I listened to a report today that prompted me to want to do a prime example follow-up to the poverty blog.
In the city of New Orleans, there are 4,534 HUD and low income housing units being targeted for demolition. Using tens of millions of dollars ear marked for Katrina relief. The units have been reportedly found to be structuraly sound. And only in need of repair, which by comparison to demolition is far less of an expense.
Protesters who had moved into the housing project, with permission of the leese's, to gain awareness to the ongoing problem. Were arrested at gun point, in a raid by New Orleans police.
And Professor Bill Quigly, law professor from Loyola U. Who has spoken out about the housing problems and corruption issues has been threatened with being taken before the Louisiana Bar, in an attempt to silence him with disbarment. According to Prof Quigly, since the "re-building" effort has begun in New Orleans, rent cost has risen 70% in the city and 80% in the suburbs.
Prior to Katrina the population of the city of New Orleans was 2/3 African American with a disproportionate amount of people living at the poverty level. And the current re-bulding efforts have taken on a blatently lopsided privatization throughout the city. Healthcare, public education, public housing and even the public employee workforce. That has drastically changed the future face of the city. Setting the stage to make it near impossible for any low income individuals or families to even afford to live there anymore.
Once again this is a perfect example of conservative politics gone to far. And in the process of trying so hard to "clean up" or put a new face on the city. They have let their blatant elitist mindset to out think itself.
They have thought right past the people they considered the problem. And missed the key factor in what made up the city of New Orleans, and why it was so loved as both a home and a destination. It was the people! Its not hard to figure out. Its as simple as 1+1. New Orleans was a city that reveled in its culture. And was proud of its heritage. Those residents so easily disregarded as worthless were the back bone that the city thrived on. They were the reason's behind the famous sites, sounds and tastes of a truly unique part of America.
Take all that away, and turn New Orleans into a "conservative friendly" environment. And somehow i think, fairly assuredly, the city won't have the same appeal.
Shouldn't it be obvious that if you drastically change a city known for its ethnicity and all it's people provided. And that relied heavily on tourism. All the rebuilding won't amount to squat. If people eventually stop coming because you've taken away it's main ingredient.
I listened to a report today that prompted me to want to do a prime example follow-up to the poverty blog.
In the city of New Orleans, there are 4,534 HUD and low income housing units being targeted for demolition. Using tens of millions of dollars ear marked for Katrina relief. The units have been reportedly found to be structuraly sound. And only in need of repair, which by comparison to demolition is far less of an expense.
Protesters who had moved into the housing project, with permission of the leese's, to gain awareness to the ongoing problem. Were arrested at gun point, in a raid by New Orleans police.
And Professor Bill Quigly, law professor from Loyola U. Who has spoken out about the housing problems and corruption issues has been threatened with being taken before the Louisiana Bar, in an attempt to silence him with disbarment. According to Prof Quigly, since the "re-building" effort has begun in New Orleans, rent cost has risen 70% in the city and 80% in the suburbs.
Prior to Katrina the population of the city of New Orleans was 2/3 African American with a disproportionate amount of people living at the poverty level. And the current re-bulding efforts have taken on a blatently lopsided privatization throughout the city. Healthcare, public education, public housing and even the public employee workforce. That has drastically changed the future face of the city. Setting the stage to make it near impossible for any low income individuals or families to even afford to live there anymore.
Once again this is a perfect example of conservative politics gone to far. And in the process of trying so hard to "clean up" or put a new face on the city. They have let their blatant elitist mindset to out think itself.
They have thought right past the people they considered the problem. And missed the key factor in what made up the city of New Orleans, and why it was so loved as both a home and a destination. It was the people! Its not hard to figure out. Its as simple as 1+1. New Orleans was a city that reveled in its culture. And was proud of its heritage. Those residents so easily disregarded as worthless were the back bone that the city thrived on. They were the reason's behind the famous sites, sounds and tastes of a truly unique part of America.
Take all that away, and turn New Orleans into a "conservative friendly" environment. And somehow i think, fairly assuredly, the city won't have the same appeal.
Shouldn't it be obvious that if you drastically change a city known for its ethnicity and all it's people provided. And that relied heavily on tourism. All the rebuilding won't amount to squat. If people eventually stop coming because you've taken away it's main ingredient.