New Orleans Mayor, in Tears, Blasts Washington’s Response – New York Times
Fires and explosions jolted an area near the French Quarter this morning in a city gripped by despair and violent lawlessness, and the city’s mayor, by turns angry and sad, blasted Washington for what he said was its slow response to the storm disaster.
Today President Bush called the response “not acceptable,” as he left for a tour of the ravaged areas. Soon after his remarks the nation’s airlines said they had been mobilized to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans beginning today, under an emergency plan put into effect for the first time by the Department of Homeland Security. Under the plan, the refugees will be taken from Louis Armstrong Airport outside New Orleans to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
The explosion in New Orleans was in a chemical storage facility near the Mississippi River, Lt. Michael Francis of the Harbor Police was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. A series of smaller blasts followed and then acrid, black smoke hundreds of feet high. The vibrations were felt all the way downtown.
An exasperated-sounding Mayor C. Ray Nagin did not hold back his anger in an interview with a New Orleans radio station that ended with sounds of the mayor and the interviewer in tears.
“I keep hearing that this is coming, that is coming,” Mr. Nagin said in reference to federal aid. “And my answer to that today is … where is the beef?”
Bubble Boy, for once, you’re right – your response was not acceptable. Your leadership was not acceptable. Your gutting FEMA and not planning for this disaster was not acceptable. You, Bubble Boy, are not acceptable.
Resign already.
No Responses