‘Forbes’ ignored value of region

Dear Editor,

Your article (written by Mike Brossette) titled “Forbes Magazine touts Houma among nation’s top 170 places to word” is flawed.

It should have been titled Houma/Thibodaux, (or the Houma/Thibodaux MSA, which includes all of Terrebonne and Lafourche) and explained with much more fervor that it is not just HOUMA that was touted, but all of the Houma Thibodaux MSA, which includes all of Terrebonne and all of Lafourche parishes.

The article makes it sound like Houma earned the recognition, and oh, by the way, the rest of Terrebonne and all of Lafourche just happened to be included.

Please give credit where credit is due.

Could Houma have achieved this recognition without the rest of Terrebonne Parish?

What about Lafourche?

What about Port Fourchon and the petro industry?

What about Nicholls State University?

What about the coastline? What about the vibrant seafood and agricultural industries?

What about the beautiful and productive rural areas of both parishes? What about the rest us?

It is NOT just the city of Houma that earned this listing.

We in Lafourche understand that your paper is more focused on Houma than on Thibodaux and the rest of Lafourche, as it originates there. But if you want to appeal to us all, please give us the credit, attention, and recognition that we deserve.

Do not let Houma take the sole credit that should be shared with the rest of Terrebonne and your sister parish of Lafourche. Please be careful of this in the future.

Gwen Cheramie

Lafourche Parish

Editor’s Note: Forbes Magazine’s ranking of the top small cities did mention Houma only; however, the population quoted was nearly 200,000, suggesting the magazine was drawing from the metropolitan region. We agree with Ms. Cheramie. Considering Houma without taking advancements and opportunities in neighboring Lafourche and St. Mary parishes into account would be like serving a po-boy with no mayo. It’s just not the same.