Obama in New Orleans -- Is That All There Is?

LONDON--The White House has released details of this Thursday's long-awaited (at least by New Orleanians) Presidential visit to the Crescent City.  What he will be doing: holding a town hall meeting and visiting a charter school.  Period.

What he won't be doing: a survey, by air or other means, of the daily erosion of the invaluable coastal wetlands under the inexorable pressure of pipeline and canal building, which has allowed the intrusion of salt water from the Gulf; a frank and detailed discussion with the local leaders of the Army Corps of Engineers about their decision to adopt a "technically not superior" solution to the permanent pumps in the outfall canals, and about their installation of non-functioning hydraulic pumps in those canals as a "temporary" solution.  In other words, the President will not be addressing either of the crucial issues in assuring that the disaster of 2005 is not repeated. 

But he will be taking questions and meeting schoolchildren.  Events, in short, that look good on TV.

 

 

Follow Harry Shearer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/letwits

Comments

[luziannagirl]

You know, it's still amazing, Harry, fellow HuffPo'ers, that so many people still don't realize what happened in Katrina, nor the national importance of making good on the promises made to the people of New Orleans.

If after the President's visit tomorrow, things still don't get moving in the right direction regarding the Corps fixing the federal levees correctly, and the wetlands being restored as only the feds can do, then perhaps it's time to bite the bullet and take mass action.

I'm thinking..­.cancel Mardi Gras.

Or, at least seriously consider (and talk about) cancelling Mardi Gras, say, for 2011.

Yeah, it'll be tough, since much of New Orleans' economy is based on Mardi Gras, and it's a needed personal release for Louisianians. But folks will have over a year to save up enough money and hoard enough food to get them through it, and maybe the private balls and parties could continue. Just no parades and public events.

No "Nation's Biggest Free Party" until the levees are fixed and wetlands start being restored.

I mean, some of us have talked about withholding the flow of oil & gas, even shutting down the port, but those could be considered actions threatening the national security. Mardi Gras is just a party.

What do y'all think? Too drastic? Too masochistic?

[doctorj2u]

LG,
Cancelling Mardi Gras would hurt the people of NOLA more than any American or any president. It is who we are and why we put up with the downsides of the city. The good (great in NOLA's case) out weighs the bad (no government, crime.) Bad idea.

[GeorgeKaplan]

I do not think that is would be even possible to get more than a hand full of people in New Orleans to cancel Mardi Gras. We would only be punishing our economy and the out of towners that do love New Orleans and come to visit. Only for WW2 was Mardi Gras ever canceled.

[LielaJ]

Luziannagirl,

This is one of the most ignorant and ridiculous comments I think I've ever read thus far about our Katrina issues and needing to rebuild. Louisiana has absolutely no tourist attractions that bring in any significant amount of money except for Mardi Gras. New Orleans is already suffering from regular off season. Mardi Gras, not only sells out hotel rooms everywhere in our city but also creates revenue for the small business owners around the city and also for our bars and restaurants. New Orleans would be completely poor if it wasn't for our Mardi Gras "parties". This is absolutely NOT a free party. I wouldn't say this idea of your is "too drastic", just down right stupid!

[luziannagirl]

For New Orleans, levees really equal life.

Without adequate levees and at least some stab at coastal restoration, more New Orleanians will die in another surge, and more will lose everything they have. For the dead, there won't be any more Mardi Gras. And, for those Katrina survivors who can't come back home, Mardi Gras will fade into the distance as the years go by.

I'm racking my brain thinking of legal but dramatic ways the people of the city could demonstrate to the rest of the nation and to the President who controls the Corps--- that this is a serious life or death matter.

Stupid or not, bad idea or not, it sure got your attention.

Maybe just talk and threats will be scary enough.

[seawolf77]

There's still a hole 8 years later at ground zero. The America I grew up in would have rebuilt it within a year. The America I live in now will fight over wht it is to be for decades. As for New Orleans, and I saw this as I moved thru the country, they just don't care about you and the president mirrors that. And it's not just you. Any liberal city would be treated with absoluet contempt and utter disdain too. They got what they deserved. It's how they think. It would be like faulting a prostitue for stealing. Asking a republican to have mercy or sympathy on a liberal ANYTHING is inviting ridicule so just as they say on CNN....lea­ve it there.

