New Orleans, LA – Below is a statement from New Orleans City Council President Arnie Fielkow issued on Nov. 3 regarding the comments by former New Orleans Recovery Chief, Dr. Ed Blakely to a West Coast online television station.

“I find the recent public comments made by former New Orleans Recovery Chief, Dr. Ed Blakely (to CALTV, the University of California-Berkeley’s online television station) to be highly offensive, divisive, unprofessional and factually erroneous,” said Fielkow. “Contrary to Dr. Blakely’s opinions, I find New Orleanians to be among the most determined and resilient people I have ever encountered.

“Despite our personal and professional travails following the worst man-made disaster this country has ever experienced, New Orleanians to this day continue to persevere, to work hard and to undertake reforms so as to make this an even better community than it was before Katrina. It is a slap in the face to all of us who stayed and invested, as well as to the thousands of newcomers who now call New Orleans home post-Katrina, to suggest that New Orleans citizenry are lazy, unsophisticated or expect others to do the job. Contrary to Dr. Blakely’s statements, it is precisely because of the indomitable spirit and will of New Orleanians that I believe our great city has an incredibly bright future and, if we stay unified, the potential to again evolve into one of the world’s great cities,” Fielkow said.

“New Orleans, not unlike other communities throughout urban America, still faces many challenges, including the ability to bring people together along racial and cultural lines. New Orleanians have the opportunity, especially in a post-Katrina environment, to successfully tackle this challenge through improvements such as ensuring equity in public education, economic development and public/environmental safety. Strides are being made and I wholeheartedly believe our collective community can, and will, be successful.”