First, Edwards gives us an overview of the problems that have besieged NOLA:
Twenty-two months after President Bush promised to rebuild New Orleans on national TV from Jackson Square, vast stretches of the city and St. Bernard Parish remain deserted. Based on mail delivery data, the city's population is barely 60 percent of what it once was and according to the latest data from FEMA, more than 80,000 families from the Gulf are still living in FEMA trailers. [GNOCDC/Brookings, 2007; FEMA, 4/12/07; FEMA, 5/24/07]
The pace of recovery is slow. The displaced African-American population, in particular, has been slow to return. The economy is growing stronger, but the availability of affordable housing and services are significant barriers to residents returning. Employment is down in the sectors where many moderate-income displaced residents worked, like health care and the public sector, including education. Murders have spiked. At the end of this past school year, only 45 percent of New Orleans public schools operating pre-Katrina had re-opened. [GNOCDC/Brookings, 2007]
John Edwards began his Road to One America tour in New Orleans because the challenge of building One America starts right here. Edwards announced a three-part plan for rebuilding the city: (1) rebuilding infrastructure—housing, schools, and hospitals—that is built to last so that people have something to come back to, (2) creating jobs to bring them back , (3) making the city safe from storms—with levees that can withstand another Katrina, and strengthening public safety to keep residents safe from crime.
I don't think anyone can dispute any of these facts. Our country has failed the citizens of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. This is totally unacceptable. Edwards not only details the problems, but offers three distinct proposals for solving them. First, he proposes to rebuild an infrastructure that will last in NOLA. He gives four specific proposals to rebuild the infrastructure, starting with this overview:
The rebuilding of infrastructure is stalled. New Orleans needs new hospital and clinics, schools and roads. Some say we can put off rebuilding the infrastructure until people move back. But that is putting the cart before the horse—people aren't moving back because the infrastructure isn't there. Today, Edwards proposed plans to:
Like so many of Edward's plans, this just shows good common sense. Now, lets look at his proposals to put the horse in front of the cart:
Build a New Veterans' Hospital Downtown: The Veterans Administration is trying to decide where to build its new regional medical center. There is no better place for America to fulfill its commitment to those who have sacrificed for our country than in the city of New Orleans. Edwards called on the VA to stop delaying site selection and choose downtown New Orleans, and then fast-track the design process so construction can begin. Constructing the new hospital downtown—to recognized flood-safe specifications—will enhance development of the downtown medical district, create hundreds of construction jobs for local residents and bring back health care workers to the city.
This is an excellent idea, and a winner all around. It will show dedication to bringing NOLA back, provide much needed jobs right now, and bring many professionals back to NOLA to work in the new VA hospital. This would be a winner not only for the citizens of NOLA, but for our veterans who would hopefully get a state-of-the-art facility which their service to our country should mandate. Excellent proposal Sen. Edwards!!
Next, another excellent proposal:
Build a 21st Century Infrastructure: Sadly, New Orleans is still far away from restoring basic infrastructure, much less an infrastructure to compete in the 21st century. Only 17 percent of pre-Katrina buses are operating in the city—a figure that remains unchanged since March of 2006. Less than 30 percent of pre-Katrina acute care hospital beds are open. There is a particular crisis in mental health. The number of psychiatric care beds has fallen from 450 to 80, and suicides are up 300 percent. [GNOCDC/Brookings, 2007; LA Times, 4/30/07; Citation]
This quote is shockingly sad. If NOLA is to have a chance to thrive once again, a modern infrastructure that brings businesses back must be developed. In well over a year, no progress has been made in bussing in the city. The suicide figure is just unacceptable. We must give these people hope that their city and livelihoods will be fought for. Edwards is the leader to do this.
This next quote shows Edwards is serious about ending the dual Americas evident so long in NOLA:
Integrate New Housing: We must end the old racial and economic isolation of pre-Katrina New Orleans. Edwards supports the construction of affordable rental and owner-occupied housing in economically integrated housing. He will increase federal funding for housing vouchers and the HOPE VI neighborhood revitalization program, and he will tie federal housing and transportation funding to state and local efforts to reform zoning and housing laws and promote effective transportation policies. That way, the poor housing that separated hundreds of thousands of city residents from good jobs, good schools and good health care—and new isolation of trailer homes—will be a thing of the past.
I can't think of much to add to this, except that Edwards is serious about not only solving the problems caused by Katrina, but addressing the inequality that existed before. This shows that creating one America is not just a talking point for Edwards, it is a legitimate goal.
