LAWRENCE JACKSON/AP
President Bush sits with Ailisa Eugene and Frank Jack at the make shift shelter at Bethany World Prayer Center , Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La. The couple, from Metairie, La., was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and are expecting a baby in Nove
BAKER – President George W. Bush’s visit to Bethany World Prayer Center Monday came as a surprise to evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. His tour, which was accompanied by East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden, was the second along the Gulf Coast since the hurricane hit.
While some of the evacuees were happy the Commander in Chief decided to drop by, others were not so receptive.
New Orleans native Patricia Smith said she was happy the president visited.
“It’s good he came, but I wanted to talk to him,” Smith said. “We need money to be able to get our lives back together.”
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco visited the shelter as well, on a separate tour. Bush, meanwhile, was in Baton Rouge to meet with Holden about the city’s future.
Holden said he and the president discussed funding to strengthen the city’s infrastructure to support the influx of new residents. He said they also discussed funding for added security and the immenent growth of Metro Airport.
Despite the pledge by Bush to help the areas affected by Katrina and the president’s signature on a $10.5 million aid bill, Plaquemines Parish resident Spencer Picquet said he did not believe the President’s visit was sincere.
“It ain’t the place for him to visit. He needs to visit Plaquemines Parish,” Picquet said. “There’s no home for me to go back to. My home is part of the Gulf now.”
Hamilton Williams, another New Orleans evacuee, said he thought the President’s visit was just an opportunity to take pictures.
“Bush just came here to take some pictures,” Williams said. “He kept avoiding a lot of questions that we were asking. Bethany has done more for us than FEMA and Bush.”