Spread The Katrina Blame, But Spread It Accurately

To the editors:

In the op-ed “Putting Blame Where it Belongs” (Sep. 12), Mark A Adomanis asks the question, “Why did Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco not declare a state of emergency immediately after the hurricane hit, instead becoming embroiled in an administrative turf war with the federal government?” In truth, Gov. Blanco declared a state of emergency well before the hurricane’s landfall.

He also asks, “Why did the city not use its substantial public transit assets to aid in the mandatory evacuation of the city?” In fact, several articles from the New Orleans Times-Picayune made clear that public buses were used to transport people to the Superdome.

Yes, there is blame to be passed at many levels, but there is no need to rely on false accusations to do so.

DAVID FONTES

West Yarmouth, Mass.

September 12, 2005