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New Orleans goes international in plea for recovery aid
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| Contributor | The Sunset Provision |
| Last Edited | The Sunset Provision Jun 14, 2007 09:31pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Friday, June 15, 2007 03:30:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | The cash-strapped city of New Orleans is turning to foreign countries for help to rebuild as federal hurricane recovery dollars remain slow to flow.
Kenya Smith, executive director of intergovernmental relations for Mayor Ray Nagin, said city leaders are talking with more than five countries. He wouldn't identify the countries, saying discussions were in the early stages. But he said the city is "very serious" about pursuing foreign help.
"Of course, we would love to have all the resources we need from federal and state partners but we're comfortable now in having to be creative," Smith said. He did not know if the city would have to overcome any obstacles if it got firm pledges for aid, but "we want to make sure we're leaving no options unexplored."
"While this is not the easiest route," Smith said, "it is what it is."
For months, Nagin has complained that bureaucracy is choking the flow of much-needed federal aid dollars to New Orleans - slowing the city's recovery. As of June 8, the city said it had received just over half of the $320 million that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated for rebuilding city infrastructure and emergency response-related costs. The city has estimated its damage at far more than that - at least $1 billion. And that doesn't include other improvements - such as raised neighborhoods - meant to help build the stronger city promoted by Nagin and his recovery director.
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