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• Wednesday, July 5, 2006 08:49 PM

  And one small reason there has been a delay

  NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, city council members and Louisiana authorities agreed on Wednesday to create a single plan to redevelop the ravaged, city, ending months of disputes that have hampered recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

  The agreement was required by the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which is overseeing rebuilding of areas hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year, before releasing billions of dollars in federal funds given to Louisiana.

  Many New Orleans residents are frustrated by the slow pace of recovery and what they see as a lack of clear direction about how homes and neighborhoods can be rebuilt.

  Nagin said the single plan, to be completed by the end of the year, would clearly describe what the rebuilt city will be like and set out home construction requirements.

  In some parts of the city, residents have refused to wait and are rebuilding on their own terms.

  But Louisiana Recovery Authority board member David Voelker said the final plan could make it economically impossible for residents to rebuild in some areas.

  "It's going to be complicated and it's going to be tough," he said. "But I think we're going to get there."

  At least 65 urban planning teams are vying to oversee development of the land use plan, which will be funded in part by a $3.5 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and will determine how New Orleans' share of $12 billion in federal fund allocated to the state will be spent.

  Oh Yeah - and it is all the federal goverment's fault - right?

  —Ironclad Read Ironclad's other letters
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