New Orleans Mayor Takes Swipe At NYC

Nagin Cites Failure To Rebuild Ground Zero While Defending Katrina Clean-Up

(CBS)  Confronted by accusations that he’s taking too long to clean up his city after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin defended himself by remarking on New York City’s failure to rebuild Ground Zero.

Nagin made the remarks in an interview conducted by CBS News National Correspondent Byron Pitts which will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. EDT.

On a tour of the decimated Ninth Ward, Nagin tells Pitts the city has removed most of the debris from public property and it’s mainly private land that’s still affected – areas that can’t be cleaned without the owners' permission. But when Pitts points to flood-damaged cars in the street and a house washed partially into the street, the mayor shoots back. "That’s alright. You guys in New York can’t get a hole in the ground fixed and it’s five years later. So let’s be fair."

Nagin is confident New Orleans will be whole again and will even be able to withstand another hurricane of Katrina strength, pointing out that taller and stronger levees are being built. It will take time.

"We’re into a five-to-seven-year build cycle … . At the end of the day, I see the city being totally rebuilt. I see us eliminating blight, still being culturally unique," Nagin says.

One example of new development Nagin points to is a 68-story Trump Towers condominium complex, a project that makes some critics wary that New Orleans will lose the heritage that made it unique.

"I think you are looking at basically a town that will be a playground for the rich for the next 40 years," Leonard Moore, a professor of African-American history at Louisiana State University, tells Pitts. "I look at the post-Katrina piece as a game of musical chairs….Once the music gets turned off, the white folks have a place to sit down, a place to sleep, a place for their children to go to school. We’re going back to a trailer."

Nagin says he is looking out for the poor, mostly black, residents who are dispersed all over the country, some of whom are waiting to return to the city.

"What I do have a problem with is some entrenched interests that are looking and salivating over certain sections of the city," Nagin says.

The mayor says these interests want him to keep those poor people from coming back so they can get rich developing the land.

"I don’t think that’s right," Nagin says.

But before any rebuilding can take place, the clean-up and restoration of the city’s infrastructure must be complete and it will be Mayor Nagin, recently re-elected, who leads the efforts.

"Should things have happened quicker? Yes. But everyone has their own style of leadership, and right now our political leader, our political father is Ray Nagin," says Oliver Thomas, New Orleans City Council president.

"So for the next four years, we’re going to sink or swim with him," Thomas tells Pitts.

[isostond]

What about George Bush declaring the area a disaster area before the storm even struck? What about the hundreds of school buses that sat unused? What about the Govenor Blanco telling the Red Cross that they could not bring blankets and food into the superdome because "these people won't ever leave if you make them comfortable? People need to wake up and smell their local politicians. $110 Billion allocated by federal Government and the State of Louisiana has problems spending it while anyone is watching. Louisiana has had Democratic leadership in state government for 40 years and that's where the responsibility for evacuation and disaster planning and levee maintainance is.

[kaishascobb]

The hardest thing to understand is how can people continue to point the finger at the Mayor when he did go on TV and tell the people of NO that this would be a catagory 5 storm and to evacuate. Why not point the finger at the president who wouldn't walk through the waters as the victims of Katrina did until several days later, or the same man that went to Missippi and huged 2 white women instead of embracing the people of NO, or why not point the finger at his mother for making such a rude, insulting comment about underprivlidged people living better in the Convention Center than before Katrina hit. We always want to say such negative things about people but the mayor was there trying to help and even broke down a few times after seeing the horrible aftermath. Where was the president and why wasn't he sending troops to NO instead of sending them to Iraq to look for weapons that were never found. This world is amazing we live in. We help those that don't give a *** about us but when it comes to the hard working citizens of America we turn our backs as if they are in fact refugees! God Bless America!!!!

[kerimo-2009]

I think it is disgusting that the mayor compares New York to New Orleans. Has he not seen the news that shows that they are working on rebuilding New YOrk. Mayor Nagin, while I am sure he is frustrated, needs to roll up his sleeves and help clean up that fine city. God Bless all of those who have helped in NO and continue to do so today.

[orleansave]

If everyone just shut up and stopped wasting energy complaining and concentrated on rebuilding and repairing their OWN homes and businesses the city would be well on its way to recovery. By the way where is my LAROAD HOME check?!! I NEEDS my money!!!
One more thing, I hope Nagin understands that he will remain in the news( I'm sure Nagin is known worldwide now) because he is the Mayor of a city devestated, and yes I will say it- he's black, frank, outspoken, tall bald and ***. Any way, where is my money?!

[claypat1-2009]

Ray Nagin clearly defines the stigma that sticks with all of politics. But while Nagin refused to take responsibility for his screw up with the delayed evacuation, he pulls out his race card. that card seemed to be pulled by many following hurricane katrina. It is a catastrophe that people would be so stupid as to re-elect such an idiot. those who follow his direction might as well follow a chicken with its head cut off, at least you can look and see the chicken lost its head. God Bless our country! and even the idiot mayor of New Orleans.

[tasya-2009]

I too would like to voice my desire to have an explanation for the white hoods. It seems to be missing from your version on the internet. The white hood is after all one of the most racist icons of all time. Please explain what that was about and why you missed it in the first place.

[xcolumbo]

As a New Orleanian & member of the Mardi Gras krewe Endymion (the largest and most successful Carnival organization in the history of New Orleans), the debutaunte segment was very misleading; CBS should be ashamed of themselves for purposely harvesting race divisions & misleading its viewers.

The masked KKK-looking fellows were actually taking part in the traditional Mardi Gras season. They are memebers of one of the many secret, elite Mardi Gras krewes, probably Proteus or Momus. Their members cannot publically be seen, so they wear masks. Even when they're riding on the floats, they must wear a mask, since it is a secret, private organization.
CBS conveniently did not mention there were some black Mardi Gras krewes who did actually have their balls & debutaunte gatherings last year.

