Nagin Blames Delays on Racism, Red Tape

AP ^ | 8/18/6 | KEN KUSMER

[SmithL]

Indianapolis -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Friday blamed racism and government bureaucracy for hamstringing his city's ability to weather Hurricane Katrina and recover from the disaster that struck the Gulf Coast nearly a year ago.

In remarks to the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, Nagin said the hurricane "exposed the soft underbelly of America as it relates to dealing with race and class."

"And I, to this day, believe that if that would have happened in Orange County, California, if that would have happened in South Beach, Miami, it would have been a different response," Nagin said.

New Orleans was 60 percent black before Katrina struck Aug. 29. Early this year the mayor called on fellow blacks to again make New Orleans a "chocolate" city, but he later apologized.

On Friday, Nagin condemned federal regulations that discourage rebuilding in the largely black and low-lying Ninth Ward.

While tens of billions of dollars in federal aid have flowed to Louisiana and other states devastated by Katrina, much of it has gone to developers and contractors, Nagin said.

"Very little of those dollars have gotten to the local governments or to the people themselves," Nagin said.

[SmithL]

It takes a Wonka to rebuild a chocolate city.

[edcoil]

Everyone's fault except the chocolate city?

[coconutt2000]

Is it just me, or are black, liberal leaders the most racist, anti-black politicians in the country?

[Mongeaux]

Once the chocolate city melted, there were plenty of leftover nuts.

[MPJackal]

Yes that's right, the govt with its high percentage of black employees is racist against blacks. Bite me nagin

[kinoxi]

Yeah, the white man did it. Yup.

[SaveTheChief]

So the "chocolate" mayor is crying racism?

I can't believe New Orleans re-elected this disgrace.

[avacado]

Katrina ripped the roof off of the Liberal Plantation and exposed 3rd & 4th generation welfare families who can't even do for themselves. How embarrassing for the Liberal Plantation!

[SaveTheChief]

"And I, to this day, believe that if that would have happened in Orange County, California, if that would have happened in South Beach, Miami, it would have been a different response," Nagin said.

You mean the kind of response like, oh.... not waiting until the last minute to call for a mandatory evacuation of your city, Mayor Nagin?

[backhoe]

HURRICANE KATRINA- archive of links Click the picture:

[JoeSixPack1]

If Nagin had at least two brain cells that worked he'd be touting his and everyone else's failures by encouraging solutions and recommending remedies, which could grandstand him into a national office. But, he's an idiot.

[NautiNurse]

The federal and state aid the city has received is inadequate and comes with too many rules...They're going to give us our money, and we're going to rebuild this city.

Whose money is "our money"?

[Doe Eyes]

Is it just me, or are black, liberal leaders the most racist, anti-black politicians in the country?

I'll definitely give you racist.

[weegee]

I can't believe New Orleans re-elected this disgrace.

Houston helped.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[Obie Wan]

Nagin's got it right,he's a racist and a bureaucrat !!!

[caisson71]

The loose-lipped idiot is at it again. Where are those air conditioned Greyhounds?

[LA Woman3]

[mass55th]

Maybe he can call on Cynthia McKinney to share her campaign donor list with him since she's not going to be using it. New Orleans could be the new Mecca of the South.

[HarleyLady27]

Anyone care to explain whats wrong with this idiot's statement?

Seems to me when he said he wanted a Chocolate City, that mean for me, being white, to stay out....so stay out I will do...

Now the idiot says we are 'picking' on him and we would have done things differently if it was CA or FLA, how about Lebanon???? How about Iraq??? How about all the aid we give everyone around the world, and we are picking on this idiot....

This guy got what he wanted...."A Chocolate City"