The Galveston Housing Authority plans to demolish two public housing developments, reports the Galveston Daily News. In the midst of these plans, public housing residents still struggle to find places to live.
The grassroots campaign to Elect Malik Rahim to Congress has shifted into high gear in recent weeks. Here are some updates recently posted to the Indymedia newswire: Campaign to Elect Malik Rahim Kicks in to High Gear | Times-Picayune uses their media hegemony to disparage Green Party Candidate | Is Picayune Coverage of Rahim's Candidacy Biased, Inaccurate? | Malik Rahim Campaign Moves into High Media Profile! 
Numerous local Bloggers for media justice have weighed in the consequences and possible outcomes of Hurricane Ike and its aftermath. Here are some good ones: ¡Para Justicia Y Libertad! (don't worry its in english) | Grits for Breakfast | Brother Jesse (Final Call correspondent in Houston) [More Blog Links] From Brother Jesse: IN-CERT, Inner City Emergency Response Team, is headed by Mr. Khallid Greene (pictured). IN-CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. For years, members of churches, groups, schools, and centers have been getting training led by IN-CERT to prepare them to be first responders in situation such as Hurricane Ike....and they did!
Brother Jesse: When did IN-CERT hit the streets?
Khallid Greene: We started assessing damage around 4:00am Saturday morning (Sept. 13) right after Hurricane Ike struck. There was a complex on North MacGregor that had four feet of flood water, so we got busy rescuing people... [read full interview]
Related: Galveston reopens for residents, Reports from the Island | Street Medics Harassed by Police & FEMA during Hurricane Ike Relief
Hurricane Ike hit Galveston and Houston dead on. As power is being brought back to the city and people clear the streets of debris, people are starting to upload reports about the impacts of hurricane Ike on the greater Houston area. More than a million people in the greater Houston area are without power, Centerpoint Energy has released a timeline predicting when full power will be restored by zip code. According to this timeline, by Monday, hundreds of thousands will still be without power, mostly in center and eastern Houston. Centerpoint Continues to post updates to their website.The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened PODs in a number of areas in Houston [list of locations | map], providing ice, water and Meals Ready to Eat to the public. FEMA is also encouraging people to apply for assistance online or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). If anyone can find a clear list of what benefits are being made available, please post it on the newswire, or email houston@indymedia.org.
Reports from the Open Publishing Newswire:
Articles 
Amy L. Dalton Ike Impact Notes | hmmmm Curfew Chat | Free Press Houston Fuck a curfew. What do you think? The Free Press chimes in | Dee Hurricane Ike and Texas Prisoners, Did the state prepare for an emergency? | lonestar in gotham Excutions Continue Despite Widespread Power Outages in Huntsville | Texas ACORN ACORN's Plans for Hurricane Ike Recovery | Jesse Muhammad Brother Jesse of Millions More Movement on the ground in Houston after Ike | KPFT Status Report - Still off the air
Photos 
Nick: Boy and Tree | Food Not Bombs post-Ike Erin: Neighborhood Photos RoB: During and right after the Storm in Bellaire | Day 2: Dawn of the Dead at Galleria, back to Montrose | Post Ike Photos part 3: from Sunday and Monday | Five days in and still a mess Montrose Patriot Photography & Promotions: Third Fiesta Out-takes from MPP&P | Nena Fotos del desastre por el Huracan Ike en el Suroeste de Houston
Audio 
Rachel Clarke: Pre-Ike Preparations | What Was Houston's Plan for the Homeless During Ike?
Hurricane Ike is bearing down on the upper Texas Gulf Coast and looks like it might get dangerous. Stories from the open publishing newswire: 
Despite the rosy media reports of light damage from Hurricane Gustav, several of southern Lousiana’s coastal Indigenous communities are reeling from a direct hit by Hurricane Gustav’s 115mph winds and large storm surge. Their communities lie in shambles.
