(NAME-MCE) Obama Calls on President to Protect Affordable Housing in New Orleans

[Ssbernabei at aol.com]

Action request is at the end of this email

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 
202 228 5566
Tuesday, December 18, 2007                                    
 
 Obama Calls on President to Protect Affordable Housing in New Orleans, 
Keep Promise to Gulf Coast Despite urgent housing needs, 
Administration intends to drastically reduce federal housing in New Orleans
 
WASHINGON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following 
letter to President Bush, calling on him to abandon his Administration's 
intentions to demolish federally-assisted housing in New Orleans, Louisiana until 
there is a comprehensive plan to meet the Gulf Coast region's extensive 
affordable housing needs.  Despite an estimated 12,000 people already homeless in New 
Orleans, and thousands more struggling with costly and slow rebuilding efforts 
since Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD) is now planning to reduce the limited supply of affordable housing even 
further by demolishing 4,500 units of public housing.  Over the past two years, 
the Bush Administration has consistently failed Gulf Coast residents, and should 
not further exacerbate this tragic housing crisis by destroying affordable 
housing. 
 
The text of the letter is below:
 
Dear Mr. President:
 
I urge you to abandon all plans to demolish federally-assisted housing in New 
Orleans, Louisiana until there is a comprehensive plan to meet the region's 
extensive affordable housing needs. 
 
Two years ago, when you appeared in Jackson Square, you spoke of America's 
"duty to confront this poverty with bold action." You explained:  "Americans 
want the Gulf Coast not just to survive, but to thrive; not just to cope, but to 
overcome.  We want evacuees to come home, for the best of reasons -- because 
they have a real chance at a better life in a place they love."
 
Unfortunately, there are an estimated 12,000 people already homeless in New 
Orleans, and thousands more are struggling with costly and slow rebuilding 
efforts and private rents that have risen 45% since the storm.  More than 
two-thirds of the housing stock was destroyed by the hurricane, and much of it has not 
yet been rebuilt.  Thousands of residents are still living in trailers with 
dangerous levels of formaldehyde even though more than 800 days have passed 
since Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
 
Despite this harsh reality, the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD) is now planning to reduce the limited supply of affordable housing even 
further by demolishing 4,500 units of public housing.  Notwithstanding your 
wish for evacuees to come home to "thrive" and "overcome," New Orleans does not 
have adequate affordable housing options even for the people who are already 
there.    
 
It is critical for policy makers to answer the following questions before any 
demolition takes place: 
 
 ·        Is demolition, which was originally planned and approved before 
hurricane Katrina, still      a sensible strategy in light of the region's 
housing crisis? 

·        How many new units of public housing will be built or acquired to 
replace the 4,500      scheduled for demolition?  If less than 4,500, what is 
the plan to close the gap to get           back at least to pre-Katrina levels?  
If more than 4,500, what plans are in place to                ensure adequate 
income diversity and economic integration? 

·        What plans are in place to meet the low-income housing needs during 
the period           between demolition and the availability of new housing? 

·        What supports are in place to assist residents during any housing 
transition?  
 
Almost a year ago, I visited New Orleans and posed similar questions to HUD.  
I have yet to receive an adequate response to that inquiry.
 
There is no question that most displaced residents want to come back to their 
homes and apartments, but that is hardly possible if they return to a city 
with fewer affordable housing options available than it had before.  I support 
the conversion to mixed income neighborhoods and greater economic integration, 
but such redevelopment plans must not be at the expense of adequate and 
improved housing options for the poor.  No public housing should be demolished until 
HUD can point to an equivalent number of replacement units in the near 
vicinity. 
 
Over the past two years, the federal government has failed the people of New 
Orleans and the Gulf Coast.  But there is still an opportunity to demonstrate 
that they are not forgotten.  I urge you to reconsider the demolition of these 
housing units until there is a comprehensive plan to meet the region's 
extensive affordable housing needs.  Thank you. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Barack Obama
United States Senator
------------------------------------------------------------
Tell President George W. Bush and the Justice Department to suspend the 
demolitions until the Federal investigation of Alphonso Jackson is complete. 

Alphonso Jackson is the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.



Send your letter to President Bush:
president at whitehouse.gov
SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414

FAX: 202-456-2461

---------------------------------
"Katrina- America's Moral Barometer"
Diana Dunn- PISAB Core Trainer


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