houston. This is a company that has had its roots here since 1947 ( or so ). Reason....economy, safety of its employees etc. They are to make a decision this month, but i can spare you the suspense...they are gone. period. Nothing short of immense tax breaks and other incentives will keep this company here.
Where New Orleans is headed is the ole "inmates running the asylum". You say certain "demographics" hold the criminals, but they are getting more brazen and expanding. Its ok for now since your neighborhood is unaffected. What happens the day you awake to find a murder in your neighborhood? Will you still discount the threat? Will you be just as non-chalant about it as you are now? Because if a stance isn't taken now, it will be worse before it gets better.
ps I was born and raised in Algiers and still marvel to this day the decline in areas that I remember as family oriented and wholesome. Its a shame, but true.