The Rebuilding of New Orleans

Lighting The Road To Freedom Data Zone Page 8 August Wilson’s Fences “The People’s Paper” September 23, 2006 40th Year Volume 36 <a href="/goto?url=http://www.ladatanews.com" target="_blank">www.ladatanews.com </a>The Soul of New Orleans 100 Days and Counting The Rebuilding of New Orleans Page 2 VOTER PROTECTION HOTLINE 1-866-OUR-VOTE For the Louisiana Primary Elections The Ameede Family TrailBlazer | Saturday, September 30th, 2006 Page 4 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Page ꢀ </li><li style="flex:1">September ꢀ3, ꢀ006 </li><li style="flex:1">New Orleans Data News Weekly </li><li style="flex:1"><a href="/goto?url=http://www.ladatanews.com" target="_blank">www.ladatanews.com </a></li></ul>COVER STORY Ray Nagin and Rebuilding New Orleans: One-Hundred Days and Counting Written By: Edwin Buggage | Photos By: Glenn Summers Like sand passing through an perceive as apathy on the part housing many residents of hourglass so goes the days of the of every level of government is public housing have voiced lives of many New Orleanians; overflowing. While clearly some concerns about there right to where for many visible signs of progress has occurred; the return to the city. They see a progress is an anomaly and the question becomes is it moving blind eye being turned to their they fighting over who controls what when it should be just about helping people?” Class, Race and the LRA Race and class have been at the center of the debate about what happened in the city during and after Hurricane Katrina. Jerome Booker, a displaced New Orleans resident from the hollow shell of the once vibrant Ninth Ward now resides in Houston, Texas and is the host of Months after the mayoral election, a bitter battle as Nagin pulled an upset victory against insurmountable odds, much of in the political and business community is at a stalemate. Nagin doesn’t feel they’re battle scars but think the plans of some were foiled by his victory, “I don’t feel there are battle scars, but they haven’t figured out how I won the election, and they are still trying to put their plans in place because there was a big power move in place to reorient resources and now they can’t do that as quickly.” Additionally as many residents desiretocomehometheLouisiana Recovery Authority(LRA) has become a thorn in the side of some New Orleanians. The Road Home Program has so far provided a bumpy road filled with roadblocks that’s slowing down the recovery in the city of New Orleans, one of its most vocal critics is Mayor Nagin, “I think the LRA has strategically set up another bureaucracy. Starting something like this from scratch with a volume level of 100,000 people they’re not going to get much done anytime soon, also the process is too involved and overtaxing first you have to get fingerprinted, take a photo and go through a three hour interview and what have they done thus far awarded four and a half million dollars to one-hundred and ninety people divided equally that’s twenty-three thousand dollars so the process is going to discourage road home seems one paved fast enough? with obstacles and frustrations. plight as they’ve staged protests in Iberville and more recently the still unoccupied St. Bernard Housing Development. Longtime New Orleans Community activist A question of housing One wouldn’t be hard pressed to say that the lives of many New Orleanians over the past year have resembled a soap opera with all its melodrama. As the city has recently passed the One-Hundred day mark into the second administration of embattled New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, continues his attempt to provide residents comfort and answers to many of the questions about the problems that continue to plague this devastated city. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">As </li><li style="flex:1">many </li><li style="flex:1">neighborhoods </li></ul>struggle to recover, housing remains key to the city’s recovery. In an exclusive i n t e r v i e w a ‘Community issue <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Affairs’ </li><li style="flex:1">a</li></ul>radio show on Houston’s KPFT FM. 90.1 He <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">with </li><li style="flex:1">Data </li></ul>hears many of the issues that concern d i s p l a c e d News Weekly Mayor Nagin talked frankly about many of the issues <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">N</li><li style="flex:1">e</li><li style="flex:1">w</li></ul>One year after Hurricane Katrina,residentsarestillscattered about the country with a mix of hopefulness and hopelessness about the place they once called home. Many of the reports are not positive: a rising crime rate, the continuing problems with the school system and going to websites where fuzzy math is more the rule than the exception. Reports of calling 1-800 numbers to find the road home littered with roadblocks leading to nowhere, and continuously hearing our local Commander-in-Chief verbal gaffes that constantly put him on the wrong side of mainstream writer’s pens and political pundit’s commentaries. His critics charge his reign in office is a failing and ailing administration spiraling out of control. Frustration fills the heart, souls and minds of many, as desperation, despair and disappointment of what many Orleanians; he is a vocal critic of the r e c o v e r y the effort, that in his opinion is one mired in red tape in addition to having racial overtones. “This time black people came together and voted for Nagin, but now what? Now that he’s in office everything he’s trying to do Governor Blanco is going to veto, and it’s bureaucracy and red tape holding up progress for people to get back.” “Also I think it’s racial, I think the whites could sit around for four years and do