Federal Coordinator Douglas O'Dell Keynote Speaker at Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Quarterly Luncheon

Release Date: July 23, 2008

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: Brendan LaCivita (202) 572-8878

New Orleans, LA. – General Doug O'Dell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, today spoke at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana quarterly luncheon where he discussed federal efforts to improve levees, help rebuild housing, improve criminal justice, and expand work force development. O'Dell also thanked the Hispanic community for their continued contributions to the region's recovery.

"The Hispanic community is a critical part of rebuilding the New Orleans area and the greater Gulf region," said O'Dell. "The local Hispanic population has increased significantly, as individuals see the great opportunities and new hope for the future this area offers."

According to the Hispanic Apostolate of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans there are between 100,000 and 150,000 Hispanics in the New Orleans metropolitan area, an estimated 40% increase over pre-Katrina numbers, and they continue to face many challenges from work exploitation to general street crime. Today's luncheon with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana provided O'Dell the opportunity to address many of these issues and to assure Hispanic employers and leaders progress is being made to help support this growing community.

"With opportunity comes challenge and those facing this thriving community are sometimes magnified," O'Dell said. "Hispanics often are the victims of local street crime but we are working with local partners to strengthen the criminal justice system and rebuild the criminal justice infrastructure. New Orleans has the best flood protection they have ever had, affordable housing is being addressed, education reform is transforming a system that even pre-Katrina was failing local children, but until we effectively address crime and public corruption all other achievements are largely irrelevant."

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana is a non-profit organization whose mission has historically included the expansion of trade relations between the state of Louisiana and Latin America.

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to state and local leaders, as well as reinforcing the federal government's commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.

www.dhs.gov/gulfcoastrebuild

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This page was last reviewed/modified on July 23, 2008.