September 24, 2007

The theme for the second commemoration of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita was “Recovery and Rebuilding.” These are the processes that have formed the strategies, shaped the decisions and influenced the actions of Mayor C. Ray Nagin and the City of New Orleans during the past two years.

“As we enter our third year of recovering from the greatest natural and man-made disaster ever in the United States, we can point to major successes,” said Mayor Nagin. “Sales taxes are 84 percent of pre-Katrina, unemployment is down and wages are up. And we have issued more than $169,000 building permits at a value of $4.3 billion. That is incredible!

“Yet, the truest measure of our success is that our people are coming home. According to the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, the city’s population is now 68 percent of pre-Katrina, or about 300,000 people. That is close to my projections right after the storm. I said then that I expected to see 75 percent of our population return by the end of two years.

“I am inspired by our citizens. Despite the difficulties that we face, our citizens are rebuilding. We are doing it on our own, using retirement savings, loans and any other money we can obtain. We believe in New Orleans and are committed to its full recovery.”