Posted on 10/26/2005 7:05:32 AM PDT by robowombat
A Shrinking New Orleans Mayor Says Infrastructure Can't Support Previous Population
By Ceci Connolly and Manuel Roig-Franzia Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, October 26, 2005; A02
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25 -- Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who has vowed to resurrect his crippled city, conceded Tuesday that New Orleans will shrink to nearly half its pre-hurricane population and will have to make do with one-third of its previous budget.
With as many as 250,000 homes uninhabitable and some neighborhoods still lacking basic services, Nagin estimated the city's shattered infrastructure could support 250,000 to 300,000 residents over the next year, compared with the half a million people who lived here before Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29.
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In a city that was 67 percent African American, Nagin won by dominating the vote in majority white districts. Many of those make up the "geographic footprint" he has identified for repopulating after the hurricane, including the Garden District, the French Quarter and Uptown.
Even the election has become entangled in disaster recovery. Federal authorities have denied requests for the addresses of Katrina evacuees. City and state officials are battling with federal authorities over the release of addresses of evacuees that could be used in absentee balloting.
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The mayor's staff has identified more than a half-dozen locations that he said could support 4,000 trailers. FEMA housing expert James McIntyre said the agency has approved construction of sites to handle more than 1,700 trailers. Trailers will be placed in the parking lot of Touro hospital, three city parks, public school property and a former Winn-Dixie parking lot. The first few thousand units will be set aside for people involved in the reconstruction, Nagin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The first thing the remaining people of NO should do is recall Nagin and elect a no-nonsense mayor who can develop and execute a plan of redevelopment.
The French Quarter may be safer...
"New Orleans will shrink to nearly half its pre-hurricane population...one-third of its previous budget..."
...and one quarter of its pre-Katrina number of registered voters.
Thats BS, but whole city is democrat anyway.
Might be worth moving to N'awlins now ;)
First thing I noticed was Ceci Connelly's byline on this article. I forgot about her; she was so laughably stupid and inept on the Fox News roundtables and panels. She just repeated liberal talking points. Maybe Juan Williams got her the job to make him look smarter.
The people of Louisiana and New Orleans will not lift a finger against failure Democrats Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin. They elected these morons that have brought 11.5% unemployment to the state of Louisiana. They can now live with them and all the past and future mistakes they will thrust upon Louisiana. N.O. is going nowhere as long as Ray Nagin is the Mayor of "Poverty Central". Big difference between the way Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida handled their hurricanes and the aftermath. I guess Republican, proactive, effective State and local leadership makes a difference. Louisana as a state is now the number one bottom feeder!!! Too bad the folks in Louisiana can't muster up the guts to throw this Democrat vermin into the street where they rightfully belong.
Give me your suggestions for rebuilding the City of New Orleans and I'll forward them to the Mayor. It seems everyone is quick to criticize and short on suggestions.
ROTFL! Now THAT makes me smile.
"Big difference between the way Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida handled their hurricanes and the aftermath"
Could you please catalog those "Big differences" in the way Texas, et all handled the aftermath of the hurricanes. I'd love to see the differences.
Thats BS, but whole city is democrat anyway.
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Well they got what they ordered, these Dems did! Incompetence, corruption, no planning, no readiness, anything but respectable, functional government.
Vote Democrat -- see what happens!?
The ocean on one side a major lake on the other, adjacent to one of the world's great rivers, a foundation on river delta silt in "hurricane country" ....and BELOW SEA LEVEL.....??!!!
You want a suggestion??
FILL IT IN and MOVE ON!
Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye!
"Fill it in and Move on"
What? Do you not know N.O. is a major port? Do you not know midwestern farmers count on our port? Are you not aware of the oil and gas this area provides for the economic engine of the U.S.? I guess we could fill it in, then everyone will be bitchin' about their 7 dollar a gallon gas!
The first thing the people of NO should do is move to higher ground - say above sea level?
Replace below sea level neighborhoods with parks or golf courses or other super-low density stuff that can be flooded without risk of human life. Do not rebuild high density housing in below sea level areas. 2000 dead is not a reasonable price to pay every 20 years. Public housing residents should be offered jobs in more vibrant economies around the state, or failing that in other cities that are not surrounded by high water.
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