Ray Nagin Reflects On Hurricane Katrina Six Years Later

Ray Nagin: I Regret Not Calling A Mandatory Evacuation Sooner

Six years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and its surrounding communities, former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin says he regrets not calling a mandatory evacuation sooner in a candid sit-down interview with BET.com.

According to Nagin, his outspokenness made him an easy target and a scapegoat in many situations.

“I was basically the last person standing that was one of the key leaders,” he said.

“There were open discussions about changing the social fabric of the city and very bold discussions about gentrification. I had to make a very tough decision to say that everybody had a right to return to the city of New Orleans and there was a heavy price I paid for that…”