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<a href="http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=108&ItemID=14450" eudora="autourl">
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=108&ItemID=14450<br>
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<dd><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Take action to save NOLA public
housing<br>
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<dd><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=2>by Facing South -- FS;
<a href="http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2007/12/take-action-to-save-nola-public-housing.asp">
Facing South</a>; December 06, 2007</b> <br><br>
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<dd>Next Monday, Dec. 10, is International Human Rights Day. It's also
the day when activists in New Orleans are calling for actions opposing
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to tear down
more than 4,600 public housing units in four complexes across the city --
while replacing them with private, mixed-income developments that will
set aside only 744 apartments for low-income people. <br><br>
<dd>The decision to demolish these public complexes, which suffered only
relatively minor damage [PDF] during Hurricane Katrina, comes as rents
across the city have doubled since the storm -- as has the homeless
population.<br><br>
<dd>The activists are asking concerned citizens across the country to
join the actions in New Orleans or to take action at home. According to a
statement from Kali Akuno, director of the Stop the Demolition
Coalition:<br><br>
<dd> What is at stake with the demolition of public housing in New
Orleans is more than just the loss of housing units: it destroys any
possibility for affordable housing in New Orleans for the foreseeable
future. Without access to affordable housing, thousands of working class
New Orleanians will be denied their human right to return.<br><br>
<dd> Although this situation is unique and urgent in the city of New
Orleans, it does not occur in isolation. The plans for redevelopment here
are part of a national assault on public housing, in which tens of
thousands of homes have been demolished in the past decade.<br><br>
<dd>Organizers are asking supporters from across the country to organize
demonstrations at local HUD offices and other government buildings. They
are also asking them to make calls to government officials demanding the
reopening of public housing in New Orleans. Among those leaders they are
asking people to call:<br><br>
<dd>* New Orleans City Council Member Stacy Head, who has been a leading
force in pushing for the tear-downs. Her number is 504-658-1020.<br><br>
<dd>* New Orleans City Council Member Shelley Midura, who is being asked
to oppose the demolitions and support the reopening of public housing.
Her number is 504-658-1010.<br><br>
<dd>* D.H. Griffin, the North Carolina-based contractor hired to demolish
the Lafitte complex. For locations of the company's offices across the
South, click here
<<a href="https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.dhgriffin.com/about/locations.asp">
http://www.dhgriffin.com/about/locations.asp</a></u>>. The toll-free
number is 888-336-3366.<br><br>
<dd>* U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who's blocking passage of the Gulf
Coast Housing Recovery Act (Senate Bill 1668). Sponsored by his
colleague, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the measure would require any
demolished public housing units to be replaced by other units available
to low-income residents. Vitter can be reached in Washington at
202-224-4623 and New Orleans at 504-589-2753.<br><br>
<dd>* Members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Committee, where SB 1668 is currently stuck. They are Daniel Akaka
(D-Hawaii) at 202-224-6361, Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) at 202- 224-5941, Evan
Bayh (D-Ind.) at 202-224-5623, Robert Bennett (R-Utah) at 202-224-5444,
Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) at 202-224-2315, Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) at
202-224-4343, Tom Carper (D- Del.) at 202-224-2441, Robert Casey (D-Pa.)
at 202-224-6324, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) at 202-224-6142, Christopher Dodd
(D-Conn.) at 202-224-2823, Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) at 202-224-6342,
Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) at 202-224-3424, Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) at
202-224-4224, Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) at 202-224-1638, Mel Martinez (R-Fla.)
at 202-224-3041, Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) at 202-224-4744, Jack Reed
(D-R.I.) at 202-224-4642, Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) at 202-224-0420,
Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) at 202-224-5744, John Sununu (R-N.H.) at
202-224-2841 and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) at 202-224-2644.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Send information about any solidarity actions to
action@peopleshurricane.org with "Solidarity" in the subject
line. If you have any questions, contact the Stop the Demolition
Coalition at action@peopleshurricane.org or call 504-458-3494. For more
information on the issues at stake and planned protest actions, visit the
websites of Defend New Orleans Public Housing
<<a href="https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/">
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/</a></u>> Justice for New
Orleans
<<a href="https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/">
http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/</a></u>> and the People's
Hurricane Relief Fund
<<a href="https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.peopleshurricane.org/">
http://www.peopleshurricane.org/</a></u>> <br><br>
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