[StBernard] Say It Isn't So, Joe

[Westley Annis]

In an article printed by the tiems-Picayune on Thursday, January 26, 2006,
entitled, "Buyout Hope hurt, Not Dead," which referenced the White House's
public opposition to supporting the "Baker Plan," Joe Canizaro, respected
and renowned business entrepreneur and investor, was quoted, "That he
believes that the City (New Orleans) has at least 90 percent of the losses
and should get the lion's share of the money."

The "Money" that Mr. Canizaro is referring to is the $6.2 billion Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that are a significant resource within
the $29.1 billion already appropriated by Congress to assist in the Gulf
Coast's recovery due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Let's examine Mr. Canizaro's position. First and foremost, 90% of the $6.2
billion earmarked for Louisiana would mean that the City of New Orleans
should receive approximately $5.6 billion, thus leaving ONLY $0.6 billion
for the remaining 22 parishes that have received significant damage, as well
as several parishes devastated and totally destroyed such as St. Bernard. In
advocating his position, Mr. Canizaro callously exhibited either his
unwillingness to recognize the depth of the devastation of the surrounding
areas or a lack of respect that the Greater New Orleans area MUST be rebuilt
with the concept of Regionalization as out focused mission. Objectives and
goals less than this are shortsighted and clearly demonstrate a lack of
vision.

We wonder whether or not Mr. Canizaro's predisposition to the distribution
of CDBG funds is caused by selfishness and brazen arrogance or by a reckless
disregard and ignorance of the suffering of hundreds of thousands of
citizens living parishes other than Orleans. Has he forgotten that the eye
of Katrina took a jog to the East, sparing Orleans of a direct hit, mowing
down southern Plaquemines Parish, crushing St. Bernard Parish, and then
finally slamming into St. Tammany Parish and the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

Has Mr. Canizaro considered in his distribution plan the fact that in St.
Bernard Parish every home (26,000) and every business (1,800) was flooded,
every school closed, and our entire industrial and governmental
infrastructure ravaged? Is he aware of the total destruction of the fishing
industry in eastern St. Bernard and southern Plaquemines Parish? Say it
isn't so, Joe!

We, as citizens of the Greater New Orleans region, respectfully request that
you abandon this traditional parochial position and ask you to join us in
supporting the recovery and rebuilding of Greater new Orleans with the
vision toward Regionalism. At this time in out State's history, we must
speak with one voice. Remember, the whole world is watching.

Daniel P. Bourgeois
Sandra G. Gorbaty