Ten years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the city is still finding its footing. Though both residents and businesses are trickling back, the public is divided on the amount of progress they’ve seen.
A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation/NPR found that a mere 44 percent of Black residents feel that the majority of the city has recovered, compared to 70 percent of White people. Additionally, Black residents were more likely to report that they felt unsafe in their neighborhoods and they felt that their communities were underpoliced.
Though many residents, both Black and White, felt that the city had made strides in repairing the levees and water pumps, only 65 percent of Black individuals felt that jobs were readily available, compared to 90 percent of White people. African-Americans were also more likely to report that dismal progress had been made in the public school system and in the housing market. Residents across color lines admitted that the city’s recovery efforts favorite White residents over minorities.
Louisiana State University’s Public Policy Research Lab conducted a similar poll, which found that 33 percent more White residents reported a better quality of life post-Katrina than African-Americans. They also have a more favorable opinion of raising children in the city.
Despite the split on many issues, both Black and White residents agree that the city’s disaster plan has improved since Katrina.