that new orleans has been making for most of its life. >> and then, also, is there a monopoly on those values? those values aren't just in the hinderlands, those values are in these neighborhoods that surround this city. when i came back home two years ago, we looked around and said, okay, nobody's coming. if we don't do it ourselves, it won't happen. >> there's a lot going wrong here, and yet people are resistant to the idea of giving up on this city. and the city is their life in a lot of ways, and there are more people here that feel that way about their city than any other place in america. it's remarkable, the individual commitment to the urban life of this place. and it argues for something better. it deserves something better. >> that in spite of the struggle, there's hope and it hasn't killed the spirit. and you know, we understand that that's going to give way to joy and to success and renewal. >> wendel pierce and david simon. coming up, a quick check of today's top headlines, then