The following words and Hearn quotation are from Ashley Morris’ excellent blog. Read the whole post.
Nineteenth century writer Lafcadio Hearn wrote a letter to a friend in Cincinnati about two years after he arrived in New Orleans in 1877, during a grim period in which thousands died from yellow fever. He summed up his situation this way:
Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been buried under a lava flood of taxes and frauds and maladministrations so that it has become only a study for archaeologists. Its condition is so bad that when I write about it, as I intend to do soon, nobody will believe I am telling the truth. But it is better to live here in sackcloth and ashes than to own the whole state of Ohio.
I myself am now located in an amazing town in north central Mexico. It is so beautiful, it is hard to believe it is real.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
In the case of the Jena Six cause, midwestern (Chicago Tribune) reporting may have helped some folks who needed it. Perhaps the Times-Picayune would like to return the favor? From what I hear second hand, like many Northern cities, Chicago could really benefit from some outside scrutiny.
I’m sorry. I’ve never lived in either New Orleans or the midwest and I don’t know what I’m talking about.
I don´t know, Tom, it actually sounds like a pretty good idea!