NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A new survey finds many consider race relations a problem in the New Orleans area though other problems, such as corruption, taxes and crime, ranked as higher concerns.The telephone survey of 525 adults in a nine-parish region, including Orleans, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. It was conducted in October by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center.Race has been an often-polarizing issue in New Orleans, which was predominately black before Hurricane Katrina. Demographic studies show it still is, but by a smaller margin. The city now has a majority-white City Council for the first time since the 1980s and a Vietnamese-American recently defeated indicted, nine-term, black U.S. Rep. William Jefferson in a congressional district that covers nearly all of New Orleans.The survey was commissioned by media collective One Community Initiative, which sought a baseline on race relations in its effort to promote discussion of race and diversity in the region.
Survey: Race relations still problem in N.O. area - 12/17
December 17, 2008