Of course there was nothing "racist" about the statement. And it should read "several black officials PRETEND to be outraged", because these race hustlers are nothing if not ACTORS very well schooled in finding EVERY opportunity to exhibit their wounded race-reflex. I have been in New Orleans twice in the last year and a half, and felt there was something doomed about the city---even discounting the worst case scenario everyone has carried around in his mind for decades, and that now has happened, there is just too much funky neglect that is already institutionalized there, it's too disorganized, even in the French Quarter, its perennial tourist draw, there is a feeling of being trapped in a downward spiral, and that too many things are operating on a shoestring, that is very unsettling. How New Orleans will find its way back into viability is going to be a very interesting thing to watch. And I think there is going to have to be some kind of STATEMENT from the American taxpayer before big monies get allocated there (too late, maybe?) that will make it clear to our politicos that billions of dollars are not going to be thrown down a rat-hole, or merely go once again to help solidify the power base of local politicians down there, ESPECIALLY Democrats, which is why they want to get thing massive funding thing going ASAP.
I doubt the Feds will fund housing projects that are 6 feet below sea level. Projects for the Blacks and poor of the pre-Katerina New Orleans. They didn't live in projects back the Feds sure won't build detached houses for them at 6 feet below sea level