Editorials Discuss New Orleans Survey That Finds Mixed Reaction About Rebuilding Efforts

Summaries appear below of editorials about a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey that found nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans residents are still struggling and give mixed reviews about key areas of the rebuilding process. According to the survey, more residents reported having health care coverage compared with about two years ago, but they also reported having more problems related to health care. The survey is available online.

• New Orleans Times-Picayune: Although most New Orleans residents "said they are dissatisfied with the pace of rebuilding and recovery," the "vast majority remain optimistic and hopeful about the city's future," the Times-Picayune writes in an editorial, adding, "That's a sentiment officials should capitalize on by doing everything they can to speed up the recovery." The survey found that "city residents may have high expectations about the rebuilding process being able to correct deep-seated problems in our area" -- an attitude that has "been evident in civic activism post-Katrina," according to the Times-Picayune. The editorial states, "Such an engaged, hopeful constituency that is eager to correct long-standing problems is a gift that elected officials and community leaders ought not to waste." The Times-Picayune concludes, "Officials need to make sure the recovery shows substantial progress soon, and they need to push decisively for further reforms to make government more efficient and improve the city's quality of life" (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 8/12).
  
  
• New York Times: The "pace of recovery is slowing in New Orleans as the city approaches the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," but with a "mélange of federal, state, city and private recovery efforts under way, it is difficult to grasp what is really happening in the stricken city," a Times editorial states. "The good news is that six in 10 Katrina survivors say that their lives are almost or largely back to normal, and most see recovery moving in the right direction," but the "bad news is that four in 10 respondents say their lives are still disrupted," the editorial states. The Times adds, "Smaller majorities see little or no progress in making medical services available." According to the Times, "What is worrisome is that half of the residents are dissatisfied with or angry about the lack of progress, most think it is a bad time for children to grow up in New Orleans and 22% (predominantly young) are seriously considering moving away." The editorial concludes, "Unless government agencies and private organizations pick up the pace of recovery efforts, New Orleans may see its future pack up and go with them" (New York Times, 8/12).