On Friday, Mayor Ray Nagin, wrote a letter to Secretary Alphonso Jackson of HUD in connection with the historic vote at the New Orleans City Council which called for the issuance of demolition permits for public housing. Here is the letter:
Dear Secretary Jackson:
After a six hour public deliberation on yesterday, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to approve motion M~07-628 authorizing the Department of Safety and Permits to issue demolition permits for B.W. Cooper, C.J. Peete, Lafitte, and the St. Bernard public housing developments.
As you are aware, this has been a highly volatile issue, primarily because it most directly impacts an already vulnerable portion of our population that was made even more so by Hurricane Katrina and the resulting floods. These men, women and children rely upon public assistance for their basic housing needs. Many residents are distrustful that HUD will not move forward as promised and want assurances that there won’t be delays in redeveloping the demolished complexes. Many also are concerned that they will not have a “voice” in the redevelopment processes and ultimately that they will be alienated from the communities that they love.
To that end, it is my responsibility as Mayor of this city -- and the responsibility of other local leadership -- to be true public servants and assure our citizenry that the principle established weeks after the storm that every public housing resident has the right to return to better housing will be upheld and that they indeed will have a “voice” in the redevelopment processes.
As we have discussed over the years, and especially in the last several weeks, certain provisions, which are included in M-07-628, must be adhered to before all demolition permits will be granted.
As a demonstration of good faith, the city will allow HUD to proceed with the demolition of C.J. Peete and B.W. Cooper housing developments without interruption. However, we will expect you to provide the following written documentation to the city by the end of the year or as soon as possible:
• B. W. Cooper — redevelopment financing plans, executed development contracts,
redevelopment and repopulation timelines. A MOU with the resident council will not be
required since residents are part of the development team.
• C.J. Peete-- redevelopment financing plans, executed development contracts,
redevelopment and repopulation timelines and a signed redevelopment MOU with the
resident council.
In keeping with our earlier agreement and the conditions of the motion approved by the City Council, demolition permits will be granted for the remaining public housing developments – St Bernard and Lafitte — after the following conditions are satisfied, which should occur on or before February 28, 2008:
• Expansion of the HANO Board from one member to three members, to include the
Mayor or his designee and a public housing resident
Verification of full funding for the Tenant Protection Program
Evidence of 4,534 actual units made available either through public housing units,
affordable units consistent with the mixed-income model or home ownership vouchers
• Documentation of redevelopment financing plans, executed development contracts and
signed MOUs with the resident councils.
• Evidence of phased redevelopment for St Bernard and Lafitte developments, to take
place in the following manner:
St. Bernard -- Minimum number of 75 interim units not to be demolished, but,
restored for occupancy within six months
• Lafitte -- Minimum number of94 interim units not to be demolished, but, restored for
• ccupancy within six months
Seeretary Jackson, as you know, affordable housing in New Orleans is a critical need and is essential to our full recovery. Three major issues related to Hurricane Katrina are contributing to this crisis: 1.) The severe damage sustained by our public housing developments; 2.) The thousands of affordable homes that were destroyed by the hurricanes and the levee breaches. The damage to our housing stock and the pace of receiving funds for rebuilding has exacerbated both the demand for affordable housing and our city’s homelessness problem. 3.) Issues related to the presence oftoxic formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and the announced deadline of April 2008 for the resulting removal ofover 30,000 people from those trailers.
As we continue to seek creative and dramatic solutions, 1 am calling upon you to assist us in securing funding to immediately help us rebuild our affordable housing stock for our working families. We are anticipating that as many as 10,000 homes purchased by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) through the Road Home program will be released to the City of New Orleans. With the proper funding, we can quickly rebuild these properties and use them as moderate income affordable rentals and for home ownership opportunities for many families, including our first responders who lost their homes in the aftermath ofthe hurricanes and floods.
I have recently learned of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, or DIRF, as a source of already
appropriated funds that the city can use to lessen this affordable housing crisis and burden on our citizens. No further congressional action would be required to access these dollars. This would be purely a policy decision made within FEMA’s leadership.
Secretary Jackson, your assistance in lobbying for these funds at the federal level and with the Congress will not only assist New Orleanians, but, as affordable housing is a critical issue in this nation, can serve as a model for affordable housing provision to other communities across this country, New Orleans City Council
Betta yet... give these "home ownership opportunities" to those who are actually rebuilding our city - the Mexicans! Viva la Raza! Written by kerry "call me Jose" fox
on 12/27/2007
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Dears, we are back this morning and not just buzzing like bees but mad as hornets. Yes, we believe in assisting the poor. Many of us have served at some of the various facilities that do just that. Now there is a difference between poor and just plain lazy and lying. Mr. Nagin, it is time to harden that steel of yours and realize this fact. This city may rebuy housing but it should be used for working people and for people who are elderly and on limited income. Restrictions in the titles, if property is sold, should limit the extent of the families that live in them. Four generations living in the same household without showing evidence of working and with illegitimate births and lack of the presence of a father does not make a community - it creates a basis for crime. We grew up in extended families living together - forced by death and illness and yes need. Some of our mothers worked and fathers worked two jobs to keep these people fed and housed. However, we saw family life as it should be and not lives that gave way to crime but always toward advancement through education, discipline, and moral standards. Now get your act together. We have an opportunity in this city - let's use that opportunity to improve the lives and to unite the people of this city. 40 acres and a mule and racial divide is and must be a thing of the past. Frankly, dear, we give a good loud D**N for this city, even as it lays in ruins, because we believe that united we can create a nouvelle New Orleans, the grand Queen of the South, the city that has not forgotten to dare to care, to dare to share, to dare to be united. STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK WHAT HAS TO BE SPOKEN. START THE LEADERSHIP THAT MANY OF US THOUGHT YOU HAD. Frankly, dear, we think you still have it in you but you have strayed from the path. Get back on it and stop giving in to politics, which is the reason why this city is like it is, not simply because of Katrina. ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE. YOU HOLD THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY IN YOUR HANDS - BE BOLD FOR ONCE AND GIVE A GOOD LOUD D**N. Written by RhettsWife
on 12/22/2007
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" With the proper funding, we can quickly rebuild these properties and use them as moderate income affordable rentals and for home ownership opportunities for many families, including our first responders who lost their homes in the aftermath ofthe hurricanes and floods."
If the houses that the LRA go for "home ownershop opportuinites" or as Nagin states early, FREE HOUSE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WORK, "home ownership vouchers", Lakeview will become a crime filled neighborhood. A major reason people live in lakeview is low crime, so they will move to the burbs, and Nagin will successfully destroy another neighborhood. Hopefully, the houses in lakeview won't be renovated with tax money and given to crack dealers. Keep your eye out and if it looks like Nagin can make Lakeview a crime filled neighborhood full of welfare bums, SELL. Written by LakeView-lock your doors
on 12/21/2007
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