New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is optimistic about the future of the Crescent City. In an interview aired Sunday night on “60 Minutes,”, Nagin said the city will return bigger and better but drew criticism after comparing the progress in New Orleans to the rebuilding of the World Trade Centers in New York City. “We’re into a five-to-seven-year build cycle,” said Nagin. “At the end of the day, I see the city being totally rebuilt. I see us eliminating blight, still being culturally unique.” But not everyone is optimistic about the future of the city. Leonard Moore, associate history professor, said he believes that some of the culture that made New Orleans unique will be lost. “I think you are looking at basically a town that will be a playground for the rich for the next 40 years,” said Moore. “I look at the post-Katrina piece as a game of musical chairs…. Once the music gets turned off, the white folks have a place to sit down, a place to sleep, a place for their children to go to school. We’re going back to a trailer.” Nagin said he is working hard to help blacks return to the ravaged city. Since being re-elected in May, Nagin has been under a lot of scrutiny, both locally and nationally. Nagin was quick to defend the progress. “You guys in New York can’t get a hole in the ground fixed, and it’s five years later,” he said. “So let’s be fair.” The comment drew criticism from Louisiana and New York residents. Gov. Kathleen Blanco issued a statement of thanks to the residents of New York City for their help after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But she did not address the comments Nagin made on the show in her statement. This is the second time Nagin has received national attention for a comment about the recovery of New Orleans. In January, Nagin was criticized and later apologized for saying residents should rebuild a “chocolate New Orleans.” But Nagin remains undeterred. Nagin said he is enthusiastic about a proposed new development, which includes a 68-story Trump International Tower. Oliver Thomas, president of the New Orleans City Council, said the world needs to start trusting Nagin and let him do his job. “We don’t have a lot of time or opportunity,” said Thomas. “So the next four years, we’re going to sink or swim with him.” One change that has taken effect is the new evacuation plan. Under the new plan, everyone will be evacuated for a category three hurricane or stronger as a precautionary action. According to Nagin, all breaches in the levees have been repaired and are ready to withstand another hurricane. “I think we are ready for another hurricane like Katrina,” he said. Over the past year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has worked hard to get the levee system ready in the event of another category three or stronger hurricane. The levees are now stronger and taller. Now that the levees are fixed, Nagin said he thinks it is time for the Crescent City to focus on rebuilding the infrastructure. “We have to get our infrastructure together,” said Nagin. Nagin said he understands the rebuilding of New Orleans is going to be a long, hard process. “We got some challenges,” he said. “This is some pioneering work. This is not for the faint of heart.”
—–Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]