Treme

In the few week preceding Gustav, there were two murders in the 1100 blk of N. Roman, which, if you know the Treme, is just off Ursulines. Then it quieted down. Some brand new fences popped up on the block, a second line left a wreath in the mud along side the road.

Today though, despite the cold front, Treme is getting hot all over again:

New Orleans police have cordoned off the Iberville public housing complex in their hunt for suspects in connection with two Saturday morning shootings in the Treme neighborhood, including one that prompted police to evacuate St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and Academy.

The first shooting happened around 10:15 a.m., when a 19-year-old man was shot in the head at the corner of North Prieur Street and Ursulines Avenue, about a block from the church and school campus.

The second incident, an apparent shootout among several gunmen, happened about 45 minutes later in the 900 block of North Rocheblave, about seven blocks away.

An old man told us, when we asked about the situation on the street there, "It's gonna get worse before it gets better."
WIth OK Corral style shoot-outs this close to the church and school over there off Ursulines, we can't help but say, "It's about as bad as it can get."

We got a lot of love for Treme here in the NOMB offices. We hope that great neighborhood can sort it out.

Moving on...

You can't snitch, not just cuz the code of the streets and countless rap songs tell you not too. You can't snitch because NOPD can't protect you:

A 19-year-old man gunned down Thursday in St. Roch was a witness in a murder case that had been scheduled to go to trial earlier this month but was postponed because of Hurricane Gustav.

Not that you probably were looking to NOPD for help. Not that may look to NOPD for help. Not unless they can help it.