Opposition mobilizes against demolition of 3,000 public housing units in New Orleans

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:00 PM EST

Article Source: Facing South

us-news, racism, new-orleans, capitalism, hurricane-katrina, hud, public-housing, disaster-capitalism, neocolonialism

More than 40 human rights organizations sent a letter last week to federal officials protesting the planned demolition of some 3,000 public housing units in New Orleans. The letter -- which went to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson -- came less than a week after a federal judge refused to stop the Housing Authority of New Orleans from razing the city's four largest public housing developments. The tear-downs are set to begin as soon as next month.

The protesters charge that demolishing the complexes without replacement affordable housing stock violates international human rights standards protecting people displaced by disasters. They report that contractors have already begun emptying apartments and discarding residents' personal property -- including photographs, letters and Social Security cards -- without their knowledge or consent. Bill Quigley, a Loyola University law professor and attorney for some former public housing residents, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he plans to appeal the judge's ruling.

Published to:

St. Joseph the Worker's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Activism, Anti-War, Communists, Political Analysis, RightsVine, The Protest Chronicles, Workingclass Heroes
Regions: New Orleans

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