Posted on 07/23/2008 5:38:30 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
After an investigation by Eyewitness News on New Orleans Affordable Homeownership program -- NOAH -- Mayor Nagin held a press conference in response, calling the story “biased and inaccurate” and saying that the story is hurting the recovery effort.
On Tuesday, one by one, the Nagin administration discounted a 4 Investigates report from the previous night that highlighted properties NOAH had claimed to remediate more than a year after Hurricane Katrina. The investigation which aired Monday evening used three separate sets of documents obtained in records requests from NOAH that showed properties that didn't appear to qualify for the program. Instead of belonging to elderly or low income homeowners, some of the properties didn't exist, didn't qualify or homeowners say they didn't have any work done by the city agency.
“It appears the reporter used an intake -- an old intake list -- that had every property that had ever been claimed, or somebody thought that needed to have gutted,” Nagin said at the press conference.
Also Online Raw footage: Entire press conference
Original Story: 4 Investigates: Did city group do the remediation work it claims to have done? But one list obtained by Eyewitness News on Monday shows dollar amounts next to all but a handful of properties, financial figures at that time NOAH said they spent on each individual home. At the press conference, Nagin said that list is not accurate.
“How do you explain that those were on three previous lists -- including ones with the amount each one cost -- and all of the sudden they are not on one list?” the mayor was asked, replying, “All I can tell you is that we have the list that counts.”
Last week, Eyewitness News requests for an interview with the executive director of NOAH we were denied.
Eyewitness News also requested an interview with the Nagin administration with someone with knowledge on the program. On Sunday night, the mayor's office requested a list from Eyewitness News of the properties that were being investigated. The mayor’s office was provided with the information.
Monday morning, the mayor’s office contacted Eyewitness News, saying that Recovery Director Ed Blakely would be available for an interview. But Blakely said he had little knowledge of the program.
Well after the deadline for the story on Monday evening, which city officials were aware of, the mayor’s office sent Eyewitness News a new list that they say was provided to them by NOAH.
The new list does not include the cost of work for each property, but still on that list are two vacant properties that have home remediation signs from the city visible. The owners of those properties say NOAH, or any city-hired contractor, never did any remediation work.
“How do you respond to at least two homes -- one on Law Street – where there is a sign for Mayor Nagin Home Remediation Program on it and when we contacted the homeowner they said no work had been done?” the mayor was asked.
“I don’t know. I have my campaign signs still out there,” the mayor responded.
Nagin says the city did not misspend any federal funds and the NOAH Home Remediation Program was legitimate.
“How are you helping this recovery? How is that report helping the recovery? It is not,” the mayor said. “It is hurting the city, and you need to stop it.”
Eyewitness News has learned that the NOAH property issue will be a big part of Wednesday's recovery meeting with members of City Council.
Our tax money after Katrina....down the Rat hole that is New Orleans and in the politico's pockets:)
Sure Ray, we believe you.
How long is this "recovery effort" going to go on ???????
Indictment date prediction?
What Chocolate-Town Ray is doing is giving Americans, especially oppressive white men, a look at what our land might be like under the leadership of President Algonquin J. Obama, the crooked marxist Chicago race-pimp turned Messiah.
He and Ray will be coming to a town near yours soon. Very soon.
How long did the recovery process take after the 1909 SF earthquake?
Who is seriously going to believe what Nagin says?
That is not the proper comparison. We should be comparing New Orleans with the areas in Mississippi which were harder hit and disappeared in the same storm, many of which are already rebuilt.
Nagin’s lining his pockets and the idiotic people of NO keep him in office. The lunacy of Democrat voters knows no bounds.
They're still trying to recover? Geez, would've been faster to bulldoze the place and rebuild elsewhere... /sarc
Okay, not faster - but still... This is bordering on the ridiculous. No, it has surpassed it.
What does this have to do with anything? The two can't be compared.
“How long is this “recovery effort” going to go on ?”
N.O. ‘Never Over’
Since there obviously isn’t enough prison space to hold all the corrupt politicians and individuals that have scammed the federal government and stolen funds in the aftermath of Katrina, I propose we just build a big fence around large parts of New Orleans and make it a prison colony.
I know you’ll enjoy this article, we all need a good laugh, for our health.
I imagine it didn't take too long. Now, the 1906 earthquake... that's a different story!
;)
They do investigations on the news in Nawlins? Here in Portlanistan they just do press releases for the Marxist ruling class. And the hard-hitting animal stories, of course.
I’m envious.
What? No posts saying it is all Bush’s fault? What is the world coming to?
And then fill it in.
Tomorrow would not be soon enough, however if there is money on this pool, I'd say it'll be close to never, or the day after Nagin's ultimate demise, whichever comes first.
Hurricane Katrina was not Bush's Fault, technically speaking. It was Cheney's Fault. You see, The Halliburton Hurricane Machine and Global Warming Device went out of control.
Of course, it is true that Bush, and any other white Republican didn't care what the disastrous consequences to women, children, gays and lesbians, and people of color would be. They never do.
BTW, for you members of the VRWC to make fun of Mayor Ray Nagin is racist. Next time I am in Houston, I shall tell him so.
OBTW, as soon as Algonquin J. Obama assumes POTUS,both of you will report to the NOLA Re-Education Camp. Me? Well by currying favor with certain Democrats, I hope to bwe a trusty. Maybe if I play my guards right, eventually a guard?
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