Shreveport Times - Landrieu Tours Local Shelter, Talks with City Leaders

News Article

Shreveport Times - Landrieu Tours Local Shelter, Talks with City Leaders

By Adam Kealoha Causey

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu toured a hurricane evacuee shelter in Shreveport on Monday and discussed with local elected officials what Louisiana did right in responding to Gustav and what can be improved.

Much of the intergovernmental talks included political pats on the back, with the occasional jab.

Landrieu walked through the former Sam's Club building on Jewella Avenue — where some 2,700 south Louisiana residents stayed. Initially, they had no showers or bathrooms although a state inspection said facilities were ready in working condition.

"I understand we had some problems here. So at my first opportunity, I came up here to express that to you," Landrieu, a Democrat who has drawn four challengers in her re-election bid later this year, said during the Shreveport City Council work session.

The council invited Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker and Caddo Commission President David Cox to join them.

"Hurricanes are just not an event that happens to south Louisiana," Landrieu said. "There are challenges and burdens associated with both roles that are played — either as impacted or as host."

Landrieu thanked local officials for stepping in to meet evacuees' basic needs the state did not ensure. For people to continue to evacuate, they most know what they are coming to, she said.

Local leaders stressed northwest Louisiana cities and parishes worked together.

"We went to the shelters every day and we heard their pain," Cox said. "We are a team in Louisiana. And we are a family."

But he questioned how the state could spend more than $1 million on the Jewella location and an abandoned outlet mall on Greenwood Road but have nothing to show in the way of improvements.

Councilwoman Joyce Bowman praised local churches and nonprofits for their help where government lacked. She wanted Landrieu to remind Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal he vetoed some $615,000 in state funding to local organizations such as Community Renewal International and the Southern Hills Business Association.

"In spite of being cut, they came out in droves and did an excellent job," Bowman said.

Councilman Michael long suggested putting computer backup systems in this area — away from a hurricane's fiercest force. "It was interesting that some of the key Web sites that are hosted in Baton Rouge went down, and they were down for days. I find that a little ridiculous."

Landrieu left Shreveport bound for central Louisiana, where she planned to view storm-related damage.

Source