For Sandra Williams,  grocery shopping has become a “two-hour adventure.” Before Katrina, she could drive less than 10 minutes to a local store to find what she needed. Now, the 30-year resident of New Orleans East says she feels like she is living in a forgotten neighborhood.

“The city has let people down,”  she said. “They told us to come back. But what have they done?”

On Thursday night, William attended a city-sponsored event aimed at improving New Orleans East’s image as a dilapidated and largely abandoned neighborhood. Dubbed the “State of New Orleans East,” the two-and-half-hour presentation at City Cathedral attracted more than 1,400 people and carried a message that New Orleans East residents want to rebuild.

Fourteen panelists representing several key industries in New Orleans East outlined detailed plans to help bring people, businesses and investors into the area. CNN reporter Tom Foreman moderated the event.

Audience members heard about strategies to reopen the area’s hospital, attract investors, fight crime, improve schools, reconnect  utilities and construct a new shopping center.

“This message is a national message: New Orleans East is thriving and doing well,” said Shermin Copelin, president of the New Orleans East Business Association (NOEBA) and a key organizer of the event.

Methodist Hospital, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina, is set to  reopen by December 2011 at the earliest, and early 2012 at the latest, said Fred Young, president of Methodist Health System Foundation. He said the reopened hospital would employee 415 new staff members, who will make an average of $50,000 annually. While some whispers in the audience could be heard criticizing the project’s timeline, Young’s announcements were met with loud applause.

Melanie Hall, director of communication for Energy New Orleans, said power lines will be added to surrounding areas not currently fully serviced.

The city also plans to develop a recycling station in the area, said D’Juan Hernandez, a representative from Sun Energy Group. “We think we can bring recycling back to New Orleans.”

Alicia Plummer, vice president of NOEBA, summed up city officials’ messages. “East New Orleans is ready and open for business.”

The night’s agenda also included plans to decrease crime. “I’m not going to rest until we get our murder rates down to near zero,” said Leon Cannizzaro, Orleans Parish district attorney. Cannizzaro said he and his staff plan to work closely with the community to investigate crimes in the area as well as work on rehabilitating nonviolent offenders and juvenile offenders.

Officials also hope to work on maintaining local schools, said Woody Koppel, president from the Orleans Parish School Board.

A deal to build a shopping center on  the site of Lake Forest Plaza is also in the works. Cesar Burgos, a  lawyer  who serves on the mayor’s “Bring New Orleans Back” commission, said he hopes to replace the plaza with an outlet mall. The audience responded to his plan with shouts of “Yes!”

Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis summarized public sentiment at Thursday’s meeting saying, “We don’t want what we had in the past. We want better!”

Despite the optimism of city officials, residents admitted some skepticism after the meeting, Evelyn Bickham said, “We’re hoping – that’s all we can do is hope” that officials will fulfill their promises.