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Now that President Bush has made a massive commitment to the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast and the Greater New Orleans area, the usual suspects are moving in to try to secure the federal money. Recently in Dallas, a group of mostly white business leaders met with Mayor Ray Nagin about their vision of how to remake New Orleans. Upon his return, Nagin was greeted by complaints from African American politicians who did not appreciate the Mayor's meeting. These politicians want to control the flow of federal funds to the city. So, a battle is brewing, which group should direct the rebuilding of New Orleans?

Actually, neither one should manage the future direction of New Orleans because both groups have failed the city miserably in the past. Not only did the business community and the politicians fail, but the ministers failed as well. Otherwise, New Orleans would not have been so poor, so crime ridden, have some of the worst public schools in the country and of course be completely vulnerable to hurricanes.

Many of these so called "leaders" have spent their careers only worrying about profiting themselves from contracts or politics, as opposed to the overall well being of New Orleans. These architects of past failures should not be given the keys to the new city that will be rebuilt. The new City of New Orleans needs to be different, for this is a historic opportunity to make one of America's oldest cities one of the most modern in the country. New Orleans needs input from outstanding urban planners and leading intellectuals, as well as hard working community activists, the people who fight crime and poverty without handsome rewards.

As New Orleans is rebuilt, it must retain its diversity and the interesting mix of cultures and influences that have always made the city so unique. However, there need to be significant changes. New Orleans should use federal money to build neighborhoods and not housing projects. The projects in New Orleans were breeding grounds for crime and despair. The Orleans Parish School System needs to be totally revamped. The old system was a disaster. The children did not receive an education and there was rampant fraud and corruption. Now, there is a chance to build true places of learning and tear down the eyesores that passed for school buildings that littered New Orleans. The children of New Orleans always deserved better and this is an opportunity to give them real education. Finally, as the world witnessed on television during the hurricane, there were too many criminals in New Orleans, many of whom may try to return. Criminals need to be dealt with harshly and not given a "revolving door" of justice to terrorize the streets right after they are apprehended. All of the progress that may happen in New Orleans can be derailed by a lawless society and an ineffective criminal justice system.

As New Orleans rebuilds, only those who want to be productive citizens should be invited back. The welcome mat should be out for everyone who wants to live peacefully, work hard and contribute to the community. It should not matter what the racial composition of the new city will look like, as long as residents are committed to a better New Orleans.

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