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The <b>Coalition to Stop the Demolitions</b> would like to thank all of
our allies and supporters throughout the United States and the world who
came and stood with us in New Orleans or took action on the streets your
city, or who called, emailed, or faxed the New Orleans City Council,
Mayor Ray Nagin, Senator Vitter, the Senate Banking Committee members,
etc. Your support played a pivotal role in helping us attain the
victories we accomplished last week in halting the demolition of three of
the four major public housing locations in New Orleans. <br><br>
However, the fight is far from over and we still need your help. Despite
our victories in both State and Federal Courts last Friday, we recognize
that it is quite possible that we might lose the City Council vote on
Thursday, December 20th by a decision of four to three (or perhaps even
five to two). We are fairly certain that at least three of the white City
Council members are going vote against us, including Jacquelyn Clarkson,
Stacy Head, and Shelley Midura. There is a possibility that Arnie
Fielkow, the current Council President, might vote in favor or abstain in
order to not lose favor with a sector of the Black electorate whom he
will need to fulfill his Mayoral aspirations. As for those who may stand
with us, there are likely only two members who are solid. These are James
Carter and Cynthia Willard-Lewis. The third Black Council member, Cynthia
Hedge-Morrell, is definitely a critical swing vote. We need to put
pressure on each and every one of these City Council members between now
and the 20th (please stress outreach to Internally Displaced Persons in
your area and encourage them to call as a priority). <br><br>
In addition, the Federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the residents of the
St. Bernard was transferred from Washington, D.C. to the US District
Court – Easter District of Louisiana. Based on his past behavior, we do
not expect this judge will do anything to stop the demolitions. <br><br>
What this means is that by Friday, December 21st we may realistically be
engaging in our second wave of mass non-violent civil disobedience
action. Should this be the case, we are going to need all of our allies
and supporters everywhere to be ready yet again to take decisive action
to stop these inhumane demolition orders. <br><br>
Things we foresee as being critical this week:<br>
1. We need to blitz the City Council of New Orleans and
demand <br>
a. That they vote NO to the demolitions, and<br>
b. That they hold a public hearing on the demolitions
in the evening so that more working class people can participate.
Information on how to contact the City Council is provided below. <br>
2. We need for as many people who can come down to come
down to <br>
a. Pack City Council on Thursday, December 20th, <br>
b. Be prepared to engage in non-violent civil
disobedience in line with the <i>residents council principles</i> and the
coalitions <i>pledge of resistance</i> statement (see
<a href="http://www.peopleshurricane.org">www.peopleshurricane.org</a>
for both documents). To engage in this initiative you must register with
the coalition at
<a href="mailto:action@peopleshurricane.org">
action@peopleshurricane.org</a>. <br>
c. We would also like to encourage Black and other
oppressed nationality organizers to come down and help us with outreach,
base building, and coalition building work over the course of the next
several weeks. <br>
3. We need to continue pressuring Senator David Vitter
with calls, faxes, and emails demanding that he support Senate Bill 1668
and allow the bill to move from the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs Committee to the Senate for a vote. <br>
4. We need to pressure Senator Mary Landrieu to demand
that the Federal government via President George W. Bush and the Justice
Department suspend the demolitions until the Federal investigation of
Alphonso Jackson is complete. <br>
5. We need to seize these next three days to reframe
the struggle to stop the demolition based on the demands of the Coalition
(see below). To this end we need everyone to <br>
a. Write letters to the editor for your local news
outlets, <br>
b. Blitz the major newsprint, TV, and cable media
networks and demand that they cover the issue, and <br>
c. To write articles on the issue based on the
Coalitions demands and post them to as many listserves, blogs, and
websites as you possibly can. <br><br>
Finally, we need some resources to carry out this work. Some of the
things we need resources for include:<br>
1. The "<b>Stop Da Demolitions</b>" Mixtape
made by Sess 4 – 5, Nuthinbutfire Records, and the Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement for the Coalition the Stop the Demolition. We need $1,400 to
produce and print 2,000 CD's for youth outreach and education. <br>
2. We also need resources to help with transportation,
food, and accommodations for both residents and volunteers. <br>
3. We need resources the cover the Coalitions cell
phone expense. <br>
4. We need resources to cover printings (flyers and
posters). <br>
5. Finally, we need resources materials to produce
banners and other mobilization props. <br><br>
Donations can be made out to the <b>Mississippi Disaster Relief
Coalition</b> (MDRC) and mailed to <b>P.O. Box 31762 Jackson, MS 39286
</b>. Please indicate on your donation "<i>Coalition to Stop
Demolitions</i>". All donations are tax-deductible. <br><br>
<b><u>Our Demands<br>
</u></b>I. City Council needs to vote NO on
demolition. The Council meeting should be moved to an evening time
to accommodate people's schedules and allow a full public hearing on
demolition before taking a vote. <br><br>
II. The mayor needs to meet with the faith leaders who
have requested a meeting with him about the housing crisis in the
city<br><br>
III. No Demolitions – reopen the existing units
and rebuild dignified housing at former public housing sights. <br><br>
IV. Guaranteed one-to-one replacement for all public
housing residents.<br><br>
V. All available public housing units should be made
available for the homeless and those likely to face homelessness from the
pending loss of rent vouchers and trailer recalls. <br><br>
VI. The Federal government needs to suspend demolition
until the investigation of Alphonso Jackson and the contraction process
is completed. <br><br>
VII. Rent Control to provide deeply affordable housing
so that all will be able to return to the city. <br><br>
VIII. Stop the privatization and gentrification of the
City. <br><br>
<b><u>Resident Principles <br>
</u></b>I. All Actions should be non-violent. <br><br>
II. There should be no weapons or drugs at any actions,
and no alcohol or drug or weapon possession at any action. <br><br>
III. No destruction or defacement of resident property.
<br><br>
IV. No coalition meetings without resident knowledge
and input. <br><br>
V. No media without residents or resident knowledge.
<br><br>
VI. Focus on defending public housing and affordable
housing in the city for all. <br><br>
<b><u>City Council Contact Information <br>
</u></b>Arnie Fielkow 504.658.1060
<a href="mailto:afielkow@cityofno.com">afielkow@cityofno.com</a><br>
Jacquelyn Clarkson 504.658.1070
<a href="mailto:jbclarkson@cityofno.com">jbclarkson@cityofno.com</a><br>
Stacy Head 504.658.1020
<a href="mailto:shead@cityofno.com">shead@cityofno.com</a> <br>
Shelly Midura 504.658.1010
<a href="mailto:smidura@cityofno.com">smidura@cityofno.com</a><br>
James Carter 504.658.1030
<a href="mailto:jcarter@cityofno.com">jcarter@cityofno.com</a> <br>
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell 504.658.1040
<a href="mailto:chmorrell@cityofno.com">chmorrell@cityofno.com</a><br>
Cynthia Willard-Lewis 504.658.1050
<a href="mailto:cwlewis@cityofno.com">cwlewis@cityofno.com</a> <br><br>
<br>
In Unity and Struggle,<br>
Kali <br><br>
Monday, December 17, 2007<br><br>
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