Posted on 09/01/2006 12:42:12 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin opened a visit to New York on Friday by expressing regret for having criticized the slow redevelopment at the World Trade Center site, saying he will "never again refer to that site as a hole."
Nagin was in town for a two-day pitch to the New York investment community to get business in his hurricane-ravaged city.
While on a stage with the Rev. Al Sharpton and representatives of a New Orleans delegation, Nagin addressed comments he'd made in a recent "60 Minutes" broadcast, where he branded ground zero "a hole in the ground" to compare it to the slow pace of rebuilding in his city after Hurricane Katrina. Nagin had apologized for the comments quickly afterward.
"I want to say to all New Yorkers that I love New York City and have been here on many occasions," Nagin said during a press conference held Friday, less than two weeks before the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "We as New Orleanians and as New Yorkers understand what tragedy is all about and understand the difficulty of recovering from tragedy."
He also said he especially regretted the term he'd used to describe ground zero, where more than 2,700 people died after terrorists piloted two commercial flights into the twin towers, causing them to collapse.
"I will never refer to that site as a hole," Nagin said. "It's a a sacred site that's currently in an undeveloped state."
Challenge to all Freepers: what has Ray Nagin said yet that he HASN'T regretted? This seems like a daily event.
Nagin is just plain unbelieveable. He redefines stupid every time he opens his mouth.
I regret that Nogin has NO brains.
Nonsense.
You have to remember, Nagin is a huge step up for New Orleans from what they had (Marc Morial).
He won re-election because the conservatives voted him in. He was the BEST selection of a bad lot.
Would you rather have another Landrieu?
No, he is not. He is far from a liberal.
Nagin is a moron...and so are the people who re-elected him...'nuff said...
Yeah! As a great man said (regarding Katrina) Stuck on Stupid!
Nagin SAYS he regrets comments.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.