NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Ray Nagin and federal officials on Wednesday revived the effort to place thousands of trailers throughout the city as stopgap housing for people who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina.
Three weeks ago Nagin halted work on new trailer sites, complaining that the Federal Emergency Management Agency used “bullying” tactics and built a site outside a gated community without the proper permits.
On Wednesday, Nagin and FEMA officials announced that they had bridged their differences. Nagin said he changed his mind after “frank, productive discussions” with Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff. He did not elaborate.
Nagin’s decision is “permitting us to move forward,” said Gil Jamieson, FEMA’s deputy director of Gulf Coast Recovery.
Officials hope to install about 8,000 trailers by the end of June. Before the impasse, FEMA had placed about 1,500 travel trailers at enclosed sites around the city.
In addition, there are about 10,000 trailers sitting in yards and side-lots occupied by homeowners. Another 10,000 homeowners are still waiting for trailers, and officials said those, too, should be in place by the end of June.
For months the process to establish trailer parks has been slowed as Nagin, FEMA, the City Council and neighborhood groups have weighed in.
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