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December 14, 2007
New Orleans' Activists Stop the Bulldozing of Their Homes
The good news is pouring in from all over -- New Orleans activists, with the support of a national community, were successful at stopping the demolition of three out of four public housing complexes pending approval from the City Council at next Thursday's meeting.
Senator Vitter and the New Orleans City Council still needs to hear from more of us. They need to know that residents need to have more access to the decision making process and that a 1:1 replacement of public housing is a necessity.
Contact Senator Vitter:
Washington D.C. Office (202) 224-4623
New Orleans Office (504) 589-2753
Contact New Orleans City Council Members: Arnie Fielkow - (504) 658-1060
Jacquelyn Clarkson - (504) 658-1070
Stacy Head - (504) 658-1020
Shelley Midura - (504) 658-1010
James Carter - (504) 658-1030
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell - (504) 658-1040
Cynthia Willard-Lewis - (504) 658-1050.
The victory is not in the salvation of projects, or an expectation that the projects are saved for all time. Residents and organizers want to see better housing for all. Today's victory is against poor federal planning, a housing crisis, and the mistreatment of the low-income residents of New Orleans. Today's victory is about collaboration, however imperfect; about centering local voices; about elevating a struggle to create the kind of movement moment that can sustain a tired community through a long battle.
The questions that need to be resolved before any demolition continues:
-Where do residents go in the meantime? Tent cities and FEMA trailers are housing homeless communities and displaced families, and both of those spaces are being threatened now in what many believe is an overt push to get black and poor folks out of downtown New Orleans.
-What guarantee do residents have that they will have access to the mid-income housing being built in place of the current projects?
-In what ways is New Orleans addressing the issues of poverty and inequality that led to unlivable conditions in these projects before the hurricane hit and the levees broke?
This is a big step on the road to seeing New Orleans as a space of opportunity in crisis, rather than our abandoned legacy. This is a victory that shows what people united and dedicated and supported can do to shift the power and demand a seat at the table in their city!
Your support is still needed -- please visit Katrina Information Network at KatrinaAction.org or Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund's website to stay in the loop.
Wiretap will report on the City Council meeting and more news on Friday, Dec. 14. You can also find pictures and updated action insights at Ruckus.org.
Adrienne Maree Brown is the executive director of The Ruckus Society and an advisory board member of WireTap. A co-founder of the League of Young Voters, Adrienne is obsessed with learning and developing models for action, community strength and movement building.
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