Dear Councilperson Midura,

As one of your constituents and as a property owner in Lakeview, I am writing to you to urge you to keep the August 29 deadline now cited in the council passed legislation regarding the clean up of devastated flood property. It is my understanding that you are in favor of extending the deadline, and I urgently ask you to reconsider that position.

My home is located at 5928 Vicksburg Street in Lakeview. We are currently in the process of rebuilding our home. Four of my neighbors, with their children, are moving back into their homes in July and August. Many of the homes on our block have been gutted, but almost one year later, some have not. Indeed, in some of these homes the owners have not even taken out their refrigerators. We have one neighbor who owns his own construction company. His home has not been gutted, his refrigerator is still in the home and rats and raccoons are seen coming and going from the property. I am told that the homeowner across the service alley from this house wants to rebuild and move back, but that property owner's contractor will not start work until the rodent problem is alleviated. My neighbor's with their two children will be moving back in next door this mold and rat infested property this August. The property owner has been contacted on numerous occasions, but to no avail. This is an untenable situation.

Another of my neighbors is an orthopedic surgeon. His home also remains ungutted with a refrigerator still inside. I give you these examples to illustrate the severity of the problem and to ask why the deadline should be extended in such circumstances to the continued detriment of the very people who are trying desperately to reclaim their lives and their neighborhoods. Surely, some form of legislation can be crafted which requires those who can assume responsibility for their property to do so. So far, as I understand it, the City of New Orleans rebuilding plan can largely be summed up as "fend for yourself." Surely it is time for anyone in a leadership capacity who can make a difference to lend some support to those residents who are in fact fending for themselves. Therefore, I urgently ask you to support the current August 29 deadline for taking care of ones property. If I can be of any assistance in this matter I will be happy to do so. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Karen Stastny

Please note that I did not write this but I do support this.

Excellent letter and I fully support what you have said.

I have met with somone from Midura's office to stress the importance of keeping the August 29 deadline due to health reasons. West Nile , Listeria and other infections are real threats secondary to un-gutted homes.

I completely agree. PLEASE KEEP DEADLINE.

I agree with keeping the 08-29-06 deadline for property owners to clean up their houses.

I would also like to see something done about litter that work crews are leaving behind.