About two hundred residences in the Braithwaite subdivision along Highway 39 at the St. Bernard/Plaquemines Parish boundary southeast of New Orleans were threatened with flooding during the afternoon of Monday, September 1, 2008 as hurricane Gustav came ashore in southern Louisiana. The towns of Braithwaite and Port Nickel were ordered to evacuate. The status of this threat may have subsided somewhat tonight as the Army Corps of Engineers opened gates on the Caernarvon Mississippi River Diversion, thus lowering stress on the overtopped levee. Water in the Mississippi River is currently lower than the levels in the canals.
UPDATE: Radical Response to Hurricane Gustav and the RNC: From TC Indymedia and the Indymedia network I am writing on this day of remembrance and tears, struggle and concerns of the disaster from Katrina in the Gulf Coast of three years ago in 2005. Some of you may be aware there is a hurricane named Gustav that is working its way into the Gulf Of Mexico as we speak. It has already left devastation in its wake upon small Caribbean countries whose people have suffered under Power and now natural disaster. It is predicted to become a category 3 by landfall in the u.s. It is also has indications of heading for the New Orleans area--at this point most likely Morgan City west of NOLA. Of course these are only predictions. But with predictions and memory come concerns.
We of Common Ground Relief are asking that you all remain aware. Aware that the potential for history to repeat in response to disaster or really to anything. Also not forget during this time of remembrances. New Orleans has still not been rebuilt, and the progress is slow. The levees are only 20% completed and millions of dollars over budget. The coastal areas which include First Nation and other small towns and Vietnamese and Cajun fishing villages; these people are still in disrepair and vulnerable due to major wetlands loss of human cause. Read full story | Related: Three Years After Katrina: While Republicans and Democrats Gather and Celebrate, A City Still Searches for Recovery | Prisoners of New Orleans need your help now (Hurricane Gustav)!!! | What is East of New Orleans? | Witness to Scrubbing of Oil-Soaked Birds | Gustav Approaches: Politics and consequences of the storm?
Photo: Katrina Remembered in front of FEMA as Gustav threatens New Orleans from DC's WSQT Guerrilla Radio
A year after the Signal strike, Guest Worker organizing continues in Mississippi and Louisiana.
During the early afternoon of Saturday, February 16th, 2008 residents of Saint Bernard Parish discovered red “X’s” stuck on the doors of their homes. Posted on hundreds of neighborhood homes that by the Saint Bernard Parish Government, the red “X” or Notice and Order of Involuntary Demolition gives residents little hope of being able to reverse the condemnation status of their property. The Notice and Order of Involuntary Demolition states that tagged properties are not in current compliance with Minimum Housing Standards and gives homeowners 10 days (not business days) to appeal the condemnation status of their homes... 
From New Orleans IMC -- Three interviews with homeless men beneath the Claiborne Avenue Bridge. Full Report: Homeless Men Talk About the Housing Crisis, Public Housing, and Post-Katrina New Orleans | Related: New Year’s Resolution For Nola: Homeless Unite With Public Housing ResidentsFrom Colorado IMC: On December 16th, the Grand Valley Coalition for the Homeless held its annual ceremony for those who died on the streets during the last year. It was bitter-cold despite the bright sun shine, and three inches of snow blanketed the ground. Dozens of men and women gathered early to get into the soup line, The Red Pill was able to sit down with Wild Man a Grand Junction native who has been on the streets for that last year and half. Full Report: Death on the Streets: Homelessness in the Grand Valley
More coverage of Homeless Memorial Day, 2007: DC | Baltimore | Worcester: 1 | 2 (audio) | Reports from www.nationalhomeless.org | 2006 Roundup | | Related: Santa Cruz Sleeping Ban Struggle Persists as Ryan Coonerty Becomes Mayor | On Being Hawaiian and Homeless
First locked out of their homes for more than 2 years, and now locked out of the very City Council meeting in which the city’s politicians are set to vote for tearing down their homes, residents and activist today were attacked by police to keep them from entering the City Council chambers. Read More... (photo by fraugg)Additional Coverage Tasers, Pepper Gas Greet Protesters At City Hall | | images from city council meeting | | Videos
