United States Senator David Vitter Criticizes United Nations Meddling in Rebuilding of New Orleans Public Housing
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(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today reacted to the news reports of United Nations experts weighing in on the New Orleans public housing debate.
"Sadly, the debate on public housing reform in New Orleans has taken a turn toward theater of the absurd. The United Nations, an organization that has been scrutinized for its exploitation of the poor in the Oil for Food Scandal, has deemed itself a high enough authority to look down its nose at us here in the United States over the public housing debate in New Orleans.
"I'm not surprised that this wasteful international organization – that relies heavily on foreign aid from the United States – disagrees with the HUD/ HANO redevelopment plan. The philosophy of the plan is the opposite of the U.N.'s mission, which is clearly expanding the dependency of people on government. The current redevelopment plan promotes homeownership and independence and provides a fresh alternative to the decades-old, failed New Orleans public housing system that trapped people in a cycle of poverty and crime.
"I encourage the U.N. to focus on cleaning up its own act rather than commenting on our efforts. It surely will keep them busy for the next 20 years or so," said Vitter.
PeoplesHurricane.org
Katrina Survivors Respond to Sen. Vitters’ Attack On UN Commenters on Gulf Coast Housing
Mobile, AL, February 29, 2008. At a regional meeting of community advocates working together to push for government support for equitable rebuilding in the Gulf Coast, several survivors of Hurricane Katrina reacted to Senator David Vitters’ (R-LA) attack on a statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on housing and the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues condemning ongoing demolition of public housing in New Orleans. As many as 5,000 poor families in New Orleans stand to lose their homes because of the planned demolition of public housing in their city.
"Senator Vitter says that the Housing Authority of New Orleans decision to demolition public housing promotes independence and homeownership,” says Trupania Bonner, Executive Director of Moving Forward Gulf Coast. “What it really promotes is independent homelessness."
"Tell me what happens when Alabama taxes a family of four with an income of $12,000 at the same level as a millionaire? They make decisions to give federal Go Zone money, the people's money, to build high rise condo projects that only provide vacation homes and Alabama families become homeless," says Jessica Norwood, a community activist in Mobile, AL.
"The national disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exposed the poor living conditions of Mississippians that is a result of neglecting housing policy. African Americans specifically and poor Whites are continuously exploited by public officials, although they pay the majority of the taxes in the state" Derrick Johnson, State President, Mississippi NAACP
“Some have criticized the UN for speaking out on this issue, but it is entirely appropriate,” says Maya Wiley, Director of the Center for Social Inclusion, which organized the meeting. “As a nation, we have failed our fellow citizens. These demolitions, carried out with no meaningful input from residents, violate not only our treaty obligations, but the moral aspirations of our nation. The UN has a duty to hold us to our promise to respect human rights, and we have a duty to do the right thing and ensure that everyone displaced nearly three years ago can return home.”
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