Uneven Katrina recovery efforts often offered the most help to the most affluent

[tpsbmam]

Source: Washington Post

IN NEW ORLEANS The massive government effort to repair the damage from Hurricane Katrina is fostering a stark divide as the state governments in Louisiana and Mississippi structured the rebuilding programs in ways that often offered the most help to the most affluent residents.

The result, advocates say, has been an uneven recovery, with whites and middle-class people more likely than blacks and low-income people to have rebuilt their lives in the five years since the horrific storm.

"The recovery is really the tale of two recoveries," said James Perry, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center. "For people who were well off before the storm, they are more likely to be back in their homes, back in their jobs and to have access to good health care. For those who were poor or struggling to get by before the storm, the opposite is true."

Louisiana's program to distribute grants to property owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Katrina was found by a federal judge this month to discriminate against black homeowners.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/26/AR2010082606858_pf.html

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I'm so surprised!! Not. Not even close to subtle message: we don't want you back. Saw part one of Spike Lee's new documentary on New Orleans. At least a few individuals like Brad Pitt have stepped up to the plate to help lower income residents, but a few individuals here and there can't counteract the fact that low income New Orleans residents have essentially been told ta-ta, you're not encouraged to return home.

[joeybee12]

1. I know...why would anyone be surprised by this?

It's sickening.

[SargeUNN]

2. well I have talked about this for 5 years

of course I had the insight of being in the area and going through Katrina, but folks I reported all this on Mike Malloy Show back in late 05 when he was on Air America, and then on Nova M until I got my own show on Nova M. Too bad more of you didn't catch these reports.

[tpsbmam]

3. I like Mike immensely

and used to listen to his podcasts all the time when I did subscribe to Air America podcasts & could pick and choose among the hosts to listen to (made more fiscal sense then). I similarly subscribed to Nova M. Rachel's & Mike's shows were always #1 & 2 on my list (I listened to Rachel on Green 960 during the Nova M days). His show is on too late for me, always has been. I completely understand charging for his podcasts now and would subscribe if I could, but this is just an additional expense I don't want to take on right now. I have enough trouble listening to the free Olbermann & Maddow MSNBC podcasts. I get HBO because I'm a virtual medical shut-in at this point and have splurged a little for an entertainment outlet -- it's worth it since I love movies (and documentaries) and haven't been to one practically since Morgan Freeman was driving Miss Daisy. Hope down the road I can subscribe again -- he's one of the few AA hosts I miss. But I guarantee there are lots of people who might listen to Mike but, for similar reasons, don't. I don't think it's worth excoriating people for not listening to Mike or to you -- not everyone has the luxury of being available for webcasts and not everyone can d/l or afford the pay-to-listen podcasts. And the article happened to be in WaPo today, making it topical and a good reminder for all of us. I DO remember reading about this previously -- so does that mean it's not fodder for discussion as it continues 5 years later? (I note that Rachel also covered it extensively on her 8/26 show, which I'm listening to right now -- should we tell her to stop and tell people to go find old copies of the Nova M shows?)

[SargeUNN]

4. I wish I knew what you are saying

I think you don't get that that information was out there and sadly it get out more, but you AS SU ME the different view and then justify why you didn't then blast me without noting I said wish more could have heard it, but you defend yourself against a charge never made. Don't read into things things that aren't there and you might not feel so damn guilty.

[indepat]

5. No shit! Who coulda' possibly thunk it?

:P