Stupid people.

As Chad blogged about earlier there was an incident if you will between housing protesters and police earlier today when a decision was made not to allow the protesters inside the council meeting [to decide the fate of the big four projects]. You can watch a video of the scuffle below.



After city council approved unanimously in a 7-0 vote to approve the demolition of the big four projects, B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, Lafitte and C.J. Peete, Mayor Ray Nagin, who notably was not at the council meeting released a statement supporting the councils decision. According to nola.com he said "The decisions made today were ones of compassion, courage, and commitment to this city,"... "This is an incredible day. You heard lots of pain today. The City Council in its wisdom has come up with a solution that will allow us to move forward, to hold HUD accountable".

Shame on Ray Nagin and the New Orleans city council for the lack of attempt at making any attempt at compromise.

4 Remaining Projects to be Razed

The New Orleans city council voted unanimously to issue a demolition permit for the Lafitte housing complex all four remaining projects in the "big four" this afternoon.  Before the vote, there was a clash between demonstrators and police involving tazers and pepper spray.  WDSU/CNN have a clip with the clash and Quigley that you should check out.

Votes on the remaining projects are upcoming.

Articles:
WDSU
Rawstory

Details are sketchy, so this is all I have to work with at this time.

Call the City Council TODAY!

As a New Orleans resident, you have a powerful way to help. Tomorrow, the New Orleans City Council is scheduled to vote on whether or not to permit HUD to carry out its demolitions. Several council members are on the fence, and your voice can influence their vote. Please join us in calling on them to vote against these reckless, premature demolitions and insist on a rebuilding plan that is fair and good for all New Orleanians.

Calling is simple and takes only a few minutes. Here are the key New Orleans City Council members and their offices:

Arnie Fielkow: (504) 658-1060
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell: (504) 658-1040
Shelley Midura: (504) 658-1010

When you call, you can use the script below or write your own.
Once you've called, please let us know by emailing hudhousing@colorofchange.org.

Script: Hello. My name is [Your Name], and I'm calling to urge [Councilperson's Name] to vote against permitting HUD to demolish public housing units in New Orleans. HUD's plans are flawed and unfair and would greatly reduce affordable housing in the city, making the housing crisis worse.

Until HUD creates a plan that provides 1-to-1 replacement of public housing and deals with the current criminal investigation of HUD and the HANO redevelopment plan, there should be no demolitions.

via Bob Payne (via colorofchange.org)

Public Housing Myths/Facts

Bill Quigley wrote an excellent fact sheet on the issue of public housing in New Orleans.  All of the myths below are propegated on the NOLA.com message boards.  Answers to the myths here.

MYTHS

• "Federal officials, in partnership with developers, are pushing a plan that will demolish 4500 units of traditional public housing, replacing them with 3343 units of public housing and 900 market rate rental units." Statement in Times-Pic 12.16.2007
  


• If HANO and HUD do not start demolition right away, they will lose their tax credits.
  


• There really is no housing problem, it is just outside agitators who are making it seem like New Orleans has a housing problem.
  


• People do not want to come back to New Orleans. There are hundreds of vacant empty subsidized apartments just waiting for people to move in – no one wants to take them.
  

Developments on Public Housing.

After accidentally ending up at a march to Ray Nagin's home this weekend, to protest the crisis of public housing in New Orleans, this article caught my eye on nola.com.

It's interesting to read the comments below the article, including one criticism of Bill Quigley and a suggestion to Bobby Jindal in regards to bringing New Orleans under martial law. I was also intrigued by the mentioning of posters that read "For every housing unit destroyed, a condo will be destroyed" apparently signed by "the angry and the powerless" and if anyone has any more information about that please post it up here (unless its confidential of course).

I'd like to hear what others think on this issue, so leave some comments.