Nagin: Class and race issues killing New Orleans' recovery

cnn.com ^ | 3:28 p.m. EST, January 29, 2007

[nctexan]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Mayor Ray Nagin told a Senate committee Monday he doesn't see the will to fix his hurricane-battered city when compared with the billions spent on the war in Iraq. "I think it's more class than anything, but there's racial issues associated with it also," Nagin said. Nagin also asked for Congress to change the laws and regulations to speed up the flow of federal aid. "From my perspective, not having the resources at the local level is the absolute killer of this recovery," Nagin told the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is looking into the government's hurricane response. As of January 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay for $334 million for infrastructure repairs in New Orleans, but the state only has forwarded $145 million to the city so far. State officials have said city leaders failed to provide required documentation, which called cumbersome. "I strongly urge you to return responsibility and accountability to the local government," he said. Nagin's testimony comes nearly a week after President Bush drew fire for failing to mention recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast in his State of the Union speech. Sen. Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat and presidential hopeful, addressed the committee, saying the president's failure to mention the disaster contributes to questions about whether the government is committed to helping New Orleans rebuild. "I hope we get some answers to the questions today because rebuilding the city of New Orleans is not just good for the Gulf Coast or the state of Louisiana, it's good for our nation," Obama said.

[nctexan]

Once again Mayor Nagin represents many of his constituents quite well. He (and they) are living with a terminal case of Optical Rectumitis" - a crappy outlook on life.

From reading his quote, it seems that Senator Obama may have caught a case of the disease as well.

[kinoxi]

"I think it's more class than anything, but there's racial issues associated with it also,"

Damn white folks don't like my chocolate city, das all.

[edcoil]

How much is a "chocolate city" suppose to cost?

[sono]

IN other words ... It's Bush's Fault.

[snarks_when_bored]

Nagin: Class and race issues killing New Orleans' recovery

Most of the killing going on in New Orleans is being done by thugs, crooks, gangbangers and the like. The chocolate city is stained red with blood spatter...

[AppyPappy]

Translation: Keep sending money and don't ask where it is going

[Doogle]

State officials have said city leaders failed to provide required documentation, which called cumbersome.

dimwit couldn't find the dotted line, maybe it looks like a school bus

[TBP]

And who's the biggest promotedr of racial division in that city? Nagin.

What a hypocrite.

[TBP]

How much is a "chocolate city" suppose to cost?

Well, not nearly as much when Willie Wonka does it as when the government does.

[Rodney Kings Brain]

Too many nuts in that chocolate city.

[Mark was here]

IN other words ... It's Bush's Fault.

In other words ... the Democrats in the State Government do not trust us, so we need the Feds to go around them.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Nagin:
""From my perspective, not having the resources at the local level is the absolute killer of this recovery,"

Translation:
"The gummint ain't sendin' enogh money for us to graft. Us gummint folks ain't at the same "quality of life" we were before Bush screwed us over.

Damn crackers!

[Libertarian444]

Nagin also asked for Congress to change the laws and regulations to speed up the flow of federal aid.

Irony

"From my perspective, not having the resources at the local level is the absolute killer of this recovery," Nagin said

Insanity

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

How much is a "chocolate city" suppose to cost?

Funny you should ask...

Why not call nagin, willie wonka?

[sgtbono2002]

Who was it that called it Chocolate city in the first place. Wasnt that Nagin?

[massgopguy]

Go get your $600 million Washington has set aside for you ya idiot! And it's not all about New Orleans. There were 300,000 houses destroyed by Katrina. It takes a crew of 5-6 good carpenters to build a house in six months. That means that at least 1.5 million carpenters would be needed to build them. The Carpenter Union has 1.5 million members. Do you really expect every Union Carpenter in the country to drop what they are doing and relocate to Tent Cities?

[kabar]

As of January 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay for $334 million for infrastructure repairs in New Orleans, but the state only has forwarded $145 million to the city so far. State officials have said city leaders failed to provide required documentation, which called cumbersome.

Why is the federal government at fault?

[Ben Mugged]

Hey Nagin! How 'bout you come up with a plan that provides assurance we won't be doing this again in 10 years....... Otherwise, the city has grown as much as it's ever going to.

[Red Badger]

The "Chocolate City" is melting into the "Slough of Desparity"...........

[A Strict Constructionist]

Most of the people in "Choc. City" look at him and the Governor the same way you do. The election was a fluke because of the screwed up primary system that has now been fixed. I hope!! Nagin is stupid, racist and anti-gun. This is what you get with affirmative action by liberal white-folks and black preachers that want to maintain control.