Obama: We Won't Forget New Orleans

President Promises Residents That his Administration Will Help the Gulf Coast Emerge Stronger Than Before Katrina

(CBS/AP)  Updated 4:05 p.m. Eastern

President Barack Obama defended himself Thursday against complaints from residents of New Orleans and the rest of the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast who feel recovery help has not come soon enough from his administration.

Making his first stop as president in the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina more than four years ago, Obama appeared at a town hall gathering to hear residents' concerns in person. One man asked why federal damage reimbursements are coming so slowly and in amounts far less than needed.

"I expected as much from the Bush administration, but why are we still being nickeled and dimed in our recovery?" the man said.

The president replied that his administration was "working as hard as we can, as quickly as we can."

"I know since a lot of these problems have been going on since Katrina, people understandably feel impatient," Obama said, addressing hundreds of people who won tickets in an Internet lottery to attend. "On the other hand, a lot of these things are not going to be fixed tomorrow."

The new administration has generally been seen by Gulf Coast residents as an improvement over the previous one, though reviews have not all been positive.

Asked why he can't just sign a check, the president cited the need to follow the Constitution and work with Congress.

"One of the interesting things about being president is everybody will attack you for spending money, unless you're spending it on them," he said.

Photo Essay: Obama in New Orleans

The storm killed some 1,600 people in Louisiana and Mississippi and damage has been estimated at roughly $40 billion. The damage is still starkly visible in New Orleans, in the blighted neighborhoods of creaky houses, boarded-up businesses, structure after structure awaiting demolition and critical recovery work not yet commenced.

Katrina was a natural disaster that also turned into a political one for former President George W. Bush. His administration was widely criticized for a slow initial response to the crisis. Local officials complained that the recovery didn't go much better later on, with the Bush administration often refusing to pay for work they felt should have qualified for federal aid.

Obama, who once accused Bush of standing by "while a major American city drowns," claimed progress since he entered the White House in January.

He cited reconstruction projects that have moved forward after stalling due to disagreements over whether the state or federal government would foot the bill, with officials working "around the clock to clean up red tape." The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that of the 120 Louisiana reconstruction projects that were stuck at the beginning of Obama's presidency, 76 have been resolved. This has sent more than $1.4 billion in additional federal aid to Louisiana.

Obama said officials from his administration have made 35 trips to the Gulf Coast since March - and "not just to make appearances, but to listen and to learn and help you move forward."

The town hall took place after Obama stopped by a local school that he said was "doing much better" than four years ago.

Fourth Grader Asks Obama: "Why Do People Hate You?"

Still, in opening remarks before a boisterous crowd at the University of New Orleans, the president acknowledged residents' frustration about the pace of recovery from the long-ago storm. Among the evidence: Across from the school Obama highlighted, firefighters work from a trailer, and a storm-shuttered community center awaits demolition.

"It's clear how far we have to go before we can call this recovery a success," Obama said, noting sewers and roads that still need repair, houses and hospitals that are still vacant and schools and neighborhoods still waiting to thrive.

"I promise you this ... we will not forget about New Orleans. We are going to keep on working. We will not forget about the Gulf Coast," Obama said.

"We will not forget about New Orleans," he said.

He also promised better emergency preparation so that the kind of devastation wrought by the hurricane is never repeated. And he announced a new working group to coordinate restoration projects across the Gulf Coast.

Some residents have criticized Obama for making such a brief visit - he was expected to be in and out of the city in just a few hours to fly to a Democratic Party fundraiser in San Francisco. People in Mississippi, which saw much of its coast pummeled to sticks by Katrina, were miffed that the president was skipping them altogether.

"I'm greatly disappointed," said Tommy Longo, mayor of Waveland, Miss., where almost every standing structure was destroyed or damaged. "There was no city hit harder than Waveland."

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin defended the president. "People say he's going to be here a short little time, that's true," Nagin said. "Don't be fooled. This administration is focused on New Orleans."

