Letters From Our Readers

Congress Ignores Corps Culpability

Dear Editor,

On June 1, the US Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged that they are responsible in large part for the catastrophic flooding of metro New Orleans. This was a first partial victory for Levees.Org.

Without the continuous and loud mantra of 4500 Levees.Org members, such a broad admission of fault may never have come. And the signing last week of the supplemental spending bill for 4.2 billion in community development block grants and 3.7 billion for levees is a second partial victory for Levees.Org. That too, might never have come.

After June 1, things changed in Washington. Our Members of Congress stopped making disparaging remarks about the work ethics of New Orleanians and Donald Powell who before June 1 had defiantly defended the corps, suddenly strongly urged Congress to help Louisiana. Of course we are very grateful.

But here is a key issue. Even though the Corps has admitted design and construction flaws, even though the Corps has conceded that the flood protection was a system in name only, Congress has yet to acknowledge those mistakes, and so essentially continues to ignore/deny the federal government’s central role in the New Orleans flood.

What does this mean? It means we have no reason to presume that the catastrophic flooding will not happen again. It means that corps reform will not be a priority. It means that Congress will continue to award water development funding to Corps projects with the strongest lobbying special interest groups. It means that dedicated funding for coastal management from royalites from off shore drilling may never materialize.

For a citizens’ group to hold the Corps accountable is important, but it’s not enough. Congress must hold the Corps accountable, too.

Besides the Louisiana delegation, only Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has recognized Corps culpability in the New Orleans flood.

Until Congress recognizes the mistakes of the Corps, there is no reason for the people of metro New Orleans to feel safe nor any citizen in the USA whose life and property are protected by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Get a sign today that says “Hold the Corps Accountable.” Go to www.levees.org for 9 pickup locations. If yours has mysteriously disappeared, get another one! They’re free and paid for by donations.

Thank you!
Sandy