Faith, in your government, your people who, who are supposed to be there for you, who can, who can you trust . You know . I mean took them forever to get down here to help people. When they did get down here, they had guns in peoples faces. Who does that . It is disgusting. I have no faith in the federal government. People, yes. People have helped us. Churches stepped up. The churches have been wonderful. The churches throughout mississippi, texas, thank you, texas, for opening people in texas were so warming and welcoming. I had people that went to texas. We evacuated to florida. And, because we knew that it wasnt going to be good. And then after we saw how, i was in a restaurant and they had a tv on the screen and they had delary street, the street two years over, you know how high a street sign is, all you could see was the street sign. That is the moment i knew i didnt have a home anymore. And that is when i completely lost it. And i had, i had my daughter there. I just ran out of the restaurant, just screaming. Who did you get mad at . There is nobody to get mad at. You know, cant get mad at god. Everybody happens for a reason. To make people strong help us out you know. Most of the people like in, city of new orleans was hit horrible. A lot of my friend lived in the city. And they still have People Living in their cars. I wonders what happens to the Homeless People out there . I dont know, maybe i have too big of a heart. But i just, i just wonder, you know, we should have been helped sooner. We should have been helped sooner. , only people saving people were st. Bernard police department. Were in st. Bernard parish. You have got to thank them because you know, they were only people taking people off of roofs. 80yearold people stuck on their roofs for six to seven days. And like, when katrina hit, they said we had 18 to 24 feet of water. When i saw rita come, praying it would hit us that nobody would have to go through the experience we went through. Actually when rita came, she gave us another eight feet of water. The water finally went down from katrina. They got eight more feet. They wouldnt let anybody into parish unless you were police, military or somebody important which no comment. Lets go inside. This is our kitchen, but, everything was done in the kitchen. Its pretty much gone now. You can see the water destroyed the attic. The room over here, this is our den. You know, we had dinner table here. Where we ate. Moye dad had shot a Mountain Lion couple years ago. He had a full body Mountain Lion, when he went to pick it up , he was heartbroken because when he went to get it the skin fell off t was quarter of an inch from a state record. House that was behind my house, is in my backyard. That little tree, i planted that when my daughter was born, since magnolias are big down here. Our pool is pretty disgusted. You know, you just, what doesnt kill you makings you stronger i hope. What was it likes when you first came back and saw the house . It was horrible. My heart broke. This is where i lived. This is where i was born and raised. This is where my daughter, you know was raised. To just see all of her stuff, you couldnt walk in my house. The stench, it smelled like dead people, you know . That is a smell you never get out of your head. You know. But it was horrible to see the pictures of my daughter that were hanging on the wall washed klein. And that is something you never get back you know. Never get back. I was fortunate enough to take picture albums with us. So i do have pictures from the hospital and all of that. So i was lucky. That was our living room which you can not go into because they didnt let us in for so long because the floor fill. This is my bedroom, which i wouldnt go in there because the floor started to do fall in there. That was my daughters room. This is my parents room. That was two bathrooms. But, it is just disgusting. So what is life like for you now living in slidell . My dads company, air products, they donate ad travel trailer for me and my daughter to live in behind my mom and dads house. They bought a house that only had four to five feet of water in it. I say only, because this house had 18 to 24 feet of water, you know . But it sucks. You feel like youre in a cell. You know, i mean, youre in a cell. That is exactly what fema life is. It feels like youre in a cell. And, like to just think about, you live in a house that is this biggs. You go to a house smaller than the room we were standing in now, and like every little thing gets on your nerves. You know, its horrible. There is no words to describe it. There is absolutely no words to describe it. At all. It is just disgusting. I need to go outside. Im hot. But, i dont know, maybe they will help us one day. You hope to hope to come back to st. Bernards parish . I dont trust it will be safe. I have no faith. It has been a year. Still waiting for a place to live, you know. I have no faith. I have no faith at all. What is the hardest part now . Being a mommy and having, you know when youre a parent you always fix things when youre kid wants something, you always make sure it happens. This is something that i can not fix, you know. That is the hardest thing. Missing my neighbors. But for my daughter to want to come back home and that is something i cant fix. You know, i miss my boyfriend. He is in atlanta. How am i spoused to get there, you know . And, i just, i think weve been forgotten. And i think, i think, you know, cspan totally for coming down here and doing this because we have been forgotten. This should have been taken care of. We spent so much money on wars in other countries but they need to fix home first. You know, they need to fix home first. It, highly upsets me. Very much so. [background sounds] i dont think the stafford act was ever written to address a disaster of this magnitude. The people would come in and basically would, basically, i guess, it was, well, you know, we feel your pain. Were sorry for you but there is nothing we can do, our hands are tied. What has to happen, i realize im oversimplifying but there has got to be some flexibility, there has got to be some avenues