[doctorj2u]

SeaWolf.
You do not need to tell the people of New Orleans that most Americans not only don't care, but feel like we deserved the tragedy. We know more than anyone. You are lucky in NYC. At least you are not told everyday that you are lazy because the Towers are not rebuilt, and are whiny when you complain about it.

[luziannagirl]

Plus, DrJ, if the Twin Towers never get rebuilt, it won't endanger the lives of everyone in the city. Not fixing the levees to at least withstand a Cat 3 surge endangers the lives of 400,000 residents at the minimum. Not restoring the coastline endangers the homes and the unique culture of over a million people.

[CrescentCityRay]

It might be too late, but I'm not giving up on trying to get students to rally Thursday morning. If anyone knows any student group that might be interested in trying to attend ( or even adults ) you can download the rally flier here: http://www.crescentcityrecovery.com/

Send it anyone you think might be interested in attending, please.

Harry, if you don't want to approve this invitation announcement post, I'd understand.

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

Of course I approve it. Anything to get the President's attention.­..

[doctorj2u]

Great job! I contacted Sandy Rosenthal of levees.org in hopes they would join. She says she supports grassroots efforts of any kind but did not say anything about joining in. Oh well. It was worth a try. They may have other plans, though I am a member and have not received any information on any plans. I would love for President Obama to meet with her. Maybe there are plans and she is sworn to secrecy. LOL! Where did you find the picture from that first demonstration? I was never so proud of my city. That was a true New Orleans moment.

[CrescentCityRay]

I spent half the night searching CDs, DVDs, and 6 hard drives, but couldn't remember that rally's date. After getting back from stalking the LPD on the river, I called Sandy and she knew exactly what week it was because it was just a few days before her first rally just upriver on the levee by the Corps. I searched through all the dang CDs, DVDs, and 6 huge hard drives again and they were on the last drive I searched.

Then I spent a couple of hours riffling through the 775 pictures and eventually settled on 11 images for the flier. I felt it was the best rally I've attended since the floods and I felt it was important to include those pictures in the flier because shools would need to envision this rally as being a wholsome fun event like it was for those McGee school girls on Jan. 11, 2006.

Thank you Sandy. I am hoping she emails her membership about this related but independent event.

Please, if anyone has any contacts at any local schools they would need to know about this potential event first thing Wednesday morning, but even then, it will be way too late of a notice for the vast majority of Schools.

So Doc, if we don't get town hall tickets, if you're available, I'll be ready for that sazerac at the Roosevelt, but I gotta keep it at just one so I can bring kids home from school at 3.

[CrescentCityRay]

Oh. Sandy can put you in touch with me too. ccr

[myjoyy]

This is a first for me. I've never seen an HP blogger comment/defend his/her own article so much. I guess that means I haven't been around long enough to witness this before.

[backhandpath]

Harry Shearer is One of a Kind with this and you won't find it elsewhere.
NO ONE takes care of the commenters like Harry, and no one here at Huff (or really any of the other Big Dogs) ever works their blog like this period.

[myjoyy]

Thanks for the insight from your perspective!

[CrescentCityRay]

Harry has heart and he just wants New Orleans to be treated like the rest of the country. Thank goodness for his tenacity.

[SteppingRazor]

Let's put New Orleans back to above river level/sea level.

Destroy all the levees up stream. Let's turn back the clock all the way as the Neo Feudalists want. We can have snags to put up with. Boats going aground. This is what they want if they don't want the river level raised and therefore no levees to maintain.


The price of modern river commerce has costs and one of them is levees that must be maintained and with higher river levels many cities are below the the river level.

[CrescentCityRay]

Filling in our bowl with dirt would be an impractical expense. I did the math. You could save over a trillion dollars by simply building adequately strong levees and restoring our wetlands and coast. The problem is the USACE won't do any of those three things that must be done. They would prefer to build a little too cheaply and claim it is good enough with their fingers crossed behind their back hoping that 100 year storm doesn't come before they retire. I kid you not..

[luziannagirl]

SteppingRazor

Appreciate the sentiment (I think), but your comments ---like many----confuse the Mississippi River levee system with the storm surge/outfall drainage levee system. I know it's complicated---as is the geography, geology, climatology, meteorology and hydrology of this whole New Orleans-Hu­rricane-Ma­rsh thing, but please just try.

A map with natural features would help.

Anyone have a link to a good map to which we can link folks unfamiliar with our area?

