Dear Friends,
"We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum." - NYT Editorial / 11-Dec-2005Born and raised a true New Orleanian, I love this city and like you I saw Hurricane Katrina ravage our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our homes. Hurricane Katrina exposed our government and uncovered weak leadership, incompetence, corruption, and still no true master plan. We find ourselves in limbo, struggling to fight the red tape we encounter everyday.
Rather ironically, we have what appears to be a unique opportunity to take an objective look at how our community has developed, propose a plan that makes sense for the future for all neighborhoods, and steer New Orleans to a brighter future for all in this community of ours.
I recommend approaches that would not only restore what was lost but make New Orleans better than ever. Merely identifying the problems and suggesting solutions is not enough. Name the problems but also suggest paths of implementation and accountability. Alongside each resource to be tapped are individuals or organizations that should be held responsible for achieving the goals. We would find it unconscionable if our hopes are unrealized because our leaders failed to make the hard choices and commit the full resources necessary to move from great ideas to meaningful action. Everything is connected. An emergency like Hurricane Katrina peels away delusions of independence. It’s time for collaboration and, where practical, consolidation of services. Thanks to billions of dollars in aid packages, homeowners who qualify will have the money to rebuild. Schools will have money for operations during a period of lower ad valorem taxes. Infrastructure needs, including roads, hospitals, and sewer systems can be addressed.
We have learned through this ordeal that we have friends everywhere. But their empathy and even their aid are not enough. Ultimately, we must rescue ourselves. We have the resources we need within our grasp or within reach, with help from allies in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors.
The question is: Do we have the will?
I can assure you that I have the will. With new ideas, leadership, commitment, and integrity I ask for your support to fight for all of New Orleanians. I want to help make a New Orleans with great schools, great jobs, great healthcare, great hurricane protection, and most importantly a great quality of life by truly addressing the current housing crisis.
My name is Michael Gray and I know I will make you proud to call New Orleans home again.
Most Sincerely,
Michael
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