Day One Report
Presentation Materials from Day One (in PDF format):

• Walter Brooks - Building a Regional Sustainable Community for New Orleans
• Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu - Keynote Speech
• Robert Flowers - Rebuilding After Disasters
• Jim Richardson - New Orleans:  It's Economic Future
• Danny Taylor - Entergy New Orleans, Inc. After Hurricane Katrina
• Sarah Woodworth - Public/Private Partnership
• Rene Zijlstra - Flood Management from a Dutch Perspective

Inspiring Messages from New Orleans
In addition to the governor’s message, the first morning of the Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference presented messages of hope and expectation for the conference.

AIA Chief Operations Officer Jim Dinegar introduced Norman Robinson, the anchor of New Orleans’ WDSU, Channel 6. A native of New Orleans who brought eyewitness reports to his fellow citizens, Robinson thanked the AIA and other participating organizations for keeping this story alive.” He briefly told the audience of his experiences with the storm and the floods: “I was struck by the demonic effects of the flood waters. I have never seen water like this in 30 years of covering floods,” he said. Particularly symbolic of the destruction to him was his granddaughter’s crumbled upright piano. “It looked like bewitching exercise,” he said “If this story died, it would be another tragedy. You have our undying gratitude for your energy, and your dedication … Please be prolific—we need your ideas.”

AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce is also a Louisiana native.

Collaborative process: AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, told the group, “With your presence and our collective commitment, we will define a path to solutions that will lead to your designed paths,” he said. He explained that the goal of the conference is to generate a body of defining principles. “Conceptual ideas will be shared here. This will be a collaborative process engaging everyone here.” Koonce assured the audience that the rebuilding work cannot and will not be dictated by outside demands. “The visions that we see will be your visions,” he said. “I wish you good fortune from good planning.”

AIA President Douglas L Steidl welcomes the 500 conference attendees.

Driven by the citizens: AIA President Douglas L Steidl, FAIA, made clear that the role of the AIA is not to dictate or advocate any solutions. “Our role is to work with the citizens of this state and city,” he said. “The participants will define what success looks like.” He reminded the audience that Governor Blanco has called for all groups to work together. The most important question we can ask, he concluded, is: “How do we approach this disaster as an opportunity to create a better future?

W. Paul Farmer, executive director and CEO of the American Planning Association.

Planning creates confidence: W. Paul Farmer, executive director and CEO of the American Planning Association and a native of Shreveport, La., reminded the audience that, “We know that together, we can accomplish much.” Recalling a brief history of major city planning operations, he spoke of how Chicago returned stronger than ever after the 1871 fire, and that after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco tore down a major freeway that allowed its fabric of neighborhoods to be reunited. “Communities can emerge more beautiful, more just, and more successful,” he said. The process, of course, needs money, and “investments of time, caring, and creativity” as the conference participants have made clear. “We believe that planning is a way to create confidence for a city,” he concluded, and confidence leads to rebuilding and investor confidence.


No discrimination: David Siegel, AICP, also of the American Planning Association, said that “most of us can’t fathom the depth of feelings; only people who went through it can.” He cautioned that “we cannot give up on our cities, our rural communities, our people, and our culture.” He noted that hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not discriminate in the misery they wrought, and that “we cannot discriminate in our efforts to replant and rebuild.” We need to engage community residents, give citizens choices, and do planning right,” he concluded.

Xavier University President Dr. Norman Francis, who also chairs the Louisiana Recovery Authority, greets Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.

Preserving the culture: Xavier University President Dr. Norman Francis, who also chairs the Louisiana Recovery Authority, said that he couldn’t imagine another group with such expertise gathering in one place. “I thank you for bringing our people hope,” he said. “At the Louisiana Recovery Authority, we are volunteers—we know that we can’t do it alone.” He says that the group hopes to work collaboratively in the cities across Louisiana with the people of Louisiana to preserve their culture and still make their cities better. “Katrina and Rita did not discriminate—and now we are being brought together to rebuild,” he told the audience. “We will be back—we are determined to be back, and we will together welcome our people back to a city that is bigger and better than the one we left.”

Vice Admiral Thad Allen, chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard, who currently is leading the federal recovery effort.

Moving toward long-term recovery: Vice Admiral Thad Allen, chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard, who currently is leading the federal recovery effort, explained how the efforts he is directing are just now transitioning into long-term recovery. The group currently is working on reestablishing the criminal justice system, and on November 7 just began examining water resources. Admiral Allen said that one of the main tasks for the federal groups is to make sure that communications systems are in place to get critical information across to citizens. “Your challenges are significant,” he acknowledged. “We look forward to working with you, and wish you good luck.”