I am not a native of New Orleans, but I can not speak on how poverty has benefited New Orleans. I only see how it has hurt New Orleans. When I look at New Orleans I see a great place fill with things to do. On the other hand when I look at the city I see it is poverty stricken and filled with crime. The main thing that stick out in my mind is hurricane Katrina.  I think that after New orleans suffered it, this showed exactly how poor the people are there. Most people did not have insurance. Others where very dependent on goverment assistantce and others could not get transportation to get out of the city in time enough. A good percentage of New Orleans population is black. Huge number of them live on the boardline of poverty in such places the ninth ward.