Provocative Planet

South Louisiana Katrina Summit Notes

I'm sitting here watching the historic meeting of three former New Orleans Mayors, the councils of Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes with the New Orleans City Council. They are rebroadcasting it on Cox Public Access. I came into it in the middle. I think there might be some other people I don't recognize on this summit.

Mayor Nagin was talking when I tuned in. He was lamenting somewhat the fact that it took a major catastrophe to trigger such a regional summit. He is so much an honest man. I think the way he talked he recognized that this meeting was largely an photo-op.

What I saw was a lot of speechifying and back-slapping. In the four months since the storm these leaders have had a hit and miss record of projecting unity, so this represents a leap forward on that count I suppose. And the meeting didn't seem totally without substance: Councilwoman Clarkson mentioned that they planned to take this show on the road up to Washington. She mentioned the example of realtors bum rushing the politicians. Not sure how much the effect would be the same. My cynical side thinks the trip would just be an opportunity for the congress to condescend to the Louisiana local government figures in person.

St. Bernard Parish President 'Junior' Rodriquez is hilarious. He was introduced by one of the New Orleans Council members who thanked him for his concern for the Lower Nine. 'Junior' launched into a monologue about the trailer situation; how the hurricane has leveled rich and poor to the same level. Which as I type it isn't funny, it's something you have to see.

As a marquee name event, it is an interesting start. There is an emphasis on regionalism. The sense that the communities must stick together or all slowly burn out completely. Rage is not far behind.

They should be having meetings of this type because of the interconnected economic and social relations of this region. Why should they be having this meeting to figure out how best to beg the federal government for rebuilding and flood-protection?