The administration's recovery efforts have drawn praise from Republicans, too, including Gov. Bobby Jindal. Jindal has credited Obama's team with bringing a more practical and flexible approach to the process. "There's a sense of momentum and a desire to get things done," he said in August.

The White House had scheduled the town hall so Obama could field residents' concerns. However, of the half-dozen questions he took, only two were directly related to the storm. Others touched on Social Security, health care, climate, education and even, from a fourth-grade boy, the president's approval ratings. "Why does everyone hate you?" the boy asked.

While Obama was frequently cheered inside the event, roughly 150 demonstrators protested outside, some criticizing his health care plan.

"I'm a small business owner, and the things he has proposed are going to collapse my business," said Tom Clement, 63, who runs a small landscaping business in Baton Rouge.

[formerdem-2009]

LOL " We Won't Forget New Orleans " When I get back to DC I'll have Joey boy throw some more stimulus money at you.

[txteabag]

Oh, come on New Orleans, do you really think Obama cares about you guys other that wanting your vote in 2012???? Why didn't he visit you as a "Senator" back in 2005? You know he has been known to tell lies....

[vietnamwar]

Did Obama just sign 7.x BILLIONS dollars to Pakistan yesterday...

[vietnamwar]

US tries to reassure Pakistan on aid
7.5 billion-dollar aid plan.
In a hastily arranged meeting, Senator John Kerry -- a key author of the aid package -- promised to come up with a congressional statement clarifying that the United States was not imposing conditions on Pakistan for non-military aid.
Do we still have alot of money and do we need to take other countries ? Left-nut can u response....

[vietnamwar]

US tries to reassure 7.5 BILLIONS Pakistan on aid.

In a hastily arranged meeting, Senator John Kerry -- a key author of the aid package -- promised to come up with a congressional statement clarifying that the United States was not imposing conditions on Pakistan for non-military aid.

LEFT-NUT CAN U RESPONSE TO THIS DURRING THE RECESSION, do we still have alot of money under Trillions Debt?

[spayne09]

Barry says "We won't forget"...wow, after 10 months in office & he's now worried about N.O? Hell, we can't even rebuild the twin towers after 8 years...get out of Afganistan after 8 years...looks like New Orleans has at least 4-5 or 6 more years to go before we can take the situation down there seriously. Look, we can't keep depending on the Fed. to fix the situation... Think about it....Bush or Obama promises alot, but delivers nothing. They are the same...wake up America. Gov.Jindal & Mayor Ray "Let
's call it Chocolate City" Nagin concentrated on the Upper $$$ part of New Orleans instead the damaged areas where the poor are totally devastated...Look at Ground Zero and the surrounding leaders before we give props to the White House clowns & more of their promises.

[spayne09]

Barry says "We won't forget"...wow, after 10 months in office & he's now worried about N.O? Hell, we can't even rebuild the twin towers after 8 years...get out of Afganistan after 8 years...looks like New Orleans has at least 4-5 or 6 more years to go before we can take the situation down there seriously. Look, we can't keep depending on the Fed. to fix the situation... Think about it....Bush or Obama promises alot, but delivers nothing. They are the same...wake up America. Gov.Jindal & Mayor Ray "Let
's call it Chocolate City" Nagin concentrated on the Upper $$$ part of New Orleans instead the damaged areas where the poor are totally devastated...Look at Ground Zero and the surrounding leaders before we give props to the White House clowns & more of their promises.

[retiredgustav]

Bobby Jindal needed to be kicked out of the republican party. He gave the president some praise.

[BeckieBest]

That's a sin in today's rabid Republican party.

[writer10]

the latest civil war...extreme party affiliation...sick, sick, sick...so funny that Lincoln, who the dems and BO admire so was a leader in the republican party...hmmm.

[mjlewis6]

I am sure President Bush's response would have been quicker had he information that New Orleans had possession of WMD's or Al Qaeda was in residence. And even so, leveling the structures would have been his first priority AFTER Katrina did the job.

