The Victims of Katrina are Still Waiting

We don't see very much about the state of New Orleans on the news, but if yousearch the video sites, or New Orleans, you'll find plenty of information thatwill make you sick. DemandVitter and Landrieu lead on HR 1227 "Help Katrina Survivors Come BackHome"

This is an email from Color of Change.

Today, Congress has the opportunity to help thousands of New Orleansresidents come back home. The Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007 wouldre-open desperately needed public housing units and make sure there is no lossof affordable public housing in New Orleans.

The bill quickly passed the House of Representatives, but the two people whoshould be leading the charge in the Senate—Louisiana Senators Landrieu andVitter—are stalling, and without their support, the bill will go nowhere.Please join us in demanding that Senators Landrieu and Vitter stop draggingtheir feet, and lead on this important legislation, now.

Preserving Affordable Housing in New Orleans

Since Hurricane Katrina hit, public housing residents have been fighting toreturn home. Unfortunately, HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) isplanning to demolish most of the available public housing units—apartmentsthat were minimally damaged by the storm—and replace them with far fewer unitsof affordable public housing.¹

In response to residents' protests, Congresswoman Maxine Waters held hearingsin New Orleans, giving residents a chance to voice their concerns to Congress.Around the same time, Governor Blanco met with Congressman Barney Frank—headof the committee that oversees HUD—to discuss the need to re-open housing notdamaged by the storm.² The result of these meetings was H.R. 1227,the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007³.

H.R. 1227 honors the right to return of all New Orleans public housingresidents and takes steps to preserve affordable housing in New Orleans. Itrequires the re-opening of at least 3,000 public housing units and ensures thatthere is no net loss of units available and affordable to public housingresidents. The bill swiftly passed the House of Representatives, but it won'tpass the Senate unless Louisiana senators take the lead.

Why haven't Senators Landrieu and Vitter stepped up?

Race and class seem to explain Landrieu and Vitter's refusal to step up. Somepeople have expressed a desire to see a "richer" and"Whiter" post-Katrina New Orleans, and many of them have a great dealof political influence. From what we can tell, Senator Vitter is playing tothose interests by ignoring this legislation– but as a senator for allLouisiana residents, it's his responsibility to ensure that everyone whowants to come home can—not the just the wealthy, privileged, and White.Insiders tell us that Senator Landrieu is being cautious for the same reason:that she doesn't want to offend "moderate" supporters who have asimilar vision for New Orleans.

The Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act is the last great hope forNew Orleans public housing residents who want to come home. By urging theSenate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to take up H.R. 1227,Senators Landrieu and Vitter can make it a reality. But if the senators fromLouisiana don't lead on this issue, others simply won't follow.

It's time to do what's right for New Orleans public housing residents andpass this bill in the Senate. Join us in demanding that Senators Landrieu andVitter support H.R. 1227.

Thank You and Peace,

-- James, Van, Clarissa, Gabriel, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
   April 23rd, 2007

1)New Orleans: HUD Policies Limiting Housing for Poor, Truthout, 12-29-06

2) Blanco: HUDshould reopen N.O. public housing projects

3) Text of H.R. 1227-GulfCoast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007