Oh, SNAP! In year-after-Katrina interview with 60 Minutes, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin mentions the lack of development at Ground Zero when pressed by reporter Byron Pitts about post-Katrina New Orleans progress. And it's an effective smack to city and state officials. Here's how the CBS News site explains the exchange:
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."
You know, in spite of all the problems with contracts to rebuild New Orleans and their bureaucratic problems, the man's gotta point. If you watch the video clip, Pitts' reaction is of either disbelief, acknowledgement, or nervous smile. Lower Manhattan Development Corporation head Kevin Rampe, though, took offense at the remark and issued a statement emphasizing the "tremendous progress" made, "We understand how difficult rebuilding a city after such destruction can be." Of course, the two situations aren't exactly apples to apples but one thing common to both: Nothing will happen quickly and the government officials will inevitably slow and foul things up.
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