Mayor Nagin announces new and improved rebuilding plan
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin unveiled the latest plan for rebuilding New Orleans. It appears he is backing off previous controversial Bring New Orleans Back Commission proposals to withhold building permits and the idea of bulldozing poor neighborhoods and replacing them with parks, saying now that residents in places like the Lower 9th Ward can rebuild but only at their own risk:
Another puzzling thing about all this is, who's in charge? The city's Bring New Orleans Back Commission does not have the force of law. The state's Louisiana Recover Authority and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are all involved. As with all things Katrina related, there appears to be a problem with clear leadership.
But for a bit of good news, Gov. Blanco has proposed carving out $2.5 billion of federal relief funds to rebuild Charity Hospital.
Mayor Ray Nagin presented his plan for resuscitating this hurricane-battered city, saying residents should be allowed to rebuild anywhere — as long as they do so at their own risk.The announcement was met with some skepticism and even open hostility:
Nagin said the city will continue issuing building permits to all comers, but warned that low-lying neighborhoods like New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward could flood again if another hurricane hits.
"I don't recommend you going in areas I'm not comfortable with," the mayor said Monday. "I'm confident that the citizens can decide intelligently for themselves."
The report also recommended a host of other ideas, from revamping schools to consolidating some city offices. The wish-list of projects included new light-rail systems, more farmers' markets, new riverfront development, job-training sites and better flood protection.
Residents lined up to speak against the latest proposal during a public-comment period. One of them, an activist named Chui Clark, called the commission "a rotten, racist committee," echoing criticism by many black residents who say they are being discouraged from returning.And here's another report on the mood at the press conference.
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Groups including the NAACP, the Advancement Project and the New Orleans-based People's Hurricane Relief Fund complained that the state plan gives short shrift to poor and low-income victims by focusing too much on bailing out homeowners and encouraging high-end development at the expense of low-income renters.
In a letter to Gov. Kathleen Blanco's administration, the groups cited government estimates showing that about 126,570 rental units without insurance were flooded last year. By contrast, they said, only about 25,180 uninsured homes were damaged, which is about 20 percent of all the ruined homes.
"This is really like the opening salvo, if you will, of attempts to get a fair share of that money for low- and moderate-income people," said Bill Quigley, a lawyer and civil rights activist.
Another puzzling thing about all this is, who's in charge? The city's Bring New Orleans Back Commission does not have the force of law. The state's Louisiana Recover Authority and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are all involved. As with all things Katrina related, there appears to be a problem with clear leadership.
But for a bit of good news, Gov. Blanco has proposed carving out $2.5 billion of federal relief funds to rebuild Charity Hospital.
4 Comments:
What about the levees? Are they saying I can build in the 9th ward but we will not be fixing or enhancing the levees for better protection?
New Orleans Mayor's Race - should Mayor Nagin resign?
What is wrong with New Orleans? What happened to compassion for other human beings? Why have the City turned its back on the poor? Who controls the enormous increase in rental property? How can the people who work in a servitude capacity come back to this city for a job. They cannot afford the high price of rental property which has increased from a start of $700 per month and above. Why is the Government allowing this increase in rent when everyone knows that these people lost their homes in the Katrina Hurricane. Pricing in food, clothing, and shelter has increased since the Hurricane. The people were barely making it pre-katrina. Who is benefiting from the high cost of rental property? People who don't care about no one but themselves.
New Orleans is a disgrace to its people. You do not straighten out a problem by getting rid of housing - housing that the poor lived in before the flood. Look at the poor living in the streets. An apartment(project)has been fenced in to keep people from returning home. This is a disgrace. If you knew you were not allowing the poor to go back home(project)then why didn't you prepare a place for them. What happened to all the money that was contributed to the Victims of Katrina. Who took the money? That money alone could help poor people find better housing. Someone should be prosecuted for theft. Remember God sits high and looks low. He will bring forth the evil people who continue to oppress the poor and needy. Who is in charge of the investigation?
I have just learned that all the money that was contributed to Katrina Victims was directed to the State. Further that money is not be distributed to Katrina victims, but rather, organizations designated by Government Blanco. I don't think the money was in good conscious contributed for anyone other than Katrina Victims. This is a typical example of stealing from the poor and forgotten!!
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