nothing it won’t affect them, if someone white was in office I believe we would see more progress than we have so far, and my question would be for those in leadership why are and child advocate Jerome Smith says, “They want to close down public housing and move black people out to Michoud, but I feel concentration on Ray Nagin in these hundred days of the rebuilding is sort of parochial it’s a narrow vision I think the major crisis is with our black children.” With fervor in his voice rising to a feverish pitch he exclaims angrily, “You look at the Lafitte Project and you see two-thousand children disconnected from this city and if those children were white the country would be in an uproar this in my opinion is a national crisis.” Continued next page. DATA News weekly Mailing Address: PO Box 5033, Atlanta, GA 30302 (404) 223-5958 Fax (404) 223-5491 [email protected] Editorial & Business Office: 170 Northside Drive, Suite 506, Atlanta, GA 30313 INSIDEDATA State & Local News page 6 HpeaalgtheN1eꢀws Distribution Terry B. Jones Allison Randolph, III CEO/Publisher Cover Art Direction & Production Paul Mainor for MainorMedia Contributors edwin Buggage lorinda M. Bullock George e. Curry lloyd Dennis <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">National News </li><li style="flex:1">Dollars & Sense </li></ul>Glenn Jones VP Advertising & Marketing Story <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">page 7 </li><li style="flex:1">page 1ꢀ </li></ul>page ꢀ Contributing Photographers Jamie Jones Asali DeVan Data Zone Commentary page 13 Sports page 14 edwin Buggage Editor-in-Chief larry lucas Mark Morial page 8 Renetta Burrell Perry Don smith Newsmaker Noreen Bostick Cheryl Mainor Managing Editor Glenn summers NNPA Newswire page 5 Opinion page 10 Please call (404) 223-5958 for subscription information. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1"><a href="/goto?url=http://www.ladatanews.com" target="_blank">www.ladatanews.com </a></li><li style="flex:1">New Orleans Data News Weekly </li><li style="flex:1">September ꢀ3, ꢀ006 </li><li style="flex:1">Page 3 </li></ul>COVER STORY Continued from previous page. a lot of people because its not that now so much money is the goals defined in the hundred back in their homes, and there drive the rebuilding process.’ So enough money to rebuild.” coming in the city we can’t get a day plan fails to deal with the is no indication on when or how I have purposely set up processes Many residents have taken larger piece of the economic pie larger human issues. In his view people are going to get back to where people can tell government matters into their own hands with a city with a large African- much of the improvement in the the city.” “At the local, state and what they want to see and people because the government has not American population and majority city has been done by entities federal level people who are in are coming up with plans for <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">provided the tools and access black elected leadership.” </li><li style="flex:1">outside of government, “In poor or minority communities are their neighborhoods, and we in </li></ul>to resources in an expeditious manner this state of affairs has frustrated State Representative Ann Duplessis who represents the devastated areas of New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward. Duplessis has her own dim view of the federal This troubling trend is terms of gutting peoples homes, being left out of the rebuilding government are going to have to equation and the LRA and the react to that.” leadership at city hall are holding Practical Considerations up progress with their inaction and lack of decisiveness and it’s the people who ultimately suffer.” The criticism of the slow recovery Mayor Nagin says has some merit, but he feels that government is important but shouldn’t be solely fueling this recovery, “I think over the history of the city, New Orleanians have been over dependent on government to fix everything As the city evolves during this recovery and during these one hundred days the inevitability of a smaller footprint that has been talkedaboutandasmallerandless African-American community is a possibility; long time community activist and housing expert Fred Johnson who was featured in Spike Lee’s documentary ‘When the Levees Broke’ thinks blacks and poor people will have to find more creative ways to deal with living in the ‘New’ New Orleans some of which may include assistance from the government. “Understanding the dichotomy of America we know blacks make less money we may need to become creative. If the cost of living in New Orleans increases then we have to figure out how I feel concentration on Ray Nagin in these hundred days of the rebuilding is sort of parochial it’s a narrow vision <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">government’s </li><li style="flex:1">response </li><li style="flex:1">or </li></ul>lack thereof, “I have been very disappointed with the Federal Government’s apathy toward rebuilding the Gulf Region.” But she commends the people and their own initiative in repairing their homes and trying to bring something Mayor Nagin is also rehabbing homes all these types and do everything and it just some sense of normalcy to their trying to address; the problem of things in the recovery the city hasn’t worked. Before Katrina communities, “I am pleased of African-American business has not been perpetuated by the our economy was limping along whenever I see a person in my and access, “Right now we are in local, state or federal government. at best but we were headed in the district has taken charge of the process of awarding our city People who are back in the city right direction.” Continuing he their situation investing and re- garbage