"We're just five days away from New Orleans' April 22 municipal elections, and the city's people have to endure another insult, the AP reports:
Secretary of State Al Ater wants to know why the federal government agreed to pay for New York City's municipal elections after Sept. 11, 2001, but refuses to pay for New Orleans' elections after Hurricane Katrina.
FEMA recently turned down Louisiana's request for the extra $3-4 million it will take to hold the April 22 New Orleans municipal elections, rescheduled in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
But the agency shelled out $7.9 million after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks delayed New York City's elections.
This comes on top of the Department of Justice's announcement last month that there was no need for remote polling stations in states outside of Louisiana, even though 50-60% of New Orleans residents remain dispursed. (This is in contrast to the five remote balloting stations enjoyed by Iraqi expats in that country's 2005 vote.) As The Nation points out,
Justice officials went so far as to claim that 'minority members of the Louisiana House and Senate were unanimous' in supporting the plan, a claim roundly disputed by elected black leaders, including State Senator Cleo Fields.
This is why thousands of New Orleans residents think that Republicans are out to disenfranchise them. But where have the Democrats done. . ."
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