Abandoning New Orleans...

Photo shows Dylan Langlois, center, and Kasandra Larsen saying goodbye to a friend as they prepared to move out of New Orleans.

A year ago Ms. Larsen and Mr. Langlois were hopeful New Orleanians eager to rebuild and improve the city they adored. But now they have joined hundreds of the city's best and brightest who have made the wrenching decision to leave.

As I indicated in my post yesterday, there is a diminishing sense of possibility. This has a lot to do with a lack of confidence in local leadership.

(Photo: Lee Celano / The New York Times)