by Bill Quigley
Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), totally controlled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is trying to demolish 4500 public housing apartments. Residents and affordable housing advocates are resisting.
On December 10, with over a hundred protestors cheering, the City of New Orleans historic district denied the demolition application of the housing authority for the Lafitte housing development. Sadly, they approved the rest of the applications before them. There were so many people the meeting had to be moved to a larger room.
So Lafitte, home to 850 families, cannot be demolished now. Other strategies are in the works to save the rest of the developments. However, the housing authority has promised to appeal the denial of the demolition of Lafitte. No date or time for that appeal is known at this time. Rumors are flying that the City of New Orleans is preparing to surrender without a fight & say that they do not have the legal authority to stop demolition.
Despite the ruling that Lafitte cannot be demolished, HANO workers and contractors showed up that afternoon removing doors and windows. Residents and supporters called the media and converged at Lafitte when HANO and contractors started taking off doors and windows despite the denial of the demolition permit. As night fell, the workers left and the apartments were left open for vandals. Supporters called on HANO to protect the apartments and promised to set up their own security if HANO did not.
Demolition started at BW Cooper yesterday afternoon. Dozens of protestors arrived on site. They blocked a driveway to prevent a bulldozer from entering. At 6:30 in the evening law enforcement pulled back and left one office guarding the bulldozer still left on the street.
Appeals of the decision to demolish BW Cooper and CJ Peete were filed with the City Council. One of the legal team discovered that the New Orleans City Code specifically requires the City Council to approve demolition of public housing. A request for the City Council to review the proposed demolitions was made late today.
The US 5th circuit refused to stop demolitions while the federal civil rights class action case for residents was being appealed.
Today’s march from City Hall to the Federal Building (HUD headquarters in New Orleans) was spirited – despite pushing and shoving at the federal building there were no arrests. Solidarity events were held in DC and Houston as well.
The National Lawyers Guild endorsed the residents” fight and said no demolition. So did the Bay Area Labor Committee.
Save New Orleans Public Housing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuQv4eAsvGE
Louisiana Episcopal Bishop Asks for Halt of Demolitions
Bishop Charles Jenkins, head of the Episcopal Church in Louisiana, has come out publicly against the demolitions. See his statement to the City Council:
http://edola-bishop.blogspot.com
The Bishop prayed in front of City Hall with residents and supporters as the group marched in on December 10.
Presidential candidate opposes demolition:
John Edwards announced his opposition to demolition in New Orleans:
http://tinyurl.com/ytbxzz
Lawsuits:
The federal class action on behalf of all residents is before the U.S. 5th circuit court of appeal on the residents” request for an injunction stopping the demolition.
A new federal suit was filed December 10th in Washington DC by the residents of St. Bernard development. They have partnered with the AFL-CIO Housing Trust and proposed a plan for St. Bernard that would guarantee that every person there when Katrina hit can come back to the same type of subsidized unit. That suit seeks an injunction.
The Louisiana Attorney General has been asked to intervene to stop the demolitions because HANO gave out over $20 million to demolish without complying with public bid laws.
Over 100 regional and national organizations oppose demolition