-- This Is An LTs Jazzy Radio Loft & Lounge Exclusive --
(Republished with the expressed permission of aurn.com White House Correspondent, April Ryan.)
American Urban Radio Networks April Ryan's one-on-one exclusive interview with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush aboard Air Force One, Monday, August 28th, 2006.
____________________________________________________
INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH
BY APRIL RYAN
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Mississippi
11:25 A.M. EDT
April Ryan: Thank you both so much for agreeing to this interview at a very historic time, the year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. But it's also a historic time -- this is the 43rd anniversary of the March on Washington, the "I Have a Dream" speech. And it's very ironic that we're here talking about the issue of race and poverty that stemmed from Katrina on an anniversary where Dr. King talked about equality. What have you learned in this year about race and poverty after Katrina?
The President: Well, one thing we've all learned is that the vision that Dr. Martin Luther King had for America has not yet been realized. In other words, the struggle for equality is an ongoing struggle.
Katrina was a terrible natural disaster, and as a result of that natural disaster, we saw a -- that a group of people lived in abject poverty. And the fundamental question is, will we react in a way that addresses the core issues of poverty?
One such issue is education. In other words, the school system had failed the people of New Orleans, the families of New Orleans. Will the -- out of this rubble and debris, emerge a school system that helps address the issue of poverty? Another issue is ownership. There was a lot of absentee landlords that held properties. I happen to believe that if somebody owns their own home, or owns their own business, they'll be better off. And that's one way to address abject poverty. Another is the criminal justice system that needs to be improved. In other words, the storm highlighted the need for society to continually address the root causes of poverty. And I vowed in Jackson Square in New Orleans, we would, and we are.
April Ryan: You brought up housing and you brought up education. New Orleans is now seeing an educational system with public schools only 18 percent up to par. Housing -- persons who own homes are getting $150,000. What about the renters? What about those who lived in public housing? What's the reason for people to come back when schools are only at 18 percent, and it was one of the worst school districts in the nation? And if they're not getting enough money to carry on their life, to fix their life, why come back to New Orleans?
The President: That's the fundamental question that the people of New Orleans and Louisiana are going to have to address, and the federal government will help them. It started with -- our help started with $110 billion worth of money heading into the Gulf Coast region.
Secondly, the people in Louisiana and New Orleans are adopting a new way of running their schools. They've now got charter schools in New Orleans. And it's an exciting new opportunity for the good folks down there, the education world, to say to people that have moved out of New Orleans, come back, the schools will be better.
First, you've got to help people rebuild their homes, and there's -- a lot of money will be down there for the homeowners. The federal government has an obligation to help those who lived in public housing. And Alphonso Jackson and HUD, they are responding to that need.
In terms of the renters, the best thing to do is to help people work, give them the skills necessary so they can fill those new jobs that will be coming down there so that they can go from renters to owners.
Mrs. Bush: Also, you know, I've been very interested in schools and in education, because I think if schools can open -- reopen all along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, that families will be able to come back. And families will be happy to come back if there are very good schools for their children to go to. So I feel like schools are one of the most crucial pieces of the recovery.
My foundation, a foundation I have for libraries, has given 10 grants to rebuild, restock school libraries that were destroyed along the Gulf Coast. We announced the grants to 10 schools earlier in the summer, and today we'll announce 10 more schools. These are large grants of $50,000 to $100,000, because that's what it costs to stock a good elementary school -- basic collection is about $50,000, and a high school collection is $100,000 up.
What I was hoping to do is relieve school districts of having to worry about stocking their libraries with the support of a foundation, the support of private individuals and corporations who are willing to restock.
But I think that schools are one of the most important pieces. And schools were destroyed; over 1,000 schools were destroyed. And many are being rebuilt and reopened. But it's also a time to call out to the whole United States and ask people who are teachers to consider moving to the Gulf Coast, getting a job there for a couple of years, or forever, for the rest of their lives, as teachers, because teachers are needed so desperately in all of those schools.
April Ryan: But isn't there a catch-22 -- housing, jobs, and education? If you don't have housing, how are you going to work in that area? And why would you bring your child there if the school system is not functioning properly?
The President: It is a catch-22. On the other hand, the problems that you've brought up in this questioning should say to the local folks, here's what we must address in order to be able to have our great city of New Orleans or the region prosper.
And the federal government can help, April, and we are. We spent a lot of money on helping rebuild schools. We've got a lot of money in the pipeline to help homeowners rebuild. But it's up to the local folks to make the decisions necessary to encourage people to come back. In other words, you've got to have rational zoning laws, construction codes that make sense. The government has got to help rebuild the levees, and we are. But inside the levees, the quality of life decisions will be made by the local folks. And that's the way it should be, because I believe if Washington tried to dictate response, it could never really fully understand the needs of the local folks, the history and traditions.
