The
feds knocked down public housing units in New Orleans today despite a small group of protesters and a current shortage of affordable housing in the area.
"Demolition was approved for four of the city's largest developments — B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, Lafitte and C.J. Peete — which account for about 4,500 public housing units."
The demolished housing is to be replaced with new "mixed income" housing. Which is really code word for homes poor people can't afford.
"Knocking down dilapidated projects for mixed-income housing is a national trend that often leaves the poorest families homeless, said Sheila Crowley, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington-based housing advocacy and research group."
Hmm. Ya think? The poor are under assault in this country from all fronts. Lack of jobs, rising health care costs, higher fuel costs, higher food costs, etc etc etc. And now in New Orleans they are being shut out of housing. Just where will these people go? And what will happen as the economy continues to tank and more and more formally middle class people slip down into the poor category. Whose going to buy all those nice shiny new "mixed-income" housing. Doesn't look like they thought that through does it.