contracts to two minority are here because the help of non- says, “But for me this is the most investing their time and energy owned firms that covers most of governmental organizations.” He empowering moment the city has into the rehabilitation of their the city’s trash pickup.” “We are continues his criticism of Mayor ever had, and the best advice I <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">home or business.” </li><li style="flex:1">committed to helping minority Nagin’s leadership, “If I had to got was from the U.S. Conference </li></ul>businesses but the problem as rate him in this recovery effort I of Mayors Urban Design Team I see it is the state and federal would give him a three and that they said ‘Mr. Mayor whatever government doesn’t have the would generous.” “People are not you do make sure the people same level of commitment and Equality and Access for Small Business Pre-Katrina New Orleans was a city where small business once thrived but now are in Continued page 13. they have been awarding most of the contracts. We have been <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">a</li><li style="flex:1">struggle to survive. Some </li></ul>helping minority business as We’re working around the clock to make sure your communications do too. entrepreneurs see this recovery as a great opportunity for AfricanAmericans in business. William ‘Poppa’ Gant is Owner of the Afro House a local beauty salon, and ran for Council-at-Large in the last election running on a platform encourraging entrepreneurship and empowering small business. “I think everything could be faster with the recovery but I’m realistic enough to realize this was a very huge disaster and I think things are going along pretty swell myself, but like everything it could be better, but I think Nagin is doing a good job trying to get things done.” “I believe he can be trusted, when we go to him with plans, actions and ideas that can move our communities forward, he not only listens but he acts upon it.” much as we can, but when they do get in it’s at the very bottom where profit margins are not that high.” Since Hurricane Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the New Orleans area, BellSouth’s 2,000 New Orleans area employees have been working hard to fully restore our network and to improve our infrastructure to better withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters in the future. While for some the goals and objectives of the Hundred day committee the details were sketchy at best former Mayoral Candidate Tom Watson who is a member of the Hundred Day Commission thinks the goals of the Hundred Day Commission wereclearandpartiallysuccessful, “I feel it set a tone for where we’re going for the rest of this recovery season, When I say season I can’t put years or months to it , but I think it has set a tone particularly in the areas of infrastructure that neighborhoods now have water and utilities, buses are back on line, although there not the way we want them to be totally because of RTA’s problems. And of course the health concerns in terms of hospitals and psychiatric facilitiesarestillminimalbutthere are plans to make some things happen so some things started and some things have to continue to be worked on so on the one hand I think it was a success.” Stephen Bradberry, Head Organizer for the community group ACORN see it differently, he believes the city leadership is not doing enough to bring the residents back to the city, and that BellSouth is upgrading its network with fiber optics and elevating key network facilities. These improvements will enable us to bring the newest technology and most advanced services to our neighbors and businesses in the New Orleans area. As the city is in recovery mode, and money is pouring into the city in contracts many small business feel left out of this economic windfall that has befell the city. Jafus Smith Jr. is a local general contractor says, “I don’t think our company is doing bad in terms of getting work right now, but when small companies bid on the contracts that’s being awarded in the city African-American businesses rarely get them and I think that’s wrong that in a city with this many African-Americans We encourage our customers to review their hurricane preparation procedures and to check the helpful hints posted on our website: <a href="/goto?url=http://www.bellsouth.com/starlines" target="_blank">www.bellsouth.com/starlines (for consumers) and </a><a href="/goto?url=http://www.bellsouth.com/businesslines" target="_blank">www.bellsouth.com/businesslines (for businesses). </a>Our sincerest thanks to our customers for their loyalty to BellSouth as we work together to rebuild our community. bellsouth.com ©2006 BellSouth Corporation. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Page 4 </li><li style="flex:1">September ꢀ3, ꢀ006 </li><li style="flex:1">New Orleans Data News Weekly </li><li style="flex:1"><a href="/goto?url=http://www.ladatanews.com" target="_blank">www.ladatanews.com </a></li></ul>By: Edwin Buggage A Family Affair The Amedee Family Shares Their Wisdom with the Community By Renetta Burrell Perry in the form of a man named Herman Boudreaux at Gulf Coast Bank who was convinced that the Amedees’ vision was one worth fulfilling. And the rest as they say, is history. When the Wisdom Reception Center on St. Bernard Avenue opened its doors last year, it was both the culmination of seven years of hard work and the beginning of something extraordinary for the Avenue. The project is the group effort of the Amedee family, locals whose old-school upbringing and close family ties are the evident catalyst for their success today. Glenn Amedee and Annette LeDuff Amedee, General Managers/Event Planners for the Center beam with pride as they recall the unmistakable bond