Mayor Parker Will Join Mission To Gulf Coast

Houston Mayor Annise Parker will travel to the Gulf  Coast on Monday, June 21, to  show support for  New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other area mayors impacted by the BP Oil disaster.

BP Americas Headquarters is based in Houston.

Later in the day, CNN will host a live telethon to help the victims of the oil spill.

The trip was arranged by the U.S. Conference of Mayors after its annual meeting last week.  According to a news release issued by the group, the U.S. mayors passed a resolution on the oil disaster calling for the Obama Administration to establish a special task force of appropriate senior federal officials, including a Gulf Oil Disaster commander to direct the actions of all the federal agencies involved, to provide timely and updated information to mayors and local officials on mitigation efforts, and to ensure that lead federal agencies are coordinating closely with cities and local governments in ALL PHASES of the national response. 

Janice Evans, Mayor Parker’s communication director, tells 2 On The Beat that the mayor’s schedule will not allow her to take part in a bus tour with fishermen or see some of the coastline  devastated by the spill, but Parker will participate in an afternoon news conference with Landrieu and other mayors. 

The goal is for the mayors to discuss the disaster and develop future strategy while lunching over fresh catch Louisiana Seafood.  

KPRC Local 2 investigative reporter Robert Arnold will cover the tour and news conference. He will have live updates beginning at 4 p.m. Monday.