Nothing is synonomous with bad government quite like the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to Hurricane Katrina. But should FEMA be faulted for New Orlean’s continued failure to recover from Katrina?

The Wall Street Journal’s Alex Roth makes the point that road and building problems in New Orleans existed well before Katrina. I don’t agree with the implicit point that federal funds aren’t the answers to these problems. But should it be FEMA federal money? The agency’s mandate is to respond to emergencies — not deal with the unfortunately chronic problem of urban blight. Almost three years after Katrina it may be time for the federal government to devise a more long-term New Orleans plan.-MB

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