International Call to Defend Public Housing and Stop Neo-Liberalism in New Orleans

International Call to Defend Public Housing and Stop Neo-Liberalism in New Orleans

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!"

The struggle for affordable housing and the right to return in New Orleans is far from over! If anything, the shameful and illegal City Council vote for the demolition of public housing has given greater clarity to the social struggle in New Orleans. To advance this struggle, the Coalition to Stop the Demolition is calling on all of our allies and supporters in the social justice movements throughout the United States and the World to stand with us on Friday, January 25th and Saturday, January 26th, 2008 for the International Days of Action against the demolition of public housing. 

Our General Aims and Objectives

The principle aims of our struggle are to stop the advance of neo-liberalism and disaster capitalism in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. To accomplish this mission we must end the march of privatizations and dispossessions, including the demolitions of public housing that are ravaging the Black majority and working class of the city. We aim to curtail this march by exerting as much political pressure and economic reprisal as we can on the US government, particularly the US Senate and New Orleans City Officials, and the corporate interests that seek to gain from the misery of the displaced and dispossessed.

Neo-liberalism is a conservative or right wing ideology and political program that seeks to restructure the governing institution of the state to facilitate profit realization and maximization for transnational corporations and other private capital interests. The ideology and program seeks to accomplish its goals by eliminating taxes and social service spending, privatizing state services and institutions (such as housing, education, health care, pensions, water, electricity, etc.), deregulating markets, and eliminating various protections for workers (such as the right to form labor unions) an

The International Days of Action

The Coalition is calling on its supporters everywhere to engage in actions that target the US Government, particularly the US Senate and its Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, on either Friday, January 25th or Saturday, January 26th. Where these targets are not accessible, we are asking supporters in the US to focus on other members of Congress. On the International level, we are asking that our supporters to focus your attention on US Embassies and/or raise our issues and demands within your existing actions.

The International Days of Action were also chosen by the Coalition to stand in support of the mobilization calls of the World Social Forum (WSF) and the US Social Forum (USSF) for an International Day of Action on January 26th, 2008 to unite the social action of the world's progressive social movements against imperialism and neo-liberalism.

Other ways you can support the efforts of the Coalition:

1. Make a donation to support the ongoing organizing, coalition building, and mobilization work of the Coalition. You can make a tax-deductible donation to: the Mississippi Disaster Relief Coalition (MDRC). Mail to: The Mississippi Disaster Relief Coalition P.O. Box 31762 Jackson, MS 39286.
2. Produce media stories (articles, editorials, and radio, television, and internet broadcasts) covering the struggle for housing and human rights in New Orleans and promoting the just demands of the Coalition.
3. Promote the "Stop Da Demolitions" Mixtape. Available for download at ... mxgm.org.  

The Coalition to Stop the Demolition calls on our national and international allies to support our demands, which are as follows:

1. No Demolitions - reopen the existing units and rebuild dignified housing at former public housing sites.
2. Guaranteed one-to-one replacement for all public housing residents.
3. All available public housing units should be made available for the homeless and those likely to face homelessness from the pending loss of rent vouchers and trailer recalls.
4. The Federal government needs to suspend demolition until they complete their own investigation of Housing and Urban Development head Alphonso Jackson regarding the illegal no-bid contracts he awarded to his cronies.
5. Rent control (at pre-Katrina rates) to provide deeply affordable housing so that all will be able to return to the city.
6. Stop the privatization and gentrification of the city.

Resident Principles for Guiding Action:

1. All actions should be non-violent.
2. There should be no weapons or drugs at any actions, and no alcohol or drug or weapon possession at any action.
3. No destruction or defacement of resident property.
4. No coalition meetings without resident knowledge and input.
5. No media without residents or resident knowledge.
6. Focus on defending public housing and affordable housing in the city for all.

Websites:

Justice for New Orleans: www.justiceforneworleans.org

Federal Government Contact Information:
George W. Bush - 202-456-1111
Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of HUD - (202) 708-1112
Mary Landrieu, US Senator, (D-LA) 202-224-5824; Fax: 202-224-9735
David Vitter, US Senator, (R-LA) - (504) 589-2753, DC Office (202)
224-4623

Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee contacts - demand that they approve Senate bill 1668:
Senator David Vitter: New Orleans Office (504) 589-2753
Senator Christopher Dodd (202) 224-2823
Senator Tim Johnson (202) 224-1638
Senator Jack Reed (202) 224-4642
Senator Charles Schumer 202-224-0420
Senator Evan Bayh (202) 224-5623
Senator Tom Carper (202) 224-2441
Senator Robert Menendez (202) 224-4744
Senator Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361
Senator Sherrod Brown (202) 224-2315
Senator Robert Casey (202) 224-6324
Senator Jon Tester (202) 224-2644
Senator Richard Shelby (202) 224-5744
Senator Robert Bennent (202) 224-5444
Senator Wayne Allard (202) 224-5941
Senator Michael Enzi (202) 224-3424
Senator Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224
Senator Jim Bunning (202) 224-4343
Senator Mike Crapo (202) 224-6142
Senator John Sununu (202) 224-2841
Senator Elizabeth Dole (202) 224-6342
Senator Mel Martinez (202) 224-3041

New Orleans Mayor and City Council Contact Information:
Mayor Ray Nagin - 504.658.4900
Arnie Fielkow 504.658.1060 afielkow [at] cityofno [dot] com
Jacquelyn Clarkson 504.658.1070 jbclarkson [at] cityofno [dot] com
Stacy Head 504.658.1020 shead [at] cityofno [dot] com
Shelly Midura 504.658.1010 smidura [at] cityofno [dot] com
James Carter 504.658.1030 jcarter [at] cityofno [dot] com
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell 504.658.1040 chmorrell [at] cityofno [dot] com
Cynthia Willard-Lewis 504 [dot] 658 [dot] 1050cwlewis [at] cityofno [dot] com

Resources:

United States Social Forum (USSF) https://www.ussf2007.org