UPDATE: Court Agreement Stops Demolitions | | Public Housing Residents, Supporters Tell Mayor Nagin, HUD: “Bring Our People Home Now!”Demolition and resistance began on December 12th at the B.W. Cooper Public Housing Project in Midcity. Coverage: Demolitons and Resistance Begin At B.W. Cooper by Michael Steinberg || Protest Bring Demolition Activity At B.W. Cooper To A Halt by mike howells || Demolition of B.W. Cooper Sets off Protest by Edwin Lopez -- includes pictures || High Noon in New Orleans: Anti-Demolition Protesters Storm Federal Building by Michael Steinberg || DC solidarity action blocks streets around HUD -- with audio by WSQT Guerrilla Radio || Video Montage of December 10, 2007 meeting in City Hall by Edwin Lopez || Stop the Demolitions by Diane Greene Lent || Houstonians Support New Orleans! || No Demolition Means No Demolition by Jay Arena
Past Coverage: Dec. 11--Residents and Allies Delay, Possibly Stop, Demolition of Housing Project
See also: Background Article from the Indypendent || Houston IMC Feature || Summary of Recent Housing Struggle and Updates
Many activists believe New Orleans is a test ground for the US Government to demolish public housing across the nation and replace it with "mixed-income" developments that would displace thousands of families. Pledge to come to New Orleans and resist this privatization of public housing! Read Call for National Support
NEW ORLEANS, August 31, 2007 – Public housing residents staged a three hour sit-in this Friday at the New Orleans Public housing office in hopes of meeting with the regional HUD director. Residents displaced from their homes for two years by the Katrina/FEMA disaster are still being denied the right to return to their home. Local authorities responded to the sit-in as if it were a terrorist attack; evacuating the building and militarizing the surrounding two block area with a combined force of local police, SWAT and National Guard troops. When questioned by the residents the authorities gave no explanation for their overreaction. The residents left peacefully after three hours, there were no arrests. Despite this heavy-handed response the residents plan to continue in their struggle for the right to return to their homes. New Orleans IMC FeatureRelated from New Orleans IMC Newswire:
» Two Years Post-Katrina: Racism and Criminal Justice in New Orleans
» Two Years After Katrina, Billions in Relief Funds Are Missing
» It Was Complete Fascism Those First Four Days: Katrina, Rita Tribunal Pushes Forward...
» Truth Rising: Tribunal on Katrina and Rita Convenes In New Orleans
This article is a critique of a draft proposal by five progressive non-profits providing policy recommendations to the U.S. Congress concerning the promotion of affordable housing in the storm devastated areas of the Gulf Coast. This analysis is the collective work of New Orleans housing activists who have been fighting for affordable housing in the city since Katrina and longer. The main criticism of this analysis is that the proposal of the five non-profits, in general, represents a continuation of the failed private sector driven approach to rebuilding the Gulf Coast begun in 2005 under the direction of the Bush Administration.
Despite the hardships of damage to property, what was a near universal perception of a slow and inadequate State and Federal response, and the cuts of 3,000 jobs at UTMB (described by some as worse than the hurricane), everyone I spoke too was optimistic about the future of the Island, and role that they would play in it. [Full Story, Photos, and Audio]
Residents of Galveston's storm-devastated public housing projects were ordered to clear their belongings out by Friday September 27th -- but they're still waiting for answers about where they're supposed to go.Many of the residents never signed a lease, and there's concern they might not quality for federal assistance. In order to stay in a hotel paid for by FEMA, the agency requires a credit card -- but many residents don't have one. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas testified before Congress this week about her city's needs, but she did not discuss public housing in her prepared statement. Also this week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency announced an 18-month housing assistance plan for families displaced by Ike, but it's not slated to begin until November. [read full article]
From Comments: A friend who has family on Galveston Island contacted me this evening. She said the City of Galveston was threatening to bulldoze homes below a certain value REGARDLESS OF DAMAGE and had given poor residents until Friday (Oct 3rd) to remove their belongings. She stated that the poorest residents of Galveston were bused the farthest away and many have no way of returing to claim their belongings by the deadline.