It sure would have helped the last White House to have had a better working knowledge. I don't even think they realized New Orleans was for most intents and purposes, an island.

[luziannagirl]

I just happened to hear someone identifying himself as Chris Thomas King say on live radio that he sure knew what he'd tell the President on Thursday.

King would ask why Countrywide Mortgage, which got bailed out at U.S. taxpayer expense, is now trying to cheat New Orleanians out of credit for their Katrina flood-damage re-imbursement money. King says he and others agreed to sign over their flood re-imbursement checks to their mortgage holders as part of a settlement to resolve their post-hurricane mortgage problems. Now their mortgage company, Countrywide, says it's gone, vanished in the economic downturn.

King said nobody can do anything with their homes until it's resolved in court. Four years is a long time for someone of modest means to hold onto a home he can't live in, rent, or sell, folks. A long time.

I think it's a good question, Harry, one that highlights the economic difficulties faced by everyday citizens, the Wall Street debacle, and Hurricane Katrina and the failed levee aftermath. Maybe someone reading this can help get Chris Thomas King into the town hall meeting.

King says his given name is "Durwood Thomas", if that helps in finding him. Chris Thomas King is his stage name, and the name he used playing the young Robert Johnson in "O Brother Where Art Thou". His dad is the renowned Baton Rouge-based bluesman, Tabby Thomas.

[MyIrishEyes]

This morning at 0830 the people of New Orleans, who could take off work, lined the levees from Avondale to the Central Business District to see off the USS New York. The USS New York was built at Northrop-Grumman Shipyards in Avondale, LA and was there through Hurricane Katrina. In the bow of the USS New York is 8,000 lbs of steel that was removed from the Twin Towers, re-forged in Louisiana, and lovingly placed into the bow of the warship.

We lined the levees of the Mississippi to give honor to the USS York and send off her sailors who lined the deck. Even though she was 2 hours late because of extreme fog this morning, my fellow New Orleanians held their places with American flags in hand just to show that they do love this country. Although a lot of the rest of the country have forgotten us, we have not forgotten them.

I am very proud to be a native New Orleanian and wish fair winds with following seas to the USS New York. May she serve her country with the same love that was put into her here. -Irish

[doctorj2u]

New Orleanians are the greatest! Good job!

[doctorj2u]

Nola story about this:
Thousands of New Orleanians line the levees in respect.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/photos_uss_new_yorks_sails_tow.html

[luziannagirl]

Thank you for the link DrJ. Great photos.

BTW, it made our local evening newscasts. There was a video clip of the New York emerging from the fog, seaman standing at attention along her deck, like a ghost ship in some modern adaptation of Coleridge. I wonder if the New York papers are covering it, or if maybe they're waiting until the official commission ceremony?

We can all be very proud of New Orleans' shipbuilders and long maritime tradition.

[luziannagirl]

That mental image brings tears to my eyes, Irish. Maybe it made a news clip I can find on the internet. New Orleans is also a major center for ship-building, and has been for CENTURIES; another reason to not let the Grand Lady of American Cities drown.

And make no mistake, y'all, down here we truly love and hold a special place in our hearts for the people of New York City. Not only do some of our accents sound uncannily alike, but we share many other similarities that are shared only by the country's oldest urban areas.

My very best Louisiana wishes to the crew of the U.S.S. New York. Hope you all got some good crab gumbo, a Mother's po boy and an authentic Ramos Gin Fizz before setting sail!

[doctorj2u]

Luziannagirl.
Let's see if this link gets you to the right video.

http://www.wwltv.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=406664&shu=1

[CrescentCityRay]

I got up ridiculously early and was the second photographer on the levee at Algiers point and was proud to get there before sunrise. The fog was clearing, The east bank was crisp and clear in the view finder about 6:45, and then the fog came back so thick, we couldn't see the Algeirs Ferry Landing... 7:30 went by.... It got foggy, Foggy & FOGGIER. The ship finally passed by at almost 10 o'clock. The fog finally cleared enough to see the ship, but the background behind the gray ship was nothing but gray rather the city's skyline - heck, I don't think I could see the top of the ship's mast. I did get to meet a lot of interesting New Orleanians including the local AP photographer and the very talented Susan Poag from the TP, retired Avondale workers, many Algiers point residents and lots of friendly dogs. In the patch of levee where we gathered, it looked like there were about 200-400 of us. - even a guy from Covington. You know how chatty we are with strangers. We all knew each other with never more than one or two degrees of separation. Enlisted men lined the ship's rails in their whites.

