Ray Nagin Quotes

Candor is the only way I know how to do it. I'm way too old to change. At the end of the day, I believe the truth is stronger than any lie that's out there. The people of our city are holding on by a thread. Time has run out. Can we survive another night? And who can we depend on? Only God knows. It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans - the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans. This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans. The reality is this city will not be the same for a while, ... We're not saying bring New Orleans back today. We're out of nuclear crisis mode and into normal, day-to-day crisis mode. You are in a position to create wealth not only for yourself but for your children and your children's children. One of the best moments Ive ever had in New Orleans is seeing Bourbon Street filled on a weekend night not long ago. Just watching the city breathe again. I dont think that any person can fix FEMA. I think FEMA needs a total restructuring. I think it needs to be taken from scratch and redone. The regulations are outdated; the rules are outdated. I always feel that in politics, you have a bridle on. Well, I took the bridle off. And I tell you, it felt pretty good. The rise of the Earth's temperature, causing sea level increases that could add up to one foot over the next 30 years, threatens the very existence of New Orleans. It's all right. You guys in New York City can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later, so let's be fair. This economic pie that is getting ready to explode before our eyes is going to be shared equally. Some of these guys are so violent that it is hard for witnesses to come forward, and they get involved in repeat criminal activities, so it is unfortunate that they had to die, but it did kind of end the cycle that we were struggling with. You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about. I think I did everything possible known to any mayor in the country as it relates to saving lives. I just tell you, I'm not a big FEMA fan. They're feeding the people a line of bull, and they are spinning and people are dying. Basically, the start of my thinking process is: 'OK, if you didn't have to worry about re-election, what would you be doing?' That's kind of how I'm starting to think. If we're unified, there's nothing we cannot do. Excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed. We're learning as we go. We're a lot smarter this time. We understand what it takes to mobilize away from the threat of a hurricane.