Somebody's not being honest in the Big Easy

As I read the above link in the Washington Post, the conflicting stories are apparent and disturbing. One side is not being honest and it appears it is coming from Mayor C. Ray Nagin's office. For some additional reason, this story is not being reported in any of the New Orleans media outlets that I checked for verification, at least not at the time of the writing of this post.

The FEMA/Federal version:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency pulled all its workers out of New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward yesterday after threats of violence and planned to request additional police or National Guard support, a FEMA spokeswoman said.

One relief worker in the region said an angry resident berated a Corps of Engineers employee before delivering a threat to the effect of "I'm going to go get my gun, and I'm going to kill you." Federal agents have arrested six people in the New Orleans area in recent weeks for making threats against FEMA workers, who have been advised against wearing clothing with the agency logo in public.

Nagin's version:

Tami Frazier, a spokeswoman for Nagin, said the New Orleans Police Department commander in charge of the area reported no incidents, complaints or removal of anyone for making threats. "We have stated . . . that we would have guards out there and police officers escorting people during this time," Frazier said, "but there has not been an increase in police or guardsmen."

A New Orleans Police spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

There is a growing frustratation in New Orleans on many issues, many businesses are trying to reopen yet their former employees cannot find homes to live in. Only a small percentage of restaurants have reopened. While New Orleans and the state of Louisiana needs the tourist dollars that the Big Easy used to provide, many current and former residents are expressing their belief that the focus should be on rebuilding the City for people to return to rather than trying to pull off holding Mardi Gras. I'd have to agree with them. For Mardi Gras to be successful you need to have a strong service industry base in place.