More on Housing and development in the gulf:Texas Housers Blog sez A New Orleans obituary has lessons for Galveston and Lessons from Kartina and Rita about rebuilding permanent housing for low income hurricane survivors | Texas Observer on Development on Galveston
You might be aware of the situation that evolved on Sunday, September 21st during which a mission of volunteer Street Medics from Colorado arrived in Galveston, Texas, to provide free medical care to the communities struck by the hurricanes. The mission was oriented with a special interest to address the needs of indigenous, poor and undocumented people whose needs are in general ignored by "official" rescue operations. Also, these are communities of people who often have good have reasons to avoid or hide from such "rescue" operations, especially if they are occurring under martial law and in conjunction with immigration Police. read more
Houston Indymedia Volunteers Katie and Rachel made it on to Galveston island on Saturday September 20th and did a number of interviews with people, listen up to their coverage: Galveston Residents Ride Ike Out | Katrina to Ike | Libertarian Prepares to Return Home | BOI (Born on the Island) of Galveston | Toxic Floodwaters From Ike
Other Galveston Content from the open publishing newswire: Matt Stanford of Galveston talks about the impact of Ike on working class black community | Street Medics Harassed by Police & FEMA during Hurricane Ike Relief [Update]
Pictured: Galveston resident Bob Wilkens, burned by toxic floodwaters
Seven days since Ike struck many people in the area still struggle to get their lives back on track. This 20 minute montage contains voices from downtown Houston, Galveston, city and federal officials, local shop owners, and homeless just to name a few. Listen Up!.This was produced for the Houston Indymedia Radio Show, every Friday on Pasifica station KPFT 90.1fm. KPFT went off the air Friday just before Ike reached Houston and is still down. General Manager Duane Bradley sent out this report: KPFT Status Report - Still off the air and Chief Engineer Steve Brightwell sent out this more technical report about the obstacles to getting Radio for Peace back on the air: Tech update from KPFT - trying to get back on air by hook or crook.
Since Hurricane Ike made landfall, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, City Manager Steve LeBlanc, and County Judge Jim Yarbrough are ruling the Galveston area as if it were a totalitarian dictatorship. Citizens are not allowed to make decisions that are essential to their future because of the current level of paternalism. These politicians do not seem to believe that the citizens of Galveston County are able to make these decisions on their own, and are either refusing to allow people back on the island or are threatening to physically remove people from Bolivar Peninsula. To support their views, they have been providing the mainstream media with quite a bit of misinformation about Hurricane Ike and Galveston Island. Those who are politically connected and their work crews are being all to access the island and to start repairs. The Stork Club, a bar owned by Guy Taylor Jr., and Buchanan Gallery, owned by Kathryn Buchanan, are examples of businesses that have crews cleaning and repairing them. Although I am a supporter of the arts, an art gallery is not an essential business. Those who are not politically connected are not allowed on the island. They are told that no one is allowed. [read the full article]
Update: A civil disobedience action is planned by Galveston residents who want access to their homes. We are planning to caravan to Galveston and disobey the police when they tell us that we cannot have access to our homes.
Where: Meet at the Walmart parking lot at El Dorado
When:Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10am
Why: There are numerous reasons. Here are a few
Update pt 2: Bailbondsmen not allowed in Galveston???
Houston Food Not Bombs says on their website: "We share free food with the hungry every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:PM and Sunday 7pm on the ledge on the corner of the sidewalk in front of the Library at Smith and McKinney." more photos
Some thoughts from the chat so far: kim pickens said "FEMA not keeping their word? Wow! Never seen that before." Ariel says: "i really wonder what harold hurtt plans on doing to those who decide to walk outside at 9:15." wallis parcell said: "And we are not any safer. Same person who headed the Katrina fiasco." violator said: "I violated the heck out of that curfew last night with no hassles..."
On August 29th, more than two-hundred Bay Area residents demonstrated outside of developer Lennar Corp.'s Headquarters in San Francisco and then headed to Oakland to rally in front of the Oakland Police Department (OPD). The local chapter of the Right to the City Alliance, a national coalition of more than 35 social justice organizations, along with allies and supporters, aimed to bring attention to rouge developers, gentrification and criminalization of communities of color from the Bay Area to New Orleans.