Basin Street Record’s Mark Samuels has been outspoken on the subject of the Katrina disaster and plans to rebuild New Orleans. He has been most critical of FEMA, but he was not exactly over-joyed about Mayor Nagin’s re-election. As the president of an independent label, Samuels was less than thrilled with the following quote from Nagin via the AP:
"Business people are predators, and if the economic opportunities are here, they're going to stay. If not, they are going to leave," said Mayor Nagin, in his now-famous vernacular. "I think there's enough interest around the country that we're going to attract top businesses ... God bless them. I hope they stay but if they don't, I'll send them a postcard."
Way to bring people together. Business people like Samuels will be the engine of New Orleans economic recovery. Rather than demonize them, the newly re-elected Mayor should try to create a more conducive environment for economic growth, making it easier for small businesses to hire new employees. Samuels writes to his Mayor: “My children and I hope to be a part of the solution, but please stop making the problems worse.”
Basin Street Records, home of Irvin Mayfield and Henry Butler, is definitely a good thing for New Orleans. Mayor Nagin however, will have to work diligently over the next four years for his redemption in history’s eyes.
