John Kerry Tours New Orleans Businesses Devastated by Katrina

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Tours New Orleans Businesses Devastated by Katrina
May 5th, 2006 @ 4:18 pm

Today Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) joined Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on a “Back to Business” tour of New Orleans East, an area with significant damage from Hurricane Katrina. After the tour, Landrieu and Kerry hosted a Small Business Roundtable with business owners, community leaders, representatives from the state and local departments of economic development, Chambers of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and the banking community.

The following is a statement from Kerry, Ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship:

“It’s impossible to convey the sheer destruction in New Orleans until you walk the streets, see the flood damage, and talk with business owners who are still struggling. New Orleans East was one of the most severely damaged neighborhoods, and more than eight months after Hurricane Katrina, we still have miles to go rebuilding this community. Despite this, I was touched by the spirit of the people of New Orleans. They are true heroes who have endured in the face of devastating loss, and who fight day and night to rebuild their great city.

“Enormous work remains to get New Orleans back in business creating jobs. Senator Landrieu and I are working on legislative proposals to get loan money into the hands of businesses and residents quickly and to expand access to federal contracts for Gulf Coast small businesses. We came here today to talk with small business owners to determine how best to get them and the entire Gulf Coast the tools they need for long-term recovery.

“Mary Landrieu loves this city. She lives and breathes New Orleans. We’re lucky to have her tireless leadership on Gulf Coast recovery and I will keep working with her to get the Gulf Coast back in business.”

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2884

[Sannum]

1. .

:cry:

[LittleClarkie]

2. As the ranking Dem member of the Small Business committee

(I think I messed up the name though) it makes sense that he would be down there looking at the damage done to small businesses in New Orleans. He tried to get them some aid. I don't know if that bill passed though.

[babylonsister]

3. I love it that Kerry's down there, keeping the pressure on!

My hat is off to you, Senator Kerry!:patriot:

[ginnyinWI]

4. "God's work must truly be our own". --JFKennedy

I don't know why that popped into my head. Seems appropriate somehow. :)

[wisteria]

5. Senator Kerry has fought for the small business owners in NO

against Bush administration officials for months now. I am happy to see that Senator Kerry and Senator Landrieu are working together to make NO even better than it was before for small business, the owners and workers.

[benny05]

6. Something has to be done

Tom Coburn of OK (a repug) has pointed the problems with the bids of contractors and subcontractors--in which no one got help. Until FEMA and its contractors account for they do (and especially since FEMA has unilaterally decided to close their NOLA doors yesterday), it is going to be difficult to obtain funding and understand which agencies can assist these owners and which ones don't or won't.

Personally, I think Exxon Mobil, which is in that region, and has record profits, should be giving out private equity but more like a SBA loan at a low rate to jump start the small biz rebuilding there. We've given EM more than our share of profit; I dare them to invest in NOLA. It's in their best interest to do so.

[kster]

7. K R N T

[ohtransplant]

8. He's been fighting for small business owners on the gulf coast

ever since Katrina hit. Keep their (FEMA, SBA et al)feet to the fire Senator!

He's the best friend small business people have in the Senate. If and/or when they realize that, it could be a big boost to his standing in the public's eyes.