of the early Amedee family. “We were basically raised out of a sock drawer,” says Glenn, adding that they were poor, but at the time because of the nurturing given by his parents Clarence T. and Laverna “Val” Amedee, the kids did not realize it. “You wore everybody’s clothes. That taught us to share,” he remembers. The Wisdom, now a gracious site which looms stately on a vacant, oncethriving strip, is a welcome presence to blight-weary residents who are in search of a good time. It’s a blatant reminder that this community will survive. With its spacious rooms, impeccable decor, ample parking facilities and traditional New Orleans cuisine, The Wisdom is bringing back the neighborhood and in grand style. Glenn and Annette are proud of their state- of- the-art facility which has so much to offer our citizens. “We want to get the Avenue back,” says Glenn, who along with Annette and the rest of the family, has a plan to help attract minority business owners to the area. He is in the process of seeking ways to help get funding for these ventures. He says he believes that if other minority groups can own areas of the city, so can we. The Amedees have a clear vision for the Avenue - they’d like to see AfricanAmerican businesses, including theirs, thrive there. They believe that this is what if will take to turn our situation of poverty, joblessness, crime and the like completely around. He and Annette quickly dismiss the myth that AfricanAmericans can’t stick together and accomplish great things. They say that their family is proof that our families have what it takes to achieve success in business - together. Annette goes further as she brings up a question that she hears too often. “People ask ‘why did you put this building here?’ But we ask, why can’t we have a nice building here?” It is that commitment to the area that drives the Amedee family to make a difference. Post Katrina, they utilize the strength of their family and friends to clean the neighborhood from Claiborne down Rampart to St. Claude and around The Wisdom on St. Bernard. They have exit, but we loved to work and we needed tell them, don’t worry how far away the <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">a retirement plan,” she says. </li><li style="flex:1">lake is, just keep walking toward and and </li></ul>you’ll get there. This wisdom, along with After obtaining some initial funding, the efforts of their extended family, their coupled with the fund pool created by friends and those financial institution the Amedee siblings and their spouses, who granted them the funds needed to the purchase of what is now The Wisdom complete their dream, gave the siblings was achieved; but that was only the the fuel they needed to get to the finish beginning. Glenn reminisces about the line. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Therefore, </li><li style="flex:1">transcending </li><li style="flex:1">their </li></ul>meager roots and transitioning into young entrepreneurs together seemed natural as the young Amedee brothers eventually ventured into real estate and construction, trades that were strong and successful in their family. early days with pride and gratefulness. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">He recalls how hard it was to accomplish </li><li style="flex:1">Butwiththework95percentcomplete, </li></ul>what people see today as the finished and the opening of The Wisdom clearly product. “We have worked on this place in sight, one more obstacle would test everyday for seven years,” he says, being the Amedees’ faith. Glenn remembers cautious to give credit to the “40-50” men coming in the building and looking at the who stuck with them throughout the unsightly hole that would be the elevator. entire process. “They got behind the He says that the challenge was that even vision and got excited about it.” Annette though he and his brothers were in the chimes in about the sacrifices that the construction business, this was not their family unit had to undergo to make their area of expertise, and unfortunately, collective dream a reality. “Throughout there were no African-Americans locally the seven years, you sacrificed clothes, that were experienced in this area either. cars, etc., because you had the vision,” With SBA and other lending institutions she recounts. Glenn says that there were now shying away from the effort, and the even times when he wondered when and elevator and parking facility needing to if the project would ever be completed. be completed, the siblings were forced to He remembers a time when a gentleman recall once again those words of wisdom came into the building one day as he from their father. That proverbial lake he worked and asked when the building spoke of seemed so close this time, but would ever be finished. He had to delve so far away. “SBA, Hibernia and Dryades, back into his childhood and recall a would not finance the projects,” says quote from his father who would always Glenn. Ultimately their blessing came But as Glenn explains, they wanted more. He and his brothers were determined to make a difference in the community while at the same time bettering their own financial situations. “We were looking for an exit plan from construction,” he says, adding that in earlierdays, menwhomadetheirlivingin construction often opened bars and other businesses as supplemental income. In the Amedees’ case, the notion of owning a reception/party hall was a dream of their mother who in that old New Orleans way, loved to throw down-home parties in their childhood home. “Mama loved to party,” he states lovingly. However, as Annette adds, the family knew that an exit from one venture meant an entrance into another. “We knew we wanted to

The Rebuilding of New Orleans

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