After watching tonight's broadcast and listening to what the mayor of New Orleans and others had to say about Hispanics rebuilding the city and staying there, I was shocked to see such an unpleasant and unwelcoming attitude. I can't believe that a city made up of so many minorities would be so rude to others. I live in Texas and we recieved many African American evacuees who are choosing to stay here. I am a Mexican American who is proud to help fellow Americans in a time of need and I'm sure that the mayor of New Orleans wouldn't want to hear that cities here in Texas with major hispanic populations didn't want any blacks staying here for good.

I am a Mexican American who is proud to help fellow Americans in a time of need and I'm sure that the mayor of New Orleans wouldn't want to hear that cities here in Texas with major hispanic populations didn't want any blacks staying here for good. ++++++++ Minorities are what keeps the democrats in offic here. Without them , it would be a republican controlled city. Nagin is losing his voting base, I can see what he is upset.

Excellent point about the voter base changing in New Orleans.

excellent article http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051019/news_lz1e19navar.html

I agree! I was embrassed as a former resident of New Orleans to learn that the mayor would be such a racist. If African Americans wanted these jobs so bad they should have been returning to New Orleaans just as the Hispanics did.I admire the work ethic of the Hispanic people who are enduring poor working conditions to get a job done! Why does the mayor feel that African Americans are "entitled" to these rebuilding jobs? I'm sure the contractors in New Orleans would be more than happy to hire any African Americans who show up willing to work! Thanks for opening your hearts and homes to all New Orleans residents. Hopefully, the new New Orleans will be a city that accepts all people, no matter if they are brown or black and the city mayor will be more open minded than he showed tonight on the news.

I agree! I was embrassed as a former resident of New Orleans to learn that the mayor would be such a racist. If African Americans wanted these jobs so bad they should have been returning to New Orleaans just as the Hispanics did. +++++++++ A bus service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans started it's route today with 7 roundtrips to the city. It is supposed to give people a chance to come back to the city daily to work. I will give you an update after 10:00 central time tonight on how many people actually used the service today.

I too was astonished, and offended, by the comments made by Mayor Ray Nagan of New Orleans. If similar comments were made by a Caucasian mayor about African-Americans, or any other ethnic group, he or she would have immediately been reprimanded. I DO NOT have a right to be racist just because I am a person of color. The broadcast made a case for an abundance of demolition jobs in the New Orleans area. It also seemed as if the job opportunities are open to more than just one group of people. Maybe the African-American community of New Orleans relocated in search of more prosperous job opportunities? I?m a native Californian, and a Mexican-American, and I find that some of the most ?undesirable?, and labor intensive jobs are often embraced by us. Maybe it?s due to lack of other opportunities. Maybe it?s because we tend to have a great deal of experience with construction and contacting. Regardless, as Americans we are all focused on the same goal ? helping to rebuild our American community. The most ironic moment of the broadcast was what followed the broadcast ? the death of civil rights activist Rosa Parks. This courageous woman struggled for the rights of people of color. While African-Americans were struggling with civil rights in the South, Mexicans were combating similar injustices the Southwest. Mexicans, including my father, encountered signs in store windows stating ?No dogs or Mexicans Allowed?. Why do we choose to forget our common bond and struggle? What would Ms. Parks think about the comments of Mayor Nagan?

I also was rather shocked at the open racism in that news piece. A white or Hispanic mayor would have been up for a recall by midnight. And what's up with the black contractor who said he'd only hire blacks? I have to wonder if it's some of these folks who keep prejudices alive and well in the USA.

After watching tonight's broadcast and listening to what the mayor of New Orleans and others had to say about Hispanics rebuilding the city and staying there, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Can someone tell me where I can find this story? Post a link or website? I would like to read the full story

I missed this story also and would appreciate a link, however, it was completely inappropriate of the mayor to make statements such as the ones that were quoted here. Most Americans, regardless of color, opened their homes, purses, hearts, etc., to those affected by Hurricane Katrina and he should be grateful to the cities/states who took in those displaced by the disaster. I have been to New Orleans on several occasions and what surprised me the most was the poverty seen and shown during the hurricane. I would like to ask Mayor Nagin where all the tourism money goes that, in the past, has been poured into that city? The poverty rate for a city that size amazed and astounded me. That's what he needs to be addressing...fiscal irresponsibility by the city, IMO.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1005/266791.html I could not find the full story on ABC so I searched in google under (Mayor Nagin) and (Hispanic Labor) and pulled up this website

