Wednesday, December 12, 2007

New Orleans Housing is being demolished!

Karlos recently put up a video that goes through the many testimonies of those speaking out about the demolition of housing in New Orleans. It is both disgusting and outrageous what is happening out there. I encourage you to see the video from yesterday's post. But also to hear this message put out by the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance and take action now.
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NOLA Housing Crisis Update 12-12-07 7:30pm

By Bill Quigley

Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), totally controlled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is trying to demolish 4500 public housing apartments. Residents and affordable housing advocates are resisting.

Demolition started at BW Cooper this afternoon. Dozens of protestors arrived on site. They blocked a driveway to prevent a bulldozer from entering. At 6:30 in the evening law enforcement pulled back and left one office guarding the bulldozer still left on the street. Sam Jackson of BW Cooper thanked everyone for helping out and told everyone to go home and get a good night’s sleep and be ready to start over tomorrow.

Appeals of the decision to demolish BW Cooper and CJ Peete were filed with the City Council. Plus one of the legal team discovered that the New Orleans City Code specifically requires the City Council to approve demolition of public housing. A request for the City Council to review the proposed demolitions was made late today.

The US 5th circuit refused to stop demolitions while the federal civil rights class action case for residents was being appealed.

Over 100 organizations, both national and regional, endorsed the Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act of 2007 (S.1668), which would provide that no demolition shall occur until HUD devises a plan to replace all of the units that would be demolished.

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