And I will be in black, and in the role of Priestess/Minister (Didn’t know I was ordained, ‘eh?).

Those who show up are there for ALL of New Orleans, and we are the witnesses of what happened to our city.

Let’s make this gathering one of great importance.. of the utmost gravity. We will be there to make a silent statement: we will not go easily into the Darkness, but for now… we ARE watching. Bide this tryst America: We are watching and judging.

I have a 10 am doctor’s appointment; it’s probably not feasible for me to come to the French Quarter, get a parking place in time to be present at the hearing when it begins at 9am, and then to leave after the first half-hour for my appointment. However, if it’s to be an all-day affair, I could arrive noonish ~ if there would still be room for me inside (very unlikely) or if any demonstration would still be ongoing outside.

Please, everyone and anyone, do NOT attend this event with the intent of being disruptive. Such behavior won’t help anyone, and would undoubtedly hurt our cause in the eyes of many skeptical folks, not only officials but also ordinary Ameican citizens outside our immediate area.

The only observers not likely to be offended and turned off by disruptive behavior are those who are already on our side anyway; we need to make a persuasive case with folks who are NOT already outraged, i.e., people who are not yet familiar with what’s actually going on here. A reasonable, well-behaved presentation of the many undeniable facts demonstrating governmental incompetence is what we need to show the outside world.

I am afraid this has the makings of a giant finger pointing session especially in light of accusations which just came out.

We have had enough closed door conversations. The power of witness should not be diminished

January 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Jan 21, 2007: HANO Seeking To Bar Residents From Homes

New Orleans, LA (January 21, 2007) — St Bernard residents and supporters will hold a press conference at 11:00AM, Monday January 22 at the Federal Courthouse of New Orleans. Residents will respond to HANO’s request for an injunction prohibiting them from entering their homes. Beginning on MLK day, free access to the site enabled families to begin cleaning and rehabilitating their apartments. A statement by members of MayDay NOLA, a housing rights advocacy group currently occupying the development, will be available.

Residents will call for a full investigation of HUD’s plan by the Office of the Investigator General. OIG is charged with addressing allegations of waste of taxpayers’ monies and serious mismanagement of HUD operations. A recent motion for summary judgment filed in a current suit to reopen the development (available at: http://justiceforneworleans.org) cites HUD documents that show the plans for public housing “will end up costing over $175 million more than extensively modernizing the developments, and upwards of $450 million more than simply repairing them would cost.”

“The residents who are cleaning their apartments have current leases and therefore have a legal right to enter their homes,” says organizer Endesha Juakali of Survivors Village. Bork, a member of MayDay NOLA adds, “HANO knows they are on morally shaky ground. Without any due process, without any legal eviction, they are trying to eliminate housing for 20,000 human beings here in this city.”

The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have barred public housing residents from returning to their pre-Katrina homes, citing concerns of contamination can claiming, “St Bernard received significant flooding and severe damage.” John Fernandez, Associate Professor of Architecture at MIT, inspected the apartments and concluded, “no structural or nonstructural damage was found that could reasonably warrant any cost-effective building demolition.” Dr Marty Rowland, a New Orleans civil engineer, assessed that the vast majority of units are habitable with rewiring and restoration of utilities.

“We support the actions of the occupiers and hope that they will help convince HANO and HUD to meet the demands of displaced residents,” says organizer Endesha Juakali of Survivors Village. “Mayday NOLA has been willing to take these actions, but it was HUD, HANO, and the Mayor’s Office that created the necessity for occupation.”

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Also, I’m wondering if the “Court won’t stream the hearings on the Internet”:http://www.lasc.org/press_room/press_releases/2007/2007-02.asp?

This is just a meeting that we all need to attend. We need to stop and listen. Let’s show the US Congress that they are a part of the recovery. When they come to town, we convene to hear what they have to say.

This is very basic participation. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned, how much I’ve gained, by just showing up.

Let Think New Orleans be a clearing house for the places that you need to be to really know what is going on.

Just my opinion, pom pom cutie!