French Quarter Will Stay Clean

After weeks of haggling, New Orleans
officials say they've come up with money to maintain rigorous
cleaning in the city's famed French Quarter.
Before Hurricane Katrina, French Quarter streets were often
littered and foul-smelling after a night's partying. But since the
storm, beefed-up scrubbing has helped bring visitors to the crucial
tourism area.
The city had recently said a budget shortfall was forcing it to
scale back sanitation services that include mechanical street
sweeping and trucks that spray water to clear garbage and other
debris.
But on Wednesday, Mayor Ray Nagin said he's agreed to use $2.5
million in local economic development funds to keep those services.
Nagin said the money should be available in two weeks after
committee and council approval.