Ed Blakely Blasts New Orleans
Written by WGNO ABC26 News
Monday, 02 November 2009 13:45
ABC26 News
Some harsh words from New Orleans' former recovery czar .Ed Blakely calls residents lazy and unsophisticated in an interview with the University of California's television station. Blakely says, "Everyone's a racist, it's a part of something we have in this country but it's deeper and more virile and more visible and entrenched in New Orleans."
Blakely thinks unless the next mayor is very smart, there could be race riots in the streets because of the racial tension in New Orleans. He also criticized many New Orleanians saying they've been waiting for help with Katrina recovery, instead of doing something about it themselves.
Some city council members we spoke to have their own thoughts about why Blakely would make the comments. Cynthia Willard-Lewis says, "My immediate response was that Dr. Blakely must be writing a book, and these are things to increase sales." And Arnie Fielkow added, "We know we have challenges as a community but quite frankly, what we don't need is an outsider whose not even living here throwing stones at us right now for those that are working each and every day to try to make us a better community."
Blakely left his position in New Orleans this past summer so he could go back home to Australia.