Hmm, strange, I don't think anyone asked me where I went to high school.

[doctorj2u]

"Hmm. stange, I don't think anyone asked me where I went to high school."

LOL! It IS a new New Orleans!

[katocat]

Didn't he also release billions of dollars for N.O. that had been backlogged since Bush?

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

Once again, two different matters: Obama's new appointee as head of FEMA, CRaig Fugate, has indeed unblocked the pipeline for recovery funds, but Obama has been missing in action on the two key issues--rebuilding the levees the right way and restoring the coastal wetlands--that will help to prevent the next disaster.

[katocat]

Ok, but can we at least give him credit for what they have done? Your article makes it sound like he has done nothing different at all.

I'm with you on all the rest... the rebuilding of the levees (correctly) and wetland restoration is the highest priority.

Keep up the pressure Harry.

[EvasDaddy]

Harry Shearer is an articulate man. If only he would use the leverage of his wit to assist, instead of goad, a man with a myriad of high priority tasks on his agenda.

To ask "Is that all there is" of a good man running at top speed does not further anyone's cause.

[doctorj2u]

Harry's "goading" is probably the only reason Obama is coming for the 90 minute photo-op to begin with. Thank you Harry!

[Harry Shearer - Huffpost Blogger]

Please read the post "Playing the Inside Game" to see what came before...

[luziannagirl]

EvasDaddy, Harry does what he does best, and I for one am extremely grateful he's doing it.

Furthermore, I'd be willing to bet President O has plenty of assistance and sweet encouragement from folks on his side of the political isle, to the point he probably craves what Harry has to offer. It can be very hard for high-profile people (especially ones as attractive as our President) to break through the celebrity bubble to find out what's really going on, from people who have nothing to gain nor axe to grind,regarding money or politics or social status.

I'd be willing to bet someone at the White House pays a lot of attention to what Harry has to say and write, and perhaps, even , to what we in the gumbo gallery have to say.

[noaxe397]

The "what's wrong with Obama" crowd seems to think presidential terms are like shifts in an assembly plant. The old president "punches out" on noon, Jan 20th, and the new guy is responsible going forward.

But public administration, especially in a gazillion dollar economy is not that cut a dried.
Yes, THIS president is NOW responsible.

But it goes beyond that. Many liberals are adopting the conservative tactic of BLAMING this president for the mess in a blend of "you're in charge now" and "why isn't it already fixed?" And this equation equals "you're a failure, a stuffed shirt, a good teleprompter reader."

When Bush "punched in" almost 9 years ago, he was handed a healthy nation, so he could dabble, and dabble he did.
When Obama "punched in" NINE MONTHS ago, the company was bankrupt with a lot of unhappy customers.
We gave other two-term presidents as long as FOUR YEARS to fix problems. (topic for another discussion­.)
Bush had 3 years to fix the levees. Where was the carping then, especially from the right?

This is his first visit as prez to NO. Given the problems he was handed when he "punched in," NO should consider itself at the top of the priority list given he's only been in for nine months.

Hate to say it but the nation does face bigger problems than the levee system.

[EvasDaddy]

Very well put. Thank you.

[doctorj2u]

"Where was the carping then?" Where have you been? LOL! The funny part is now Democrats are using all the same arguements the Republicans used then to defend the indefensable.

[noaxe397]

Try reading my comment again. I said where was the carping, especially from the RIGHT when Bush was president.

Back then it was "why can't those people just leave when the know a storm is coming."

The "blame the victim" mentality of the GOP.

[RTIII]

It was Obama who said that a president should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Fixing New Orleans' levee system isn't rocket science. It's a matter of political will. All he REALLY has to do is say to the chief of the Army Corps of Engineers, "fix this with a robust system or you're out." He is, after all, the commander in chief. This is NOT an appropriations problem - they had / have the money. In short, all he has to do is change the priorities of the right person at the Corps, and that isn't very hard to do.
.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Did we make Obama run for President? Last time I checked he sought the position and I helped him get there... not sorry, but the idea that we should be silent because "some people" think "the nation faces bigger problems" well that's NOT going to happen. No one is "blaming" Obama for "the mess." I have never read even one post that blames Obama - you made that part up. In fact, pretty much all of your assumptions are wrong. And of course, I hate to say it.