April Ryan: Mr. President, some have said that Ray Nagin's reelection effort thwarted the rebuild of New Orleans. Is he a help or a hindrance to your efforts?
The President: I think Ray Nagin is a person that received the endorsement of the people of New Orleans. And I believe that Ray Nagin understands what needs to be done. Now, he has asked the federal government for help. He has asked for us to help eradicate hurdles, bureaucratic hurdles, to help him realize a vision. That's why I've named Don Powell, who's a good friend of mine who's down there on a regular basis talking with Mayor Nagin. But Mayor Nagin ran on a platform and said, I will help rebuild this city. And now it's going to be up to him to deliver his promises. He also has got to work with the Governor and the Louisiana Recovery Administration.
And we've put out money to the Louisiana Recovery Administration so that they can get money into the hands of the people to rebuild their homes. And one of my -- one of the reasons I'm going down there is to have a discussion with the local folks to make sure there's good coordination between the state and the Mayor to get the job done. Now, the Mayor ran and said, vote for me, I'm going to get the job done. And I believe he can do that.
April Ryan: Did his reelection bid stall the rebuild of New Orleans?
The President: I don't think so. Obviously, the middle of an election caused things to probably come -- slow down. But I believe the election actually came at an interesting time. It's a time for the Mayor to take his message to the people of New Orleans. And this man -- I know this man. He and I went through a lot. He went through a heck of a lot more than I did because he was down there in the middle of the storm. And I watched him -- I watched him go through a period of desperation, and then realize help would be coming. And it's now up to him and the city council and the state government to seize the initiative, and implement a plan that has been developed. And I believe the people of Louisiana are capable of doing that.
April Ryan: Government corruption in New Orleans is very well reported. Do you think -- and I have heard that some of the prior corruption in New Orleans government thwarted temporary housing efforts for those from Katrina. Have you heard anything about it, and could you talk about that?
The President: I haven't, but I will tell you this: ultimately, any malfeasance or misexpenditure of money will be uncovered. Because one of the things we have an obligation to do here in Washington is to make sure the money is spent wisely. And when you're spending as much money as we did, there's going to be examples of mismanagement. But the key is for government to address mismanagement. And where we find it it will be exposed. But I know nothing about the allegations you've just suggested.
April Ryan: Have you heard of the audits of the Katrina Housing Department and things of that nature in trying to find -- some money was, allegedly, missing, and some units they didn't know that they had and where they were. Had you heard that?
The President: Well, I've heard -- you hear all kinds of rumors. Remember when we put out the money to help the people that had been routed out of their homes because of the storm, I made the decision -- I said, let's get money to those people as quickly as possible. Some of the money was misspent by the people themselves; some of the money was misallocated. Nevertheless, what the taxpayers have got to understand is that we have procedures in place to make sure that any allegation of corruption or malfeasance is investigated. And if people are cheating, or people are gaming the system, we'll find out and they'll be brought to account. And that's what the taxpayers expect.
On the other hand, I made the decision to be generous in our response. I went to Jackson Square in New Orleans and said, the government is going to help you. And we got the Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, to appropriate over $110 billion. That, in itself, ought to give confidence to the local folks that they have a partner in trying to rebuild after this terrible storm. They've also got to understand we'll be watching very carefully, and there are investigative units throughout our government that will be watching to make sure money is spent wisely.
April Ryan: What will it take for a federal czar or the federal government to go in and just take over the devastated areas?
The President: Well, I think this: I believe strongly, April, that the best strategy for the rebuilding of New Orleans would come from the folks there at the local level. And in Louisiana's case, they've set up what's called the Louisiana Recovery Administration, and that's a collaboration between the state and local government. And we're working closely -- Don Powell -- I guess you'd call him a "czar" -- working closely with the LRA to implement that strategy. And the government -- federal government has got a big role to play.
Now, obviously, where there are certain problems, we can help. For example, Al Gonzales was down there talking about -- with the local law enforcement folks about the recent crime wave. Ultimately, the local folks are going to have to rise up to the responsibility and get the job done. And that's the way it is in New Orleans, and that's the way it's got to be in every city in the United States, and every state in the United States. You have to -- those of us in Washington must trust the local folks. But where we find inadequacies, or where there needs to be extra help, if the law so allows, we will provide that help.
April Ryan: Realistically, how much of the destruction will be permanent?