And wasn't Bush wonderful. Did not even consider New Orleans for his Presidential Library...as it is, His only connection to SMU is through his wife. His Alma Mater Yale should have gotten it, Skull and Crossbones and all....

But for New Orleans....I am so glad Federal Assistance and not promises....are forthcoming....

[brian1920]

amazing. People still think the FEMA is responsible for responding. FEMA is a warehouse!!! It has no police, troops or responders. The city and state have the primary response task and the mayor and the governor were both incompetent. So, Bush called in the military after it became apparent that the city and state were incompetent. So, let's blame Bush. Well, it just doesn't play anymore.

[vietnamwar]

huh ?

[pensacola8-2009]

I lived in New Orleans in '93 for a few months and saw how the State of Louisiana lost their federal entitlements for failing to raise the minimum drinking age to 21. In a frenzy to complete active hiway projects in progress, they robbed the funds from the levee projects in progress.

I moved away shortly after seeing how a ship slumbering on a high tide down the canal could easily force water over the levee. They were were building concrete extenders 4 feet over earth levee walls. I shook my head and left.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

[picklepants7]

too funny, obama says he will not forget new orleans, but this is the first time he's mentioned them since taking office.

[payback108]

The mayor of new orleans was told by the corp of engineers long before
katrina to fix the levees they did not .

[iloveusa2]

I live in Louisiana and have a lot of wonderful memories from New Orleans while growing up - however, I am quite tired of the whining being done by the people at this point. There are people who have worked hard and rebuilt what they lost and there are those that did not have anything before the storm, took advantage of the system we tax-paying citizens support, and made the choice NOT to leave New Orleans when they had time to get out. The horror stories I heard after the storm from the River Center in Baton Rouge regarding what the evacuees were purchasing with their "emergency funds" was ridiculous along with the destruction of the hotels and places they were placed into. These people who are sitting back wanting another handout need to get off their rearends and help themselves. I know there are plenty who cannot and I feel for these, however the lazy, destructive ones need to be removed from the government subsidies and be forced to stand on their own two feet. Some of them don't want to improve their lives, they just want to continue taking what is not theirs. Also, this visit by President Obama was simply another political move to make promises to people who he wants to support his agenda, like the Hispanic celebration at the White House was. He will not honor the National Day of Prayer, however he will find any excuse he can to have a party in order to promote his agenda. Double talking is his favorite sport.

[John_Merritt]

Home Politics NEW ORLEANS, October 15, 2009
Obama: 'We Won't Forget New Orleans'

I reminded about the impending Hurricane prior to that fateful day. For days on end people were warned, the federal and local government tried to ensure people's safety, the federal agencies were beyond defending the levies, they pretty much alluded that a 4-5 cat would create devastation. On that day all heck broke loose, and today we still speak about it as though it happened yesterday.

I have never been to New Orleans but that city is a large part of the commerce in that part of the country and only now are we seeing it come back to life. This is not President Obama's fault that nothing has been done on his shift because of priorities. This is one of those 'infrastructure' projects we speak about.

As cities are retrofitted for potential problem areas in the future, or for future growth, it creates jobs and the people within the surrounding areas are benefitting. The tax dollars are collected and federal monies are distributed and once again 1-2 years down the road we are looking at a multi-billion dollar positive growth industry for an entire region.

What is the upside and what is the downside? Debate is over and it is time to answer questions.

[vietnamwar]

Obama just fix the economy by saving 30,000 jobs under 800 Billions dollars of stimulus pakage so he can fix everything......30k jobs? under 800 Billions ?lol

[dvhogue]

If the President is smart he'll read up on Louisiana. These people can't help themselves. Colorado can dig out from record snows, the midwest can recover from floods, but the lazy bums in that 3rd world state sit around and wait for a handout.
Dump more money in Louisiana and it'll disappear faster than you can say "Huey Long".

[vietnamwar]

yes we can

[excop1949]

"We will not forget about New Orleans," he said.

ESPECIALLY THE SMELL AND THE CRAWFISH...

[pickaguitar1]

YES WE CAN!