Louisiana's "Road Home"--the Goalposts Keep Moving

For those outside New Orleans who ask, "what happened to all the Federal money down there?", another guide appears in Saturday's Times-Picayune, a Cook's tour of some of the Kafkaesque labyrinth homeowners have had to navigate to get their Road Home grant.

Just to review, that grant is Federal money funneled (at Federal insistence) through a highly restrictive State process (you can't trust the City), which the State then contracted out to a private firm. That contract was by far the biggest the firm, ICF International, had ever received, and the company rushed to issue an IPO before the ink had dried.

But the homeowners, trying to get compensation for being flooded out by the failure of the federal levees, are still trying, as we near the third anniversary of the disaster. Never too late for a quick start. Meanwhile, for fun weekend reading, try this, President Bush's Jackson Square speech three weeks after the city flooded.

Comments

[JAUG]

DIY New Orleans, DIY!

[ArtZ]

It seems from this excerpt from the Bush speech, that he is calling for an 8/29 commission.

"I also want to know all the facts about the government response to Hurricane Katrina. ... Yet the system, at every level of government, was not well-coordinated, and was overwhelmed in the first few days. It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces -- the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment's notice.

Four years after the frightening experience of September the 11th, Americans have every right to expect a more effective response in a time of emergency. When the federal government fails to meet such an obligation, I, as President, am responsible for the problem, and for the solution. So I've ordered every Cabinet Secretary to participate in a comprehensive review of the government response to the hurricane. This government will learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina. We're going to review every action and make necessary changes, so that we are better prepared for any challenge of nature, or act of evil men, that could threaten our people.

The United States Congress also has an important oversight function to perform. Congress is preparing an investigation, and I will work with members of both parties to make sure this effort is thorough. "

[DANOSC]

I once read that mankind's greatest artistic achievement is the city. New Orleans is a masterpiece. I lived there too many years ago. But, I can tell you, it is still a great city. The blame of what has happened to New Orleans since Katrina only partially belongs at the feet of the Bush administration. A great part of the blame belongs to everyone in this country who hasn't demanded accountability by this administra­tion--whic­h is just about everyone in the country. What has happened to us--as a nation--that we let this tragedy befall New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi--or any other city filled with US citizens who suffer through a disaster like Katrina? What has happened to us as a country? New Orleans is a national shame, not just the shame of a few greedy individuals in Washington.

[backhandpath]

Hey Harry,
you were just wonderful last night on Coast To Coast with Ian Punnit (sp)!
I called and actually got to speak to you what a thrill! No lie.
I had more to compliment you on, but a solar flare from a CIA satellite must've cut the call.

However you went right to what I'd originally called about anyway: The Levees in New Orleans.
Thank you for your support of Levees.org and for coming to the Industrial Canal to stand wit'it.
The pictures of you looked great too. Nice Hat, Mon.

I would hope that we can go back to CtoC's website and hear that interview again. Obviously Ian adores you and that made for learning so much more about your career. Whoa. What a career!

Great success wit'da new Album too, Songs of the Bushmen. I laughed so hard on the "No Cooler for the Scooter" video we 'bout had to call a doctor. 'Course we hung you all over da'Ladda today.
My hero.
You Editillero.

Thanks for being here, Harry.
Editilla~New Orleans News Ladder

[MetryJen]

Thanks again, Harry, for bringing attention to what we're going through down here. Now, on top of everything else, we're dealing with yet another ecological disaster in the form of a massive oil spill. You'd think that would be national news, that 400,000 barrels of crude are floating down the MS river and on the way to the gulf, but I guess that would interfere with the push to open more offshore drilling. Can't remind the people that oil production and transportation can occasionally be disastrous, can we?

[twofish]

Never too late to steal from the people, is it? This is double theft -- from the people of New Orleans, who should be getting the money, and from the taxpayers, who will be expected to replace it. Can the con men get double prison sentences for that? I can dream, can't I?

[GeorgeKaplan]

"I also want to know all the facts about the government response to Hurricane Katrina."

GWB

I picked this out of the speech from Jackson Square... do we still believe this? I don't think we know all the facts... not even close.

[haleywins]

No we don't know all of them, why we need a 8/29 investigation.

See www.levees.org

[tompoe]

As you said, Never too late for a quick start. I'm definitely in favor of a variation on your theme. It's never too late for a quick start on a reparations list. Sign up everyone who went through the New Orleans disaster, and document the harm to every individual, from the first day to the present. I'll just bet there's a few lawyers out there that would help establish the process, and come up with a strategy that gets these folks back to go, however long it takes. If the city, state and fed officials are smart, they'll make things work a lot different from this point forward.

[Absintheforall]

If it wasn't for you, I don't think NO would even be a blip on the radar anymore. Keep it up!

[Missnola]

Dear Harry,

Thanks for keeping your readers up to speed on this debacle. I'm a native New Orleanian who loves your work. I could not get your link to the Times-Picayune story to work for me. Are you talking about the David Hammer piece at http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-0/121705041832710.xml&coll=1 ?

Thanks again for the attention you pay to my beloved hometown.