URGENT Stop Demolition of
Public Housing In New Orleans

On December 15, 2007, the Housing Authority of New Orleans plans
to demolish 4605 units of public housing to be replaced by 744
low-income public housing apartments.  When Katrina hit on August
29, 2005, there were 5200 families living in apartments administered
by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Since then,
HUD has opened apartments for 1600 families. A federal court has
refused to stop the scheduled demolitions even though residents offered
evidence that the apartments were structurally sound and that it would
cost much less to repair than to demolish and rebuild.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that requires one to
one replacement of any public housing demolished, but Senator David
Vitter (R-LA) has stopped the Senate version cold.  Where are the
residents of the lower 9th Ward to go? Staff members of the 8th Day
Center have visited New Orleans and met with the residents who are
struggling to keep their housing and dignity.  Bill Quigley, a lawyer and
friend who has represented many of us in the SOAW trials, is the main
lawyer for this group. The residents plan to resist through
demonstrations and actions on December 15, the day for the planned
demolition.  They are pleading that we stand with them.  

ACTIONS
Please take the following actions

Contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development and
demand that the demolition of public housing in New Orleans be
stopped and that they listen to the residents’ demands.
- New Orleans Office 504-589-7201
- National Office, Alphonso Jackson, Secy of HUD 202-708-1112

* For more information go to http://www.defendneworleanshousing.org
or http://www.justiceforneworleans.org
* To see a video of residents protesting at the New Orleans City Council
and the unwarranted arrest of Bill Quigley, see
http://www.wdsu.com/video/14794232/index.html