[StBernard] Opinion Pieces Focus on Hurricane Katrina's Impact, Louisiana's Recovery

[Westley Annis]

Opinion Pieces Focus on Hurricane Katrina's Impact, Louisiana's Recovery 

In honor of the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, newspapers locally and across the country have examined how Hurricane Katrina affected Louisiana and the nation. Below is a sampling of some of these opinion pieces.

EDITORIAL: Not so easy
Los Angeles Times, August 29, 2007

"To pick up the pace, Congress should retool the Stafford Act, the federal law that governs emergency aid, to better handle catastrophic events. The act's paperwork requirements are irrational for cities making emergency repairs on a grand scale. And many of the requirements aim to prevent dollars from being misused rather than making sure that infrastructure problems are solved efficiently. As a result, Louisiana has been able to spend only a quarter of the money Washington has committed to build schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

"Federal taxpayers have already committed nearly $60 billion to Louisiana in flood-insurance payments, disaster relief and rebuilding funds. It would compound the tragedy of Katrina to leave the job half-finished or to bury the region's will to rebuild under a mountain of red tape."

*	Click here to read the full editorial. <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-katrina29aug29,0,5023665.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials> 

EDITORIAL: Treat us fairly, Mr. President
Times Picayune, August 29, 2007

"As President Bush returns today to mark the second anniversary of Katrina, this is what Louisianians need him to remember:

"We are Americans who have suffered a great tragedy. We have worked tirelessly for two years to revive this beloved place and reconstruct our lives. And we ought to get no less help from our government than any other victims of this disaster."

*	Click here to read the full editorial. <http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1188367660232970.xml&coll=1> 

EDITORIAL: The Long Slog after Katrina
Boston Globe, August 29, 2007

"While the Bush administration has talked of more than $110 billion in aid, much of that has yet to be spent. The money has been spread across several states -- even though damage was concentrated in Louisiana. The benefits that weren't misdirected have flowed too slowly and pale in comparison with the scope of the damage. The Louisiana Recovery Authority estimates that Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damage to public and private property in that state, of which $34 billion is uncovered by federal aid, flood insurance, or private insurance.

"Meanwhile, in once-prosperous New Orleans residential neighborhoods, renovated homes sit uneasily amid newly vacant lots -- and ugly hulks that have scarcely been touched since Katrina hit. If Congress comes to understand this, members will feel obligated to honor Katrina victims' requests for more help. Congress can start by kicking in more money for the Road Home, a joint federal and state initiative to help homeowners with their losses.

..."Katrina illustrated the need for a government that can act firmly when events turn hard and cruel. Whether we have one remains to be seen, even now."

*	Click here to read the full editorial. <http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/08/29/the_long_slog_after_katrina/> 

EDITORIAL: Two years and dying
Arizona Republic, August 29, 2007

"This was never going to be an easy job. Hurricane Rita piled destruction on top of Katrina. The area that initially qualified for major disaster relief was 93,000 square miles, the size of the United Kingdom.

"...New Orleans is one of America's great cities, the home of our signature music: jazz. The Gulf Coast is rich in history and tradition.

"Abandoning it would not only undercut our humanity but also betray our nation's soul."

*	Click here to read the full editorial. <http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0829wed1-29.html> 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana. 

###