for people on the ground to be able to make decisions. And theres got to be a plan in place when Something Like this happens, you address essential city service, health and education. The government has to come in, with a plan to make those things happen and viable. Then you can take a step back and do the planning in a much better way once those Vital Services are given, you know, given to the people, just to keep, keep life going really. That is all were looking for to keep us viable as a community. So, i think our federal government must have that type of a plan in place to address those major issues initially. Anything else you would like to say . Just dont forget us. I mean, you know, were old news. There are other things happening in the world that have taken obviously the front row in terms of peoples attention but this rebuilding process is going to go on in this community five, 10 years from now. And were looking, and i guess we were approaching it, were asking our federal government and the people to look as this as an investment in our community of the as i said before, we are not an entitlement community. Were not a community that looks for a handout. What were asking for to help us make investment in us now as we get back on our feet, well pay it back 100 fold. Promise my last question, the federal government, where do you see them in your community now . Well, i see a little bit better relationship with us, with fema. Theyre being a little bit more supportive. But at this point, were here almost at oneyear anniversary, theyre beginning to pull out. Project work sheets are written. Were left with the rebuilding process. They will have a longterm Recovery Team in place but most of that support system is being withdrawn. Their Emergency Support system is being withdrawn. And, i see a a longterm presence but a longterm much smaller presence. We continue our look back at Hurricane Katrina on the 10th anniversary of the storm. Up next a new orleans town hall meeting from 2005. As yall coming forward, take your time and line up. Yall know the routine. You dont have to hurt yourself because were going to be here for at least two hours and were going to take all of your information and, like i said, i really appreciate the spunkiness that is coming out of the citizens of new orleans. The real new orleans is starting to come out as we move to repulled. So, lets keep going. Before we start, just reminder that each question, comment or concern is at two minute time limit. I will alert you at your 30, 15 second mark before possibly cutting the mic off. Also outside, we do have a copy of the situation report which the mayor just went over, if you would like to take copies as well as we do have contact phones and emails for all of louisiana and house and Senate Representatives and all of your u. S. Congressman, congress for house and senate as well. Those are also on the back table as you to out. You can grab copies of that. With that you can begin your first question. Dont forget to fill out your questionnaires to bring with you, to ask your questions. Let me just, before i do that i see a couple of elected officials here. We have Councilmember Rene gill pratt is here. Councilmember sunday yaw lewis is in the back. We have District Attorney eddie jordan who is here. Test. There we go. Any Representatives Office represented . Sent yaw morale office is being Cynthia Morell office is represented. Lets go. Mayor nagin, moving forward is the hardest direction. If the world would just know what you and rest of us have gone through. It seems like images that im getting from my friends in los angeles are everything is fine now. Were all okay. We need to let them know were not all okay. Number two. That i would like to discuss is, i represent the musicians of new orleans, proudly. Ive got about 800 of them through musicians charity. Com have united. Were communicating for first time in history the musicians of new orleans are communicating. The songs being written now will be sung forever. We need to unite, get behind you. You are our leader right now, our coach. Between now and election, we have got a lot of work to do. We cant just wait for the elections and get behind anybody. We need to get behind, Everybody Needs to get behind you now because these next 12 weeks will be history for music as we know it in america. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] food to hear our good to hear our musicians are organized. Besides all the other things, i worry about our musicians and our senior citizens. So good to hear our musicians coming back. Good afternoon, i want to say to the mayor, talking about bringing back new orleans, you had this committee i saw on tv yesterday. Where are the new orleans on the committee . , making decisions about our property . They didnt consult me. One concern, next one, say you would like for us to flood congress. I think we ought to do oldfashioned thing that Martin Luther king used to do. Lets go on the bus and dont leave until we get an answer. All right. I, i feel like going there and we want an answer about this money. If they can build up, destroy a country, if they can destroy a country and build it up again, why cant they fix this state . Amen. Amen. Just to let you know Commission Members are made up of knew orleanians, we have 7 00 subcommittees for any member of the public to participate in. We can get you information on when they meet, join any committee that you want to participate in the process okay . Thank you, thank you. I will im one of the Small Businesses here in new orleans. I didnt get any water. Unfortunately imlumped in a position to where im unable to operate properly because of a lack of gas. I know that the gas people entity may be doing some work but they are not, in my estimation, as a business person, a retired business teacher. Doing the best that they can do. Im educated so i have done everything i could. I emailed don hutchinson. Ive gone to office. Ive gone to energy. I am one who clearly understands how gas operates. I didnt have water. Im pumping water out. It is okay. It has been eight weeks. I am in the cold. I cant