Rebuilding New Orleans: Locals want a voice in city, federal plans

Published: 2006-03-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In recent separate visits to the Katrina-damaged Gulf Coast region by President George W. Bush and a congressional delegation, personal interaction was largely missing. While the presidential motorcade drove near the devastated Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans March 8, a few protesters held aloft signs saying "Where's my government?" and "Cut the red tape and help us." From March 3-5, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., led 32 members of Congress on a quick tour of New Orleans that also involved little or no interaction with local residents. During the group's March 3 stop near the Industrial Canal levee breach, protesting residents were cordoned off a block away, but a few members of Congress walked over to talk to them. Although New Orleans residents were not given the opportunity to discuss their plight with federal lawmakers or the leader of their country, church leaders are encouraging city residents to make sure their voices are at least heard by local officials.

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