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<b>From: </b>"n d" <arugula2@gmail.com> <br>
<b>Date: </b>November 25, 2006 10:13:34 AM PST <br>
<b>To: </b>baygulfsupporters@lists.riseup.net,
baygulfsolidarity@lists.riseup.net <br>
<b>Subject: [baygulfsolidarity] SAVE 5000 New Orleans Apartments in a
single email! <br>
Reply-To: </b>baygulfsolidarity@lists.riseup.net, "n d"
<arugula2@gmail.com> <br><br>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:16:15 -0600 <br>
From: survivors village <survivorsvillage@gmail.com> <br>
Subject: SAVE 5000 New Orleans Apartments in a <br>
single email! <br><br>
<br>
For all those who oppose the demolition of 5000 <br>
desperately needed, virtually undamaged apartments, <br>
HUD and the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) <br>
are required to listen to your opinion! The federal <br>
judge hearing the case against the demolitions has <br>
required HANO to hold a consultative meeting with <br>
residents and supporting organizations. You don't <br>
have to be a resident to give your opinion to HANO. <br>
Write an email or send the attached sample to the <br>
address listed below today, and cc: <br>
survivorsvillage@gmail.com, so we can print your <br>
emails and bring them to HANO's meeting on November <br>
29th. Visit
<a href="http://www.survivorsvillage.com/" eudora="autourl">
www.survivorsvillage.com</a> or <br>
<a href="http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.justiceforneworleans.org</a> for more information. <br><br>
All written comments should be sent to: <br>
info@hano.org <br>
You may also call 504-670-3300, but emails provide <br>
documented support! <br><br>
Lafitte Development is the most pristine looking of <br>
all the public housing complexes in NOLA. <br>
Paradoxically, it is the first one slated for <br>
demolition! Even an architect for the developers <br>
said he admired the structures and condition of the <br>
buildings, and DOESN'T think they should be torn <br>
down. Many think that if HUD can succeed in <br>
demolishing this beautiful site, the others will be <br>
easy game. The property is also extremely valuable, <br>
only a few blocks from the French Quarter and the <br>
Central Business District. <br><br>
In August HUD announced two major partners in its <br>
plan to destroy this immediately inhabitable housing <br>
- Enterprise Community Partners and Providence <br>
Community Housing. Enterprise has a long history of <br>
assisting the 'downsizing' of low-income housing <br>
across the nation. Providence is a new organization <br>
associated with Catholic Charities whose president <br>
was party to the destruction of St Thomas <br>
development of NOLA. Developers turned St Thomas <br>
into River Gardens, in the process permanently <br>
displacing approximately 900 families but giving <br>
Wal-Mart a new home. The few families who could <br>
return describe the new neighborhood complaint <br>
system and it's restrictive rules as 'like living in <br>
prison'. <br>
Send the attached sample to the email addresses <br>
below, and then call the folks on their direct lines <br>
listed below and tell them to end their support for <br>
HUD's 'Campaign of Homelessness'. Tell them that <br>
they must withdraw their support for the demolition <br>
of Lafitte and let people come home to their <br>
undamaged homes NOW! If you live nearby, deliver <br>
your letter in person – maybe with a group! <br>
Remember, they will lie to you, just like they lied <br>
to the former residents of St Thomas development, <br>
where 900 families were promised new homes they <br>
never received. <br>
Aaron Weisner, aweisner@enterprisecommunity.org <br>
410-772-2621 New Orleans Project Lead <br>
Enterprise Community Partners, American City <br>
Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Maryland <br>
James R. Kelly, jkelly@archdiocese-no.org <br>
504-592-5683 President Providence Community Housing, <br>
1050 S. Jeff Davis Pkwy, Suite 301, New Orleans, LA <br>
70125 <br><br>
You may also want to talk to Tom Costanza <br>
tcostanza@archdiocese-no.org (504-596-3097), the <br>
Director of the Office of Justice and Peace for <br>
Catholic Charities, and tell him what you think <br>
JUSTICE looks like. <br><br>
Connie Andry candry@archdiocese-no.org <br>
(504-310-8738), the head of the Homeless Services <br>
project for Catholic Charities might want a heads up <br>
that she's about to get a lot busier if Providence <br>
helps evict all the Lafitte residents. <br><br>
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! - KNOW JUSTICE, KNOW PEACE! <br>
Contact 504-717-7324 for more information <br>
HUD and HANO, <br><br>
REOPEN ALL PUBLIC HOUSING ... SAVE LAFITTE!! <br><br>
ENTERPRISE and PROVIDENCE <br><br>
END YOUR PROFITEERING COMPLICITY WITH THESE <br>
EVICTIONS! <br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
Attorneys say displaced residents "...have already <br>
been wrongfully deprived of one Christmas at home, <br>
the court should not deprive them of a second. This <br>
Thanksgiving, as we reflect on all that we have, <br>
this Court should allow Plaintiffs the simple <br>
dignity of being able to return to their homes." <br><br>
<br>
I AGREE – LET FAMILIES COME HOME TO THEIR UNDAMAGED <br>
APARTMENTS! <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* Displaced families are struggling. Landlords <br>
won't accept housing vouchers. Emergency apartments <br>
are far from public transportation and jobs. Support <br>
networks of friends and family are scattered. <br>
DISPLACED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING. <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* HUD's own documents reveal that Lafitte will <br>
cost $20m to repair, $84 for substantial <br>
modernization, over $100m to demolish and rebuild. <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* Demolishing NOLA public housing is a blatant <br>
attempt to whitewash the city. In Biloxi, where <br>
only 52% of HUD residents are African-American, HUD <br>
is promising to replace housing on a one-to-one <br>
basis. In NOLA almost 100% of HUD residents are <br>
African American. <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* The concrete and brick walls are the best <br>
structures for withstanding hurricanes. These <br>
bricks saved lives during Katrina. What will happen <br>
to residents of flimsy new structures? <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* The concrete and brick walls are undamaged, and <br>
only need to be washed down so residents can move <br>
back in where all their belongings wait intact. <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* Redevelopment numbers don't add up. If there <br>
are 100 affordable apartments, replaced with 80 <br>
middle-income apartments only 20 affordable <br>
apartments remain when you needed 100! WHAT HAPPENS <br>
TO THE OTHER 80 FAMILIES!?! When St Thomas <br>
Development became River Garden 900 families were <br>
not allowed to return as promised, but Wal-Mart had <br>
a new home. HUD's plan will take 3-10 years; <br>
families need homes NOW! <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* HANO's actions amount to illegal eviction. <br>
Every resident has a current, valid lease. <br><br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson used hundreds of <br>
thousands of dollars for labor and materials to <br>
board up and fence in housing developments instead <br>
of doing the minor repairs that would have allowed <br>
residents to return. Delay has caused thousands more <br>
dollars of damage. Jackson should be prosecuted, not <br>
praised. <br><br>
<br>
Reopen Lafitte because: <br><br>
* New Orleans needs the working class to rebuild! <br>
The majority of public housing residents held jobs, <br>
they just didn't pay enough to support a family. <br><br>
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! KNOW JUSTICE, KNOW PEACE <br>
<a href="http://www.survivorsvillage.com/" eudora="autourl">
www.survivorsvillage.com</a> <br><br>
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