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Text Box: government officials. New Orleans has an abundance of natural resources. It does not have an abundance of politicians who possess the qualifications required for economic development. Obtaining such politicians will depend on the will of its people . . . Would it not make sense to have an engineer on the Orleans Parish Levee Board and the other levee boards in Louisiana?????? OFFSHORE OIL REVENUE SHARING would provide a source of revenue which could be used to rebuild the environment destroyed by oil and gas exploration and development. Inland states receive as much as fifty percent of the tax revenue generated from oil and gas exploration, development, and production on federal lands within the state. This is to compensate the state for the roads, schools, infrastructure and services provided by the state and required as a result of the oil and gas related industries, and the maintenance of the roads and other infrastructure used by the industry. Louisiana was offered fifty percent of such revenues from federal lands offshore production during the 1950’s. Plaquemines Parish political leader Leander Perez used his political clout to have Louisiana reject the offer and to demand one hundred percent of the tax revenues. The matter was litigated in what came to be known as The Tidelands Dispute, with the result that all revenues were denied to Louisiana. Currently those revenues are being used for numerous federal projects, from preservation of redwood forests in California to parks in New England. But Louisiana coastal preservation and restoration receives nothing from those revenues. Louisiana has been requesting federal assistance for coastal restoration and preservation since 1975. Those requests have been answered during the past two or three years, with nominal projects. If Louisiana were to receive fifty percent of the revenues generated from

Text Box: oil and gas production in federal lands off of its own shores, and from the ports off of its own shores, it would have funding sufficient to provide for its own storm protection, and for preservation and rebuilding of its own wetlands and coast. Since fifty percent is what other states receive from comparable federal production, this proposal not only is reasonable, but proper and just. ORGANIZED RESPONSE TO THE DAMAGE: There is a weariness in the population which is far beyond that imposed through the trying times the people have experienced. It is a weariness of soul - there is very little joy in the population as a whole. This is partially caused by the unsettled situations in which most of the population finds itself. Many of the people and officials of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana outside of New Orleans almost immediately began attempting to clean up and rebuild, to do what they could to re-establish themselves and their communities. In some instances temporary plans were made, then changed as the situations changed or demanded. In other places the immediate needs were addressed, and then the immediate needs were addressed with contemplation of short range plans, and long range plans. People, organizations, and governing bodies did things and continue to do things. But New Orleans waited and continues to wait for someone else to do something, and to tell it what to do. Many individual citizens and government employees in New Orleans acted with courage, determination, and great success during the initial part of the crisis. And many continue to find innovative methods and means by which the City is enabled to function, to an extent. But city officials prevented and continue to prevent residents return, citing the lack of utilities and services. If a person is not allowed to even take a look at where he once lived, he has no means of knowing what he needs to do

Text Box: to continue or rebuild his life. By only allowing people who resided or worked in selected portions of the City to return and assess the damage, city officials have delayed assessment of what must be done to rebuild and rebuilding. The combination of waiting for someone else to do something, and preventing the return of its citizens and business owners thereby preventing their making a determination of what each needs to do or a decision as to whether or not they will return, will not be fatal to New Orleans because of its port. Economics will see to the survival of New Orleans as a port. But these delays will have a strong negative effect on the rebuilding and growth of the City. NEW ORLEANS AND AREA FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, COAST GUARD, NATIONAL GUARD, ETC.: Every fire department in New Orleans and the surrounding area responded to the storms and flooding with heroism. There is no other word which is capable of describing their response. For many days, these fire departments, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and some police officers, were the only source of rescue to those trapped by the flooding. Their response along with that of civilian volunteers, and the Coast Guard, was heroic, saving tens of thousands of lives. The United States Navy had vessels near New Orleans, many of which vessels provided electricity, water, and fuel for rescue operations during the first weeks. When FEMA threatened to take over selected retail outlets and prevent the populace from obtaining needed food, bottled water, and other necessities, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee blocked FEMA’s plans. Sheriff Lee is a multi term incumbent of Chinese ancestry much beloved in the supposed racially biased South Louisiana. His straight forward methods and policies had made him a favorite in his Parish. His saving Jefferson Parish and the surrounding area from being trampled by FEMA’s thoughtless and harmful plans may have made him the most

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