Oct. 15, 2009 – Obama will make his first trip as president to New Orleans Thursday where he’ll visit the post Katrina city and get a look at how a portion of the $126 billion dollars committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast have been spent.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, talks with Jim Pate, right, Executive Director of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity while taking a tour of the project the group is building at the Musicians' Village, Friday July 21, 2006 in New Orleans. Obama spent the day touring parts of the city damaged by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

During his stay the president is scheduled to visit the McCrary community center and hold a town hall meeting at the University of New Orleans. But he won’t be heading to Mississippi this trip as some officials had hoped. 

Since Katrina and Rita’s devastation in 2005 rebuilding the Gulf Coast has been smothered in bureaucratic processes, conflicting priorities with state and local officials and political distractions.  Former Congressman William Jefferson (D-Lo.) was convicted on bribery charges earlier this year.

The city’s top negotiator, Mayor Ray Nagin has also been a target of criticism from residence who think he hasn’t done enough to get the city back on track.  But New Orleans’ economy has seen tough times – and bouncing back has its challenges.  It’s doubtful the pre-Katrina city will ever return. 

And recently Nagin warned of a potential $68 million budget shortfall next year, leaving city workers faced with furloughs.

Obama’s presence won’t solve the bureaucratic nightmare facing the city but his visit could give the funding process a jump start and shake-up on-the-ground federal, state and local officials.  Let’s hope his presence encourages a renewed sense of pulling together and keeping recovery efforts on track.

Jimmy Stokes, a hairdresser in New Orleans told The Associated Press, “I’m just really tired: Tired of nothing being done.”