New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin testified to a Senate committee recently that a lack of local control over federal funding is severely limiting the Gulf Coast recovery. He says he doesn't see the federal government's will to rebuild New Orleans.
"'From my perspective, not having the resources at the local level is the absolute killer of this recovery,' Nagin told the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is looking into the government's hurricane response."
"As of January 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay for $334 million for infrastructure repairs in New Orleans, but the state only has forwarded $145 million to the city so far."
"'I strongly urge you to return responsibility and accountability to the local government,' he said."
"Nagin's testimony comes nearly a week after President Bush drew fire for failing to mention recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast in his State of the Union speech."
FULL STORY: Nagin: Class and race issues killing New Orleans' recovery
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