cook. I cant do business. I cant take advantage of all of the Business People that are coming here as a Small Business and im very concerned and i think we need to form a commission, a group or something of people to really let you know what energy is doing. I dont think that theyre properly handling the areas the way that they should. And there are a lot of people who dont understand exactly what to do. I was ready to at six on my side. I was over at six on my side and i saw that was going to happen. I absolutely need your help. I do not think energy is understanding that i didnt have water. So that i really want my gas, so i can take advantage of the people that is in the city. 30 second. And perhaps, you know, survive this traumatic situation. I would like to help anyone else who needs help, jumping over hurdles, a lot of people dont know how to answer or stand up for what they need to have done. So i need gas. Which area of the city . Im at 1834 espinada avenue. Okay. We have mr. Pat ricks here, regions manager for entergy. Maybe he can address some of your concerns. Thank you. Can you hear me okay . Yes, i can. How is that . The area of the city youre talking about, we did have a lot of water in the gas mains. Low pressure gas lines were affected. Although you may have not had water in your house, make not even in your neighborhood or on your block, because of the design of the gas system, its a network system. Basically built like a spider web. I understand that. And water can enter the system from an area, three, four blocks, a mile away. Right. Once it gets into that system it is a process we use, where we have to tap into the main and basically suck the water out like you would suck the water out of a cup with a straw. I understand. In this case, were sucking water out out of a bathtub witha straw. There are house behind me, two houses that have gas, i dont understand. Lady on right of me, doesnt have gas. Im sorry. Good news, if the houses near you are starting to show up with gas service, then youre not far behind because what they do, is, they call it chase water trouble. They follow the water where the water is seeking to the lowest point in the gas main. And apparently the area youre being served by is low point that is preventing the gas to get to your area. What, i dont know exactly, if you would come see me and give me your specific address i will go ahead and get some information for specifically for your area to let you know what the eta is on getting gas. Okay. Come on the side, give me a specific information. Thank you. Were trying to accommodate you. Thank you. Man, you can begin your question. Good afternoon, mayor, im one of your seniors. You say youre worried about them. I have been here once concerning a house leaning on mine. Yes. To have it removed. I talked to my friends away from me. I have no hope unless you do this where i can house is still leaning . Still on my house . Really. All right. Let me get that address again. I will give it over to the loud speaker. Fill out questionnaire and hand it to young lady here. Give me that address before we leave. I want to personally file up upon this is her second time. Third time. Good afternoon, everyone. One of my seating mates asked me who am i . Im a new orleans citizen, okay, who have a vested interest in recovery of new orleans. It is a hard thing to believe that the United States of america is spending nearly one billion, per week, in iraq, and here in new orleans, United States, were being neglected. Now, why do we have to bathe, and please, with our big, with our president , our congressman, our elected leaders to tell them that we need help when it is on the media every day, okay . [applause] this is the United States of america. You young lady mentioned earlier we did rebuild japan after destroying japan. [applause] this is new orleans. A very specific cultural design. I love gumbo. I love new orleans. [applause] secondly, as new orleans citizens and citizens, our first steps we have to show the country that we are rebuilding. When you go over the highrise, when you come down the highrise, there is no signs of rebuilding. We need to clean up them roads. The department of transportation, state not going to do it. 30 second. We need to do. Get some prisoners out there, pick up this trash. We need to show them that we are actively participating in our recovery. [applause] 15 sicks. Talk with kathleen blanco. Person, ward ins for the prisons get out there, pick up this trash and lit ir. Show them were trying to start somewhere. But right as it stands now, new orleans, United States of america, we are citizens so we demand that our president steps up, step up and be there for us. Because we have paid our tax dollars. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, man. Thank you. [applause] yes, maam. Good evening. Good evening. My name is eloise williams, from Lower Community as community activist. Mr. Mayor, i know you dont see me too often but im there to say look at my community. Right now what i see i dont like. We have been, katrina has passed and gone. But we are still living in debris. We say were organized to move all of this out of the way, that work can be done. Still, it is month now. I have been home. I came home on the 5th of november. Till this day im still trying to get part of my utilities back cox cable, i havent been there, but i got a bill. And, yeah, i havent been there but i got a bill. You know what im saying . We need to stop playing games with people and stop playing, thinking everybody naive, dumb, stupid and crazy because i wont be that, either one of them. I wants my rights. I dont want to entergy anything and say im a week later to pay me back because theyre not going to pay me back. Im not looking to pay no, 2, 300 and up front. I was in that party that called yall not to have the money to be accountable for the money. I was not there. I was not responsible for anything thats not my doing. You know what im saying. 30 seconds, please. Mr. Mayor, i want to say to you before i get talking about, i want to say thank you to you for rta. When i got on the bus today, man say,