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Short of forcing many of the black residents who left New Orleans to return by gunpoint, it is unlikely that the city will return to its pre-Katrina racial composition of 70% black and 30% white.

Hurricane Katrina wasn't the only reason for residents from the predominantly black neighborhoods such as the 9th Ward, Central City, and New Orleans East to flee the city.

There are also crime, poverty, corruption, and drugs - social ills that are in season all year long in New Orleans.

If black political leaders are flustered over the unfavorable shift in the city's population hue, they have only themselves to blame. Black politicians have controlled city government for over the past twenty-five years and any decline in New Orleans quality of life rests at their doorstep.

You can't blame Bull Connor for the deplorable condition of the city's school system.

While I don't subscribe to the mayor's "divine theory" on demographics, New Orleans has been "Neapolitan" since colonial days, populated with French, Spanish, blacks (both slaves and free men of colour), and "Kaintucks," making it America's original melting pot community. No matter which ethnic group has a majority, New Orleans will never look like Salt Lake City.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans needs many things: better levees, the closure of the MRGO, and true political reform and accountability.

Add removing from office the city's "knucklehead" for a mayor to that list.

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Mike Bayham is a former St. Bernard Parish Councilman and can be contacted at MikeBayham@yahoo.com.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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