Another CBS misleading, biased slant in their reporting, as well as the entire US media, was their impression that Katrina only effected black people in New Orleans. There was no mention of all the white folks who were effected by the hurricane. Lakeview, a large, all-white neighborhood, was totally destroyed. Chalmette, a neighboring city & part of Greater New Orleans, was also plummeted. The 9th Ward, Superdome, & Convention Center are now house-holds words in America, but why aren't Lakeview, Chalmette, & Gentilly [Gentilly is 50/50]? Bad journalism.

[whatthe----]

I know other people have addressed this so I'm now confidant I'm not seeing things . . . you did actually show figures wearing KKK attire standing at the debutante ball with no explanation at all. How could you miss this? It seems so unlikely which begs the question - did you show it and deliberately not explain. You're one of the most respected shows on television. I'm amazed you put this on your program and did not address this outrageous issue. I'd like an explanation. Can you manage that or will you choose to ignore it again?

[sevnbutrflys]

I would really appreciate an explanation for the incredibly offensive image of the "KKK" people (if we should even call them "people") standing behind the debutantes in the ball! How could you show such a racist image with no explanation whatsoever? How could the correspondent not address this inflamatory issue? I am incredibly shocked and appalled. Please address this and let your viewers know what that was about!!!

[murbyjo]

I'd like to know the story behind the fleeting image of the "KKK" men at the debutante ball. In this day and age, how could you possibly show something so inraging and not even address it? Please respond to this email as I along with everyone else I know are anxiously awaiting an explanation.

[kmbilliot]

Nagin is a buffoon and it amazes me how he has any credibility whatsoever. When asked about the lack of progress in cleaning the city he points to the work of the Army Corps of Engineers; their progress is due to the fact that the mayor is NOT in charge of them.

Furthermore, the mayor never answered the question about why the home and car on that street were still there; instead he blamed private homeowners (who obviously don't possess the means to take care of the problem) and then he deflected attention to New York (which was cleaned up ahead of schedule as compared to all preliminary estimates.)

Finally, he blames red tape for delays; red tape for which he is primarily responsible and is in the best position to cut through.

It's high time he stops deflecting blame and starts taking care of business.

As far as the ignorant, racist comment from Leonard Moore, the place where the "white folks go to sit down and sleep" is also a FEMA trailer.

[saratg-2009]

The main difference between N.O. and N.Y.C. is that during their respective disasters the police and firemen in N.Y.C. ran TOWARDS the disaster area and the police and firemen in N.O. ran AWAY from the disaster area.

[steelalady]

Aren't some people taking Ray Nagin N.Y. comment a little too far. The reporter was trying to attack Nagin and he replied like why wasn't anyone attacking any place else that had a disaster. The main focus should be about bringing the people back home and protecting them from experiencing another flood of the city. The area destroyed was a lot larger than what was destroyed in N.y.

[rdzumbaugh]

First, I can't believe Nagin was re-elected. His comment about NYC not being able to do something about their "hole" in the ground is proof of his being an absolute idiot. If OPRAH can get Habitat to YOUR city to rebuild, why can't Nagin? As more time passes his city residents settle more into a city that they had to be evacuated to. An independant company needs to be set up to lead the rebuilding of New Orleans - get the politicians OUT of IT. Maybe New Orleans needs to hire Oprah?? Maybe New Orleans needs to invest in DUCK TAPE for Nagin's mouth, it seems he's ALWAYS opening it and saying the most PROFOUND statements.

Can someone tell me about the men behind the girls at the debutante ball wearing the KKK like hoods? I had to rewind my Tivo to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

I really like Nagin knocking his knuckles up against the concrete wall like kicking his tires on his car - way to go!!!

[kimburns2]

I had to send an email to 60 Minutes on this one. Will SOMEONE please tell me who these Ku Klux Klan
look-alikes were? I have a hard time
believing that no one in the 60 Minutes camp thought the photos might be a tad inflammatory and warrant at least a cursory explanation.

[rickshe]

Nagin is truly a good example of a person who dose not think before he/she speaks. The question is: is it the love of airtime or is he one that trying to keep it real and thats when keeping it real goes wrong? The statement about contacting private property owners for permission to clean up. Common sense and eye contact hello look around Nagin things are totally distroyed and useless. The property owner may be deceased or unable to travel back to New Orleans on his one way ticket. Why not bring the people back home and contact Habitat and have them train them to build Habitat homes. I am more then sure everyone would come to together and help one another rebuild New Orleans. Are you still rebuilding your home a year later or did you get yours done first. How many chocolates were there in New Orleans to vote you back into your chocolate city. Unbelievable even you don't know what to call us. Thats why some of us are divided and confused now. Black not hispanic, Negro, other, now Chocolate? I guess we will have to tell our children "honey" Don't check anything on that form until they start listing chocolate as a choice....

[b_young1]

I'AM GLAD I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAUGHT THE PICTURE OF THE DEBUTANTE BALL WITH THE GUYS STANDING IN THE PHOTO DRESSED AS KKK MEMBERS.WHY DIDN'T THE CORRESPONDENT DIDN'T MENTION IT IN HIS INTERVIEW.

[de25ta]

I agree, an explanation for the hoods would be nice. I saw them also. My husband and I gave each other "Oh, my God!!!" looks at this part of the segment. So we are also sure we saw it.

[anyone123-2009]

Why did you show the KKK on your 60 minutes show today in the background of the debutante ball pictures and not explain it?

[maddmax23]

Could you respond to the "hooded KKK-like" individuals illustrated in the debutante pictures.

Thank you.