[denlong]

Quick, someone feed questions to the school kids.

[doctorj2u]

In regards to the school, this was in today's Times Picayune:
"Women of the Storm members dropped off about 200 turquoise and yellow footballs, tangible reminders that Louisiana is losing a football field of its coastline every 50 minutes, and they promise more today so that each of the 736 students will have one."

Hope they include those in the photo-op.

[LeftLeanWing]

Last month, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for storm proofing of up to 43 existing interior drainage pump stations in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

This agreement paves the way for approximately $289 million of improvements to pump stations by the Corps at full federal expense.

The State of Louisiana is responsible for obtaining land, easements and rights-of-way, if necessary, to complete the storm proofing work. After storm proofing improvements are complete, the State is responsible for operation and maintenance of the pump stations.

[LeftLeanWing]

Corps awards contract for 100-year levee lift in St. Charles Parish
Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded a $9 million contract on Monday, Sept. 28 for enlargement of approximately one mile of levee and replacement of a floodwall in St. Charles Parish. The enlarged levee and floodwall will f ...
Expand/Reduce Article

Two West Bank & Vicinity 100-year Levee Construction Contracts Awarded
Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded two contracts in September for approximately $16 million to enlarge 6 miles of levee along the Harvey Canal to Westwego levee alignment on the west bank of New Orleans. These contracts w ...
Expand/Reduce Article

Corps using innovative construction contracting in St. Bernard Parish
Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2009
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $904,675 contract today, reaching yet another pivotal milestone in reducing risk for residences and businesses in St. Bernard Parish. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract was awarde ...
Expand/Reduce Article

Scoping Meetings for LCA Ecosystem Restoration Projects Scheduled for September
Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2009
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with the State of Louisiana’s Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration (OCPR), is hosting a series of scoping meetings to gather public input for the planning and execution of near-term cri ...

[doctorj2u]

Do you know what 100 year storm means? It is not much.

[noaxe397]

But it was Katrina. And the city survived Katrina.

The levees were another matter.

Pay attention going forward, please.

[noaxe397]

Sir: Do you know why this stuff wasn't done under the previous administration?

I wonder if this, too, would be considered by the haters to be photo-op or not closing the deal?

[doctorj2u]

It was not done because politicians like to spend our money on bright shiny new things they can point to and say "Look what I did.". Maintaining infrastructure or making levees stonger? Nothing in it for them. Think about that the next time you cross a bridge.

[CrescentCityRay]

The Corps claimed we had 100 year protection Pre_K, but it turned out to be designed for something like 30 year protection.

[GHO]

Mr. Shearer,

I believe you have hit the nail on the head - the entire Obama presidency, regardless of NO, is made to look good on TV. A lot of style without the substance.

[Googie2]

Indicting the entire presidency over reaching and foolish. We have come very far from some very bad policies that were in motion when he took office. All encompassing absolutes like yours seem malicious and misguided. I do believe that Mr. Shearer's frustration is quite well deserved. Keep pushing that boulder Harry!

[TruthTellaStella]

The real crime is the way the Federal Government rapes N.O. and Louisiana. You know all those pipelines and canals that are eroding the wetlands which provide protection from hurricanes, they are built for oil transfer from the gulf of Mexico off the cost of La. Yet not until 2006 did La get ANY revenue from the drilling off its coatal waters. All the profits go up the pipelines to Houston which has gotten rich of La coastal waters and all the tax revenues and royalties go to federal government coffers. La produces more crude oil than any other state and 2nd most natural gas, yet the state, which is one of the poorest in the union, receives chump change. The only real benefit is job creation. If La actually had control of its coastal waters it would be the richest state in the Union. Thank Federal Government, you've killed our wetlands, flooded our most populous and valuable city and you continue to pillage La natural resources. The people of N.O and La are in need of hope and change as much as anyone, however the only thing Obama is going to offer to do is probably try an end the popular school voucher programs like he did in D.C. Making sure there is always a large bloc of dem voters is always more important than actually helping to lift people out of poverty.

[RTIII]

Thank you for this post - you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
.

[luziannagirl]

Stella, you tellin' na' truth, now, girl!

And, does anyone remember the names of the Louisiana elected officials who actually sold us down the river on those offshore oil royalties deals?

I think they deserve at least a little recognition for their accomplishments.