Public Housing Demolition in New Orleans
Is This the Face of Public Housing in New Orleans? by John Moore.
We’ve made national news again, for all the wrong reasons. Public housing demolitions have generated strong racial and class debates in the city, resulting in much violence. First off, this discussion is meant for RESIDENTS of New Orleans who will be affected by these descisions and not tourists!
Demolition of New Orleans housing approved
This is an extremely charged issue and I have been trying to choose my words carefully considering all of the issues at play. One thing that I must preface my statement by saying is that the single thing that is keeping everyone from entering this discussion in solidarity is that the state has refused to back a major bill that would ensure that a certain portion of these homes be developed affordably. This was S.1668 and it would have put in place laws stating that all new developments retain at least 20% of their developments at affordable rates. My cousin James Perry, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Network, a non-profit who was one of the chief proponents behind this bill (Don’t be a turkey, housing advocates tell Vitter).
Please read the following if you have a moment, which expounds further on the issue:
Testimony of James Perry, Louisiana Housing Alliance, to Senate Banking Committee.
Following the states failure to support this, it inevitably lead to justifiable fears and conspiracy theories from citizens of New Orleans who fear a “flush out” happening. Condo developments and high end projects taking the place of low income projects. These fears are justifiable given the status of things. The demolition contracts went to an Alphonse Jackson, under a no bid process. It is a reasonable suspicion that well qualified minority firms will also be passed up when it comes to construction if that pattern continues. That is a complete turn from the days of Moon Landrieau when there was an insist on hiring minority and women owned businesses, at least 30%. We are just returning to old style, good old boy New Orleans if we don’t hold them to some type of standard.
That said, I must say that a number of the projects that are being proposed to be torn down are sub standard and did need to go. There are structurally sound buildings, such as the Lafitte, that are only being torn down because of their location rather than their standard of construction which is actually not that bad. There are condos under construction right next to the Lafitte, and it is located within blocks of Canal Street/CBD. The fear for most there is of crime or sub standard living for those who wish to live in the new condos being developed. The silver lining there is that that contract was won by the Providence/Enterprise team who intend to do affordable green housing. They are maintaining more than the 20% asked for in S.1668, and are doing a model rehab of the site. I am a fan of what they propose. It is just sad that it is on the one public housing site built within the last 50 years that is actually not that bad.
So all in all, I don’t think tearing these down is an entirely bad thing. I can’t express in words how deplorable these facilities were. I think that if we could get them to commit to S.1668, we may be headed in the right direction.
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I don’t know how to respond to this really. It’s kind of poorly written, hard to follow. There’s no argument.
Allow me to redirect you to one of my many posts on the subject of the public housing debate.
Check it out
http://wecouldbefamous.blogspot.com/2007/12/david-vitter-you-aint-cuz-you-not-and.html
These housing projects were failed. As could have been seen by anyone willing to visit them. The only shame is that it took Hurricane Katrina for anyone to do anything about them. Fight for the homeless not for ghettos.
What about the wishes of the residents of these developments that are fighting for the preservation of their communities and access to their homes and belongings? We don’t criticize homeowners fighting for their FEMA money or the right to rebuild even if their home was in a “bad neighborhood”. Why is it that we are so quick to right off a community’s right to collectively determine its future if it sits on public land?
If public housing had been re-opened in the first place, residents and their advocates would not have had to issue a national call for support. Many more residents would be able to fight for their interests if it didn’t mean having to sleep on the street with your family.
Btw, Alphonso Jackson did not receive the demolition contracts. He is the Secretary of HUD who awarded the demolition contracts to his buddies and is now under federal investigation.