While many people cheer that George Bush is no longer President and that Barack Obama will have better ideas than his predecessor, perhaps it is too soon to judge the former President now.
A recent press release reveals that Bush may have left New Orleans, Louisiana’s crown jewel, a firm path towards revitalization. During the months following Hurricane Katrina, Bush promised the state money to help build a 100-year hurricane protection program. Just two days after he left office, the financial agreements were signed allowing the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the formal mechanisms to potentially save New Orleans from final disaster.
Hurricane Katrina caused great devastation to the City of New Orleans because of the breaking of the levees. This had been anticipated for many years. People in the low-lying areas, as well as some of the better- protected ones like the French Quarter, believed it was just a matter of time before a major hurricane hit the coast and sunk the city. Hurricane Katrina almost did.
Bush had made a promise to allow the State of Louisiana to pay its share of the cost allowing the hurricane protection program to move forward. The financial agreements were signed on January 24 between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Louisiana, according to Rebecca S. Cotton in the office of the Federal Coordinator. The goal is to complete certain recovery and coastal restoration projects by 2011.
While ordinary citizens and newscasters debate the Bush legacy and declare him void of much, the January 24 signing shows that he followed through with one of his commitments for a complete recovery of New Orleans.
In every story there is some good, and in every cloud a silver lining; and perhaps the legacy of George Bush will have some twinkles somewhere, if today’s agreement signing is any evidence.
For those who want to track the New Orleans recovery, information can be found on this
website:
