Mayor Nagin is a Lucky Guy

I've been following the Hurricane Katrina news, with a little help from a friend, and I've decided that Mayor Nagin is very, very lucky. That hurricane swerved at nearly the last minute. Lots of people did not leave; many because they simply couldn't. The gridlock was scary for those who did not want to be stuck on a freeway when the hurricane came, and the mandatory evacuation did not come until after it was too late to avail oneself of public transportation out of the storm's path. Citizens do bear great responsibility for self-preservation, but when they receive information that is short of dire and little different than many of the previous hurricane warnings, who can blame them for waiting until the mandatory evacuation order to leave? Considering that he knew, or at least should have known, that the hurricane was barrelling towards New Orleans on Friday evening, I see no reason for waiting until Sunday to issue the order. As an elected public official, it is his duty to make sure that information is clear.

I believe that Mayor Nagin is an irresponsible public official. He gave the residents of New Orleans very short notice. He availed himself of vertical transportation which was unavailable to his constituents -- leaving those who entrusted him with their well-being in harm's way. Mayor Nagin should have remained to the end in light of his blunder, joining those who suffered from his untimely action. His blunder could have been very tragic, but for the fortuitous, and unexpected, swerve of a hurricane. Shame on you, Mayor Nagin.