New Orleans mayor says to pursue BP for damages

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21262453.htm

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Monday said he will pursue legal claims against BP for damage to his city's economy from the massive oil spill and is seeking about $75 million to promote the city.

"This will dwarf the economic affect of Katrina," Landrieu said of the 2005 hurricane that flooded 80 percent of the city. "We're going to have many legal claims against BP.

"This is a tragic event," said Landrieu, who wore a "Save Our Coast" T-shirt told Reuters during a tour of oil-damaged marshlands, along with mayors of 17 U.S. cities. "It hurts on a personal level. Everyone in Louisiana is family."

(snip)
Landrieu has vowed to pursue legal action against BP and says that despite his city's distance from the coast, the leak is having a direct financial impact on New Orleans.