Bill Quigley | Eighteen Months After Katrina

"Half of the homes in New Orleans still do not have electricity," writes Bill Quigley. Continuing: "Louisiana received $10 billion to fix up housing. Over 109,000 homeowners applied for federal funds to fix up their homes. Eighteen months later, fewer than 700 families have received this federal assistance.... Visitors to New Orleans can still stay in fine hotels and dine at great restaurants. But less than a five-minute drive away lie miles of devastated neighborhoods that shock visitors. Locals call it 'the Grand Canyon effect' - you know about it, you have seen it on TV, but when you see it in person it can take your breath away."

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