[StBernard] Grassroots Group Calls for Bipartisan Investigation of Levee Failures

[Westley Annis]

Grassroots Group Calls for Bipartisan Investigation of Levee Failures  
  
WASHINGTON - January 5 - The New Orleans based group Levees.Org has launched
a petition drive calling on the new 2007 Congress for a 9-11 style
investigation into the failure of the levees in metro New Orleans in 2005
that resulted in the deaths of over one thousand Louisianans. 

The commission is being referred to as the 8-29 commission referencing the
day Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, said Levees.Org Director Sandy Rosenthal,
and the petition logged over 500 signatures in the first few hours. 

The concept has both Republican and Democratic support in Louisiana,
according to Rosenthal. Senator Mary Landrieu D-LA has adopted the idea and
is moving forward with it. "On November 30, which happened to be the closing
day of the 2006 Hurricane Season, my colleagues and I conferred with Senator
May Landrieu. She felt the 8-29 commission was a feasible initiative in the
110th Congress," said Ms. Rosenthal, Founder and Executive Director of
Levees.Org. Rep Bobby Jindal R-LA has also expressed vocal support. 

The non-profit grassroots group, whose mission is to hold the Corps of
Engineers accountable for their work, says the federal investigation
established in late 2005 by Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, US Army Corps of Engineers
was inadequate. Levees.Org contends since the Corps of Engineers is the sole
agency responsible for the design, construction and performance of Greater
New Orleans' flood protection, such an investigation presents a conflict of
interest since the Corps was in charge of investigating itself. 

Additionally, since the Corps investigation's findings were released on June
1, 2006, three independent levee investigation teams (the National Science
Foundation/U.C. Berkeley, the National Academy of Engineering and Team
Louisiana) have criticized the Corps' report as incomplete and technically
inaccurate. Yet, despite unanimous criticism, the Corps' potentially flawed
findings are being used to repair and fortify the south Louisiana flood
protection system which protects the lives and property of 1.5 million
people, said Rosenthal. 

"Clearly, a fresh analysis is needed to assure that critical vulnerabilities
in the levee system are addressed and all possible opportunities for
improvement are considered," says Rosenthal. "Taxpayers need a full return
on the investment dollars that Congress authorizes and the citizens of south
Louisiana need the best protection possible." 

Members of Congress who publicly support the goals of Levees.Org include
Senator Russ Feingold D-WI and Senator David Vitter R-LA. Members of the US
House include Richard Baker R-LA and Charlie Melancon D-LA. 

The group has posted an online petition on their website www.levees.org. To
accommodate those without internet, there are hardcopy petitions available
at these locations throughout the metro New Orleans region. Citizens can
also call 504-269-2650. 

Westbank: 205 Pelican Ave, N.O. 70114-2345 (Algiers Point near ferry) on
porch
St. Bernard 1800 East St. Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA 70043
Northshore Sunshine Garden Health Food Store, 124 N. Jefferson St.,
Covington 
Gentilly 2245 Lafreniere St New Orleans 70122-4509
Uptown: 3830 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans 70115 
Metairie: 702 Helois St, Metairie 70005
Old Metairie: Interiors and Extras, 324 Metairie Rd, inside shop (open 10-5)
Harahan Hickory Avenue Harahan, La. 70123 

About Levees.Org: The non partisan non sectarian grassroots group was
founded in November of 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to educate the
nation and Congress on the facts surrounding the metro New Orleans flood and
the need for Corps Reform. The group also has satellite locations in the
states of Florida and California which have many Corps-built levees. With
over 6,300 members nationwide, the group's website has hosted over 63,000
unique visitors since December of 2005. 

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