New Orleans, Louisiana — As the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, New Orleans residents have much to reflect on.

Many told theGrio they have been frustrated by the progress their city has made since the storm.

“We’re not back yet,” said Mary Picot, who lives in the Lower Ninth Ward. “We don’t have any department stores. We don’t have any drug stores—there’s nothing in the Lower Ninth Ward.”

Some are hopeful.

“I’m an optimist by nature,” said Arnold Rachal, who lives in Gentilly. “I think there’s a lot to look up to in the city. We’ve got progress with the charter schools…we got a new mayor.”

“It’s just going to take a lot of time and a lot of effort…,” said Angela Randolph, a resident of New Orleans East. ”…But some of us don’t have that. It’s been too long, and it’s time for this to be over with.”

Follow theGrio’s Todd Johnson on Twitter at @rantoddj