This next proposal is just common sense, like many of Edward's proposals:
Preserve Livable Housing: One of the most urgent problems is the lack of affordable housing, but HUD wants to demolish livable public housing projects. We need more mixed-income housing, but Edwards opposes knocking down livable apartments until replacement units are ready. [AP, 6/7/07)
With a shortage of livable housing in NOLA, it makes absolutely no sense to demolish livable public housing. It only makes sense to not knock down livable housing until there is something to take its place.
Now Edwards speaks on creating jobs to attract people back to NOLA:
Create Good Jobs: Displaced New Orleans residents will not return unless there are good jobs to return to. Edwards will make sure the jobs of rebuilding New Orleans carry good, local prevailing wages. He has proposed hiring 50,000 Gulf Coast residents to fill stepping stone jobs dedicated to rebuilding infrastructure that will help local and returning residents gain skills and experience.
Unlike Bush and the Republicans, Edwards wants the citizens of NOLA to recieve livable wages to rebuild their city. He also wants to use this as an opportunity to give 50,000 people new skills rebuilding the infrastructure, skills they can use to have good jobs in a new revitalized NOLA. This is an excellent idea.
Next, Edwards takes a hard line on contractors that would exploit the citizens of NOLA during their time of desperation:
Protect Workers from Contractor Exploitation: The private contractors hired to repair damaged infrastructure have routinely exploited the local workforce. One study found that up to 60 percent of construction workers are being cheated out of wages. Unlike most states, Louisiana does not enforce wage violations because the state does not have its own minimum wage law. And the U.S. Department of Labor only had four bilingual investigators last year. Edwards will revive the Department of Labor, creating a new wage and hour taskforce to target the industries with the worst abuses.
After billions of dollars already spent on NOLA the place still looks like a war zone. This is because corrupt contractors have exploited the situation for profit, and care little about rebuilding NOLA for it's citizens. Edwards will put an end to this, and not allow the residents of NOLA to be continually exploited by greedy treasonous contractors.
Lastly, Edwards speaks on making the citizens of NOLA safe from not only crime, but future weather disasters. His overview of this problem:
It's unreasonable to expect the people of New Orleans to return to a city that isn't safe. And we have seen the cost of cutting corners. We can't help New Orleans recover unless we help make New Orleans safe. Edwards is committed to protecting the city and the region from weather and from crime:
Yes, we have seen the cost of cutting corners. It has resulted in a barely livable NOLA since Katrina. Here is the first of two proposals to do this:
Protect the Gulf from Another Major Storm: The Army Corps has missed its deadlines for planning new levees. Now we are in the middle of the second hurricane season after Katrina and the city is not safe. The current target for the Army Corps of Engineers—to protect against a 100-year storm—is inadequate. It would not have stopped Katrina, and global warming is raising the risk of future catastrophic storms. As president, Edwards will do whatever is necessary to ensure that Katrina never happens again. That means stronger levees and the restoration of coastal wetlands—a natural barrier for storm surges that also protect ports, refineries, and other infrastructure. [Engineering News-Record, 11/6/06)
This is just practical. Why bring people back to NOLA without solving the problems that created the catastrophe in the first place? Edwards shows that he is dedicated to do whatever it takes to rebuild not only the infrastructure of NOLA, but to strengthen the levees and restore the coastal wetlands which would protect the city. Again, this is just practical common sense.
Lastly, Edwards shows his dedication to protecting the citizens who rebuild NOLA from the staggering crime that has arisen there:
Strengthen Public Safety to End the Epidemic of Crime and Violence: Following Katrina, New Orleans has experienced an epidemic in violence. The homicide rate has shot up over the last year. The homicide rate is 15 times higher than New York City; there were 161 murders reported last year, but only one murder conviction. The police are still working out of trailers and rely on the help of the National Guard to keep the peace. Edwards will make sure the city takes as much responsibility as it can bear, while providing it with the funding it needs to make the streets safe again. [CSLJ, 2007; NOPD, 2007]
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Again, these numbers are shocking. Even though there were 161 murders only one murderer was convicted? The police in NOLA are forced to work out of trailers? It is clear that NOLA needs help from the federal government to prevent crime until they are able to get back on their feet. Edwards shows that he is dedictated to helping these law enforcement professionals who are overwhelmed by circumstance, and provide protection for the citizens of NOLA.
New Orleans is one of the most historic and distinctive towns in America. I remember singing, "In 1814 we took a little trip..." when I was a child. This port city was not only where Andrew Jackson won a decisive battle, but served as a lifeline for goods shipped down the Mississippi River from many states for as long as our country has been a country. The fact that we have abandoned this city and its inhabitants is a national disgrace that has made us the laughing stock of the world. It is time we got serious about reviving NOLA and providing real incentives for its citizens to return. Edwards dedication to the creation of One America will ensure that this will finally happen. Please join me in nominating a candidate who will get serious about providing real relief to NOLA and the Gulf Coast, John Edwards.
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