Why doesn't New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin use the positive approach?

Question

Mayor Ray Nagin does more harm then good in the Katrina efforts to rebuild NO. He continues to bring up the race issue over and over and comparing Katrina to 9/11 construction is plain wrong. I believe this man loves listening to himself and wants to be remembered as an MLK / JJ type. He needs to get over NO being Chocolate again because he is never going to get it that way. What was he doing for the city prior to Katrina? Tourism was great, but what about the people and neighborhoods that were neglected for so long? Was he the people's choice back then, the savior of the poor? Don't think so. He can toot his horn all he wants, but what he really needs to do is start using a positive and productive approach in getting the city back on its feet. NO needs to be a 164 count box of crayons, not Chocolate. All races working together to bring the city back to life.
Ray, if that Cajun accent dude can make it all the way to the Casa Blanca to speak to the Pres, then you can too.

Answer 1

Nagin doesn't care about New Orleans... he cares about himself. He spent most of the time between October and June getting elected. The Hurrican season came and the city has no viable evacuation plan or workable shelter system in place. There was no time, Nagin was busy playing politics instead of taking care of the city he professes to love.

Nagin blamed the federal government for everything, and I think he and Blanco screamed about FEMA failing New Orleans so many times they started to believe it. Nagin fails to acknowledge his own greed, corruption and incompetence led to the deaths of everyone who perished after Katrina passed. All floodwater fatalities can be set on Nagin and the Levee Commissions who did nothing to safeguard the city as they were trusted to.

And his ugly racist posturing to deflect the blame that is so rightfully his is repulsive.

Answer 2

This is such an excellent question, I was wondering the same thing. Nagin is completely inept and the evidence to prove it being his long list of racially motivated statements--not to mention the example of unused school buses in NO that were never used to shuttle those that were stranded from Katrina. (What a waste!)

The only explanation I can give is that he is so far removed from common sense and reasoning that these types of statements are all he can come up with. Race has nothing to do with the problems of NO. The objective should be to rebuild, regardless of the race of the citizen. Quit making excuses and get the work done--a true leader would recognize this.

Like you said, a positive approach is much more productive. It may be just my perception but I see him slowing down (or preventing) NO's rebuilding process by his complaining. If only he could redirect his focus into something positive. Who knows, that may be asking too much of him. My opinion is that it will be a shame if his political life is empowered by others that agree with him.

Answer 3

Everything I've read about this guy shows him to be an incompetent and racist moron who, unfortunately, seems to represent the views of most of the people of New Orleans, as evidenced by the voters.

I have been to the city a few times on business and the only thing I really liked about it was the sound of the landing gear being raised on takeoff as I left.

To me it's nothing more than a dirty, hot, humid, high crime, mud hole. Its only real purpose for existing is to attract twenty-somethings who want to spend money to get drunk and and throw up. If you doubt that, just remember what the city's #1 priority was for rebuilding -- to be able to PAR-TAY for mardis gras! Everything else was, and is, secondary.

With billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars available to them, they still can't get their act together. You can expect even more money to be pumped down that rat hole and most of it will likely disappear.

With all of that, what would you expect the mayor to be? Yep, that's him.

OCO

Answer 4

You know when he broke down and cried I actually felt sorry for him.I've been living in NYC 30 years of my life.For him to say that NYC can't fix a hole in the ground made me sick to my stomach.They were asking about New Orleans and why has it taken so long to rebuild.The topic was not of NYC.It was like a kid when he gets into trouble and pointing fingers like look at NY.It made me very angry and I don't think that a pubic apology will do it for many of us.You say what you mean and you mean what you say.That statement of a hole in the ground he needs to remember thousands of lives were lost.His lack of sympathy and compassion for the families of 9/11 with his statement should not be tolerated.

Answer 5

I think he is really angry. I think I would be too. Did you only have criticism for him, or did you have some for the way our government handles our own people? Blame the victim...you can hate the reaction, but you should also hate the problem that caused the reaction

Answer 6

That guy just doesn't get it. He will never see the light. He is a racist and has a hateful and spiteful soul.
New Orleans will never get beyond its current troubles as long as that guy is the spokesperson.
I will never visit New Orleans, never.

Answer 7

He can't continue getting federal funding if there is no longer anything to fix. Hes a pocket padding politician.

Answer 8

He's playing the race card, just like most other people do.

Answer 9

because he graduated from the Cynthia Mckinney charm school. he's a perfect example of why there's still racism in America.

Answer 10

Cause he is a racist....... man I hate him.... this is a chocolate city.... shaddup..

I hate legalized racism......