You miss being a child. NO in the early to mid 90s was worse than today. There were 400+ murders in 1994, more than one every day. The streets are maybe worse today. But the economy was just as much in a depression back then as now. That was the prime brain drain time when no one even contemplated staying in New Orleans. At least these days, younger people sort of like being in grungy cities. Back then there was no young artistic culture like today. The Bywater and Marigny were all old retired people. There were signs all over the French Quarter saying "Beware the French Quarter is a high crime area". There was a giant billboard on Claiborne heading downtown: "Though shalt NOT kill". Even the area around Prytania and Magazine between Jefferson and Napoleon was a terrible area. Say what you will about gentrification, but New Orleans is a much more pleasant city today than the early 90s.