Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs, Panel

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2008-08-29

Duration: 00:26:01

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Hurricanes | Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | Disaster response and recovery | Hurricane recovery | Road Home (Program: La.) | Housing | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Tourism | Small business | Tax credits | Hurricane preparedness

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Courtney, Beth Moderator
• Freeman, Craig Moderator
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Gautreaux, Kevin Associate Producer
• Melton, Christina Associate Producer
• Blakely, Edward Panelist
• Leger, Walter Panelist
• Rowley, Karen Panelist
• Milling, King Panelist
• Reuther, Claudette Interviewee
• Gardner, Glenn Interviewee
• Turner, Marvin Interviewee
• Rainwater, Paul Interviewee
• Craft-Kerney, Alice Interviewee
• Richardson, Jim Interviewee
• Montalbano, Anthony, Jr. Interviewee
• Landry, Scott Interviewee
• Santos, Pat Interviewee
• Stafford, Lisa Speaker
• Thompson, Melanie Speaker
• Patton, Kathleen Speaker
• Vappie, Don Speaker
• Thomas, Irma Speaker
• Colin, Lynette Speaker
• Jones, Patricia Speaker
• Burkhalter, Ken Speaker
• Martinelli, Cambria Speaker

This special episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from August 29, 2008, features highlights, including previously unaired footage, from the town hall meeting held at the Grace Lutheran Church in New Orleans to mark the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. More of the town hall meeting can be seen on “Coastal Comeback: Louisiana and Mississippi After Katrina,” a special episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square.” Background reports on housing, the economy, and the governmental response following Hurricane Katrina precede the discussion. The panelists are: Dr. Edward Blakely, the Recovery Administrator for the City of New Orleans; Walter Leger, Jr., the Chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority's Housing Task Force; Dr. Karen Rowley, a special projects manager for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR); and King Milling, the Vice Chairman of Whitney Bank. They answer questions on the following topics: the federal funding of the Road Home program; the timeline for dealing with homes purchased by the state through the Road Home program; the lack of affordable housing; encouraging conventions and retailers to return to New Orleans; the city’s process for prioritizing projects within the renewal zone; plans for helping small business owners take advantage of tax credits; preparing for the next storm; and educating people around the country on the progress being made in New Orleans and the work that still needs to be done. Moderators: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford