Work continues on the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans (AP)
Rebuilding New Orleans Story aired: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
For the past four months, hundreds of people from Washington to Louisiana have been working on a plan to rebuild New Orleans after the destruction from Hurricane Katrina.
Today, the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, appointed by Mayor Ray Naggin, starts releasing what's described as an ambitious master plan for the city. One commission member predicts it is going to be a rough ride.
That is because one of the most hotly contested questions is whether rebuilding should take place at all in the most heavily damaged parts of the city. This is a politically and racially charged issue, because those who lived in the worst hit areas were primarily African American and poor.
Guests:
Gary Rivlin of the New York Times who has been covering this story
Tom Murphy of the Urban Land Institute, a non-profit group that has been advising the Bring New Orleans Back Commission
Hereast Harrison, who has lived in New Orleans for the past 40 year. Her house was destroyed by Katrina and because she didn't have flood insurance it is unlikely she'll be paid the full value of her home.
