Oliver Thomas: “How does that help with 10 or 12 feet of water? The levees, we pray, won't break this time.”

Given what we've been through, if six months from now we don't see some progress in this community, everyone who has anything to do with it ought not be around.

We need to take a look at the state laws. We need to take a look at the speedy trials of violent offenders. If you use a weapon, the laws ought to be stricter, stronger enforcement.

We need to figure out how we sustain this. It's about time that we make our schools better, our criminal justice system work, and our streets safe.

If we can't be safe, we can't be anything.