Students In San Jose March To Remember Katrina

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 28, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- A group of San Jose State University students are trying to help New Orleans rebuild by reviving a 72-year-old work program. The students want to bring back the depression era Work Projects Administration - the WPA.

Thirty or so San Jose State University students, faculty and Katrina survivors are marching today to commemorate the second anniversary of the devastation hurricane Katrina caused to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. CC Campbell is a Katrina survivor who last week visited her home town.

"It's virtually like it was after Katrina sans the water," hurricane Katrina survivor C.C Campbell said.

Campbell is here because the students have formed the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project. It's a form of the WPA created during the depression 72 years ago. The proposed project is now a national effort to try and create 100,000 jobs for gulf coast residents. CC Campbell thinks it'll help.

"Thats what the federal government did not compensate for is loss of jobs and loss of income. If I don't have a job why am I going home?" Campbell said.

Campbell says she will go home after she and her husband rebuild, she also was surprised at what President Bush said today.

"This town is better today than it was yesterday," President Bush said.

"That's mayhem and foolishness is what that is. That is pure hogwash," Campbell said.

Carmen Evans lost her home and her job in New Orleans, now she lives in Burlingame.

"I take care of myself my mom and my son in New Orleans I was renting, I had my son in private school we were making it. Here I pay three times as much for rent," Evans said.

A resolution supporting the students is now before state lawmakers in Sacramento.

The resolution by these students to create 100,000 jobs WPA-type jobs will be voted on by the California state assembly this Friday.

Students hope that the resolution will then pass the state senate and hopefully get some attention from President Bush.

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