The New York Times gets it


From this Sunday's Editorial, "Death of an American City"

We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum.

The moment is upon us.

Right now, the moment is upon Washington DC, as Congress and the administration decide what the next appropriation for Katrina rebuilding will look like, what it will prioritize, and how much hope it will provide for people and businesses eyeing NOLA and figuring out what the hell they are going to do.

We've generated over 30,000 e-mails to Washington so far, demanding an immediate commitment to Louisiana's Coast and Communities. 30,000 e-mails to the likes of:

• President Bush

• J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House

• Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader

• Thad Cochran, Chair, Appropriations Committee

• Robert Byrd, Ranking Member, Appropriations Committee

• Charles Grassley, Chair, Finance Committee

• Max Baucus, Ranking Member, Finance Committee

• Judd Gregg, Chair, Budget Committee

• Kent Conrad, Ranking Member, Budget Committee

• James Inhofe, Chair, Environment and Public Works Committee

• James Jeffords, Ranking Member, Environment and Public Works Committee

Of course, the only lawmaker from that list that's shown significant commitment to rebuilding has been Sen. Thad Cochran, whose own state was partially levelled by Katrina as well. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, he's one of the most important voices, but we can't respond to this epic crisis solely with regional leadership. It's clear that unless the nation prioritizes rebuilding the dire predictions of the NYT and Mike Tidwell will be borne out.

Some are markedly more hopeful. I ran into Boysie Bollinger last night at the Christmas Party of the Times-Picayune. Mr. Bollinger is a member of both the Governor's Louisiana Recovery Authority and Mayor Nagin's Bring New Orleans Back Commission as well as a major contributor to the RNC and President Bush. He indicated that the President remained committed, and was one of the only friends New Orleans has in Washington DC right now. No disrespect meant to Mr. Bollinger, but we need to see that commitment right now. Senator Landrieu has committed to doing everything she can to make sure that significant rebuilding resources are sent to the Gulf prior to Congress breaking for Christmas - let's hope her plans are successful.

Aaron Viles is the GRN's Campaign Director