[NYTr] New Orleans Coalition to Stop the Demolitions Update

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

The Freedom Archives - Dec 18, 2007
http://freedomarchives.org/mailman/listinfo/news_freedomarchives.org


New Orleans Coalition to Stop the Demolitions Update

The Coalition to Stop the Demolitions 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.

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
erhaps 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 s 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).
 
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 - Eastern District of Louisiana. Based on his past
behavior, we do not expect this judge will do anything to stop the
demolitions.

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.

Things we foresee as being critical this week:

1.    We need to blitz the City Council of New Orleans and demand

a.    That they vote NO to the demolitions, and

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.

2.    We need for as many people who can come down to come down to

a.    Pack City Council on Thursday, December 20th,

b.    Be prepared to engage in non-violent civil disobedience in line
with the residents council principles and the coalitions pledge of 
resistance statement (see http://www.peopleshurricane.org
for both documents). To engage in this initiative  you must register
with the coalition at action at peopleshurricane.org.

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.

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.

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.

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: 

a.    Write letters to the editor for your local news outlets, 

b.    Blitz the major newsprint, TV, and cable media networks and
demand that they cover the issue, and

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.


Finally, we need some resources to carry out this work. Some of the
things we need resources for include:

1.  The "Stop Da Demolitions" 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.

2.    We also need resources to help with transportation, food, and
accommodations for both residents and volunteers. 

3.    We need resources the cover the Coalitions cell phone expense. 

4.    We need resources to cover printings (flyers and posters). 

5.    Finally, we need resources materials to produce banners and
other mobilization props.


Donations can be made out to the Mississippi Disaster Relief Coalition
(MDRC) and mailed to P.O. Box 31762 Jackson, MS 39286 . Please
indicate on your donation "Coalition to Stop Demolitions". All
donations are tax-deductible.

Our Demands

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.

II. The mayor needs to meet with the faith leaders who have
requested a meeting with him about the housing crisis in the city

III.No Demolitions:  reopen the existing units and rebuild dignified
housing at former public housing sights.

IV. Guaranteed one-to-one replacement for all public housing
residents.

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.

VI. The Federal government needs to suspend demolition until the
investigation of Alphonso Jackson and the contraction process is
completed.

VII. Rent Control to provide deeply affordable housing so that all
will be able to return to the city.

VIII. Stop the privatization and gentrification of the City.


Resident Principles

I.  All Actions should be non-violent.

II. There should be no weapons or drugs at any actions, and no
alcohol or drug or weapon possession at any action.

III. No destruction or defacement of resident property.

IV. No coalition meetings without resident knowledge and input.

V. No media without residents or resident knowledge.

VI. Focus on defending public housing and affordable housing in the
city for all.


City Council Contact Information

Arnie Fielkow 504.658.1060
afielkow at cityofno.com 

Jacquelyn Clarkson 504.658.1070
jbclarkson at cityofno.com

Stacy Head 504.658.1020
shead at cityofno.com

Shelly Midura 504.658.1010
smidura at cityofno.com 

James Carter 504.658.1030
jcarter at cityofno.com 

Cynthia Hedge-Morrell 504.658.1040
chmorrell at cityofno.com 

Cynthia Willard-Lewis 504.658.1050
cwlewis at cityofno.com


In Unity and Struggle,
Kali

Monday, December 17, 2007