The President: You know, that's the interesting question. The first question is -- you can rebuild buildings, and we will rebuild. The question is, can you rebuild the soul? And I believe so. I really believe so. I believe, 10 years from now, April, you and I will be thinking about our time, and you in the news and me in the political sector will be trying to remember back what it was like 10 years ago, and I predict that New Orleans will rise again. There's too much history, too much tradition, too many people that want New Orleans to rise again for it not to do so.
We're one year after the most devastating -- or one of the most devastating natural disasters in the nation's history -- by far, the most costly. And you know, anniversaries are a time to reflect, no question about it. But it is -- an anniversary is not the end of the process; in this case, it's the beginning of the process because the devastation was so huge.
It's really hard for citizens who haven't been down there to envision what took place on the Mississippi Gulf Coast or what took place within New Orleans and the parishes around New Orleans. It was unbelievable devastation. And the key for me is to say to the folks down there, you know, we hear you, and we understand, and we want to work with the state and local folks to get the strategies that are in place implemented.
The good news is, the federal government responded through an appropriations process that was bipartisan in nature. In other words, the people down there can know there is a lot of money that's going to help. But they've also got to know much of the recovery and much of the rebuilding of the spirit is up to them. It's up to them to seize the moment and to renew the schools, or to start a small business. It's up to them to help rebuild homes and, as Laura said, come back to the region if you're a school teacher.
No question the devastation was terrible, and no question a lot of people left. But one of my jobs, and one of our responsibilities is to remind people that New Orleans is still a good place to go to. So we'll be going to a hotel tonight and spend the night and eating a good meal. But the other thing is to call people to come home, and remind people that even though there was devastation, there's progress.
There's still a lot of work to be done -- a lot of work to be done. But out of the rubble, there's a chance for a new New Orleans that's able to take advantage of the old -- the music and the arts and the fantastic food and the great culture and the liveliness -- and provide hope for people where there was -- who had no hope before. And that's the challenge. And I believe that -- I believe the people could rise to that challenge.
April Ryan: What's the battle for you -- what's the battle for you and your party -- as black Americans, and not just black Americans, but mainstream Americans, as well, saw the travesty and the slow response from Hurricane Katrina -- what is the battle for you for the midterm election? And also, what do you think Jesse Jackson can do to help in the Middle East?
The President: Can help?
April Ryan: Can help the Middle East. He's gone to the Middle East.
The President: I don't know. Look, we've got -- I've got a fantastic Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice is plenty capable and I rely upon her judgment and -- to conduct our diplomacy. And I'm confident that over time, if we help the reformers realize the great benefits of liberty, that we can achieve the peace we want.
Now, in terms of the politics of Katrina, I will -- I flatly reject the concept that the federal response was based upon race. I just -- I reject that out of hand. And whoever says that is trying to politicize a very difficult situation. The federal response could have been better, and I've taken responsibility for the federal response. As a matter of fact, the Governor took responsibility for the state response, and the Mayor took responsibility for the local response. In other words, our point was, we all could have done better.
I remember sitting in New Orleans in the midst of the devastation, was asked about the question of race. And I said this; I said, those chopper pilots that were pulling people off the roofs -- some 30,000-plus -- didn't ask race. They asked, can I help you?
And the fundamental question at this point, in terms of race, is, can we help address the root causes of abject poverty in the rebuilding of New Orleans the Gulf Coast? And the answer is, not only can we help, we must help. And that begins with good schools; it begins with ownership, helping people own their own business. It talks about making sure that the faith-based institutions are vibrant in that area so that people can have hope.
The storm exposed a racial divide; the rebuilding has a chance to heal that divide. It's hard work, but it's necessary work. And the federal government is committed to that work, and so am I.
April Ryan: Thank you, Mr. President.
Mrs. Bush, do you have anything? I don't want to leave you out, because you're part of this team, too.
Mrs. Bush: Well, I'm excited today to go down there and talk about schools and about teachers. And I want to encourage volunteers across the country who have been very, very helpful. Lots of college kids spent their summer in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast helping people pull out all the molded sheet rock from their houses, and furniture, and discard it, and so people can start to rebuild.
I want to encourage volunteers to spend time on the Gulf Coast -- college-age kids, high school kids. But I also want to encourage a lot of adults to not forget the Gulf Coast. It's huge devastation; it's going to take a long time to rebuild. So continue to send checks; continue to work with your Sunday schools or your synagogues and go down in groups to help people rebuild.
April Ryan: Thank you so very much. Thank you both.
END 11:45 AM
No comments :
Post a Comment