I tried google searching this too, what I found is this: Mr. Nagin?s reference to ?make sure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers,? published in the Friday, October 7th edition of The Dallas Morning News, is simply unacceptable during a time of national unity and support in which national Hispanic organizations, such as the USHCC and countless others, are donating funds, time and resources to the clean-up and rebuilding of this incredibly diverse and dynamic city. To be confronted with comments of this nature that highlight prejudice and division, coming from a public official that represents an important minority group, is a huge disappointment. Source: USHCC Deplores Remarks by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Regarding Mexican Workers and the Rebuilding of New Orleans http://www.hispanicprwire.com/news.php?l=in&id=5044&cha=11 I also found this: Mayor Ray Nagin added his voice to the chorus this week, telling local business people: "How do I ensure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers?" Source: Immigrants do New Orleans' dirty work http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/07/nola.workers.ap/ I knew of this comment, it's been out there for about a month now and I think it was talked about on this forum.. but we all know how messages disappear here, so it might be long gone. I am wondering what else he said for surely that wasn't the whole discussion.

As I have been reading through the boards I have noticed that nobody is say anything about the other comment made. During the same story there was a black man that made the comment about how he would take care of "his people" first...if that isn't racist, I don't know what is. I have to agree with the person that said" Racism is alive and well today because of the people of color" Just because you are a person of color does not give you the right to say things that could be considered rasict and expect nothing to be said about it.

I don't see any quotes in either article I posted where Nagin said anything about "his people". I do see many places in the CNN article where "people" were referred to and when put into context they were referring to the people from New Orleans and/or Louisiana. Perhaps there is another story out there which shows this. Other than that I agree with you totally, just because someone is a minority, or person of color, doesn't give them any more right to be making racial comments than a white person has.

It wasn't Mayor Nagin. In the same story on WNT there was another man that said that. My husband and I were watching the story and that is what we heard. I don't remember who he was, but he said about the whole mexican workers that and I quote" I'm going to take care of my people first" But because a person of color made that comment it's ok and nothing is going to be said about, but If a white person had said something like that there would be story after story about it and how Racist we are!

I would like to give some correct info on this issue. My husband told this person that made this comment was a city counsel member. Are we the only ones who heard this?

Mr. Nagin?s reference to ?make sure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers,? published in the Friday, October 7th edition of The Dallas Morning News, is simply unacceptable during a time of national unity and support in which national Hispanic organizations, such as the USHCC and countless others, are donating funds, time and resources to the clean-up and rebuilding of this incredibly diverse and dynamic city. To be confronted with comments of this nature that highlight prejudice and division, coming from a public official that represents an important minority group, is a huge disappointment. http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=26340&cat=Hispanic+PR+Wire&more=/hprw/

Nagin is a rascist, hands down. Heaven knows what this man says in private. Whatever is in this man's heart, he likes the wisdom and maturity of leadership that NO needs. He reminds me a reverse white activist. I wonder what Rosa Parks would say, was she only "black fair and equal treatment"...I have no idea. Does anyone know her stance?

I think that depends on which Rosa Parks you are talking about. What I mean is that I think Rosa's views on equality changed over the years to include other minorities, but at first she was only concerned with Blacks attaining their rights. In the early years I think Rosa was highly influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and she tended to follow the principles he set forth... in later years she may have gravitated into the "Reverse Inequality Mindset" somewhat.

Criticism of Nagin Wikinews has news related to this article: Whether New Orleans mayor failed to follow hurricane planSome newspaper editorial writers have criticized Nagin for not handling evacuation procedures properly and, in particular, for allowing hundreds of New Orleans' buses ? which were planned to be used for evacuating poor or elderly people ? to sit idle in parking lots that eventually flooded. [9] In the September 1 interview he said driving school buses had been proposed, and that he wanted every Greyhound bus line moving to New Orleans. On a September 11 appearance on Meet the Press, Nagin said the buses sat unused because there was no one to drive them. [10] At a town hall meeting in October 2005, Nagin said: "I can see in your eyes, you want to know, 'How do I take advantage of this incredible opportunity? How do I make sure New Orleans is not overrun with Mexican workers?'" [11] [12], referring to the influx of labor ? many of whom are undocumented ? coming to New Orleans to help rebuild the city. Hispanic groups, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, criticized Nagin's statement as prejudiced [13], but those attending the town hall meeting reportedly applauded ? many in the area believe the jobs should instead go to local workers displaced by the hurricane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Nagin