Major investors have created enormous economic and political pressures on LSU to build its $1.2 billion hospital in lower Mid-City

Casual observers might think that the pro-Charity vs. LSU teaching hospital conflict is an argument over two competing plans to bring health care back online in New Orleans. It is not. The difference between the two camps is in fact much more fundamental with the pro-Charity coalition valuing health as a human right versus LSU and its supporters valuing health care as a business anchor around which an industry can grow, land values can inflate, and hospitals can make money. No set of facts better illustrates this divide and fleshes out the LSU camp's motivations than the machinations of major real estate developers in Mid-City. In spite of the post-Katrina rise in mortality and morbidity rates — due to the local health care system's bedraggled state — LSU and its allies have stubbornly refused to entertain the notion of reopening Charity, favoring their economic development centered plans over what pro-Charity advocates define as an issue of the human right to medical care.

Into this conflict numerous journalists have intervened with facts and analysis. We (“A. Caritas” is a pen name for several researchers) reported in December about real estate acquisitions of several developers in and around lower Mid-City, questioning the for-profit motivations driving the LSU-VA project. New information about these developers and biotech boosters has compelled us to chime in again, especially in response to Times Picayune reporter Kate Moran's glowing profile of one Mid-City developer published in April.

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.

Residents of public housing and supporters gathered in the cold outside of the Lafitte development today rallying against evictions and demolition.

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.

In Galveston three-quarters of all homes were damaged in Hurricane Ike and many public housing units were deemed unlivable. Facing South reported in September 2008 that Galveston's public housing residents were ordered to leave their homes but were given no answers about where they were supposed to go.

Since then, housing has continued to be a major issue for Galveston's poor. And now more than five months after the hurricane, Galveston public housing residents continue to have trouble finding places to live. Galveston Daily News reports. [read full article]
Facing South's Gulf Watch

RELATED: After the Storm: Why New Hampshire Should Dump Unitil

The December ice storm that took out power for millions of people across New England and Upstate New York was the worst ice storm to hit our region in a decade. The aftermath, however, was worse than anything we had to deal with following the last big ice storm back in 1998. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power days after the storm, and thousands of people went over a week without power.The absolute bungling of the response by Unitil management has prompted several towns throughout New England to consider getting rid of Unitil all together and forming their own municipal electric utilities.

Repost from The Nation; an investigative report supported by the Nation Institute. In Algiers Point, white vigilantes shot African Americans with impunity in the days following Hurricane Katrina.

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!

Elsewhere, Jason Neville writes in the Indypendent (NYC Indymedia newspaper): In Final Days of Congressional Campaign, Green Party Candidate Fights Local Media Blackout in New Orleans | | | Past Coverage: Malik Rahim honored with 2008 Thomas Merton Award | Malik Rahim Speaks to Northwesterners of Unity, Preparedness, Faith

The Turkey Bowl is an annual flag football game played in Adoue Park in Galveston's East End every Thanksgiving since the 70's. This past Thursday brought around 50 people to the park, in the first Turkey Bowl since Hurricane Ike. By 10:15 at least 25 people had shown up, we gathered in a circle and shared how many turkey bowl's people had attended. This ranged from many people's first game to more than a couple people who have been to more than 20. Many also shared things they were grateful for, many addressed Hurricane Ike and its impact on their families and careers.

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]

New Orleans is ringing with the sounds of celebration. Having endured the brunt and brutality of the Bush administration's neoliberal economic agenda and neoconservative political agenda more heavily than any other community in the United States, the city has begun a party like only this town knows how to throw. The sounds of ship horns along the Mississippi River blasting in jubilation mix with cars honking along the main avenues. Cheers of hooray resonate across the town from victory parties at bars and crowded households.

A panel of legal experts, social justice organizers and local indigenous leaders came together to reclaim what is normally "Columbus Day" just a month after another hurricane pummeled southern Louisiana tribes. Read More with 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

by Petros Evdokas, Portland Street Medics member

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

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

Today, the City of Galveston began to allow residents of the East End behind the seawall to return to the island. There is still a 12 hour curfew from 6am to 6pm, violators are facing a 2,000 Dollar fine. On September 11th, Galveston mayor Lyda Ann Thomas issued a mandatory evacuation order for people to leave before the arrival of Hurricane Ike, and more than 40,000 people fled before the storm. The damage to Galveston was extensive and still not fully understood, Mayor Thomas has requested 2.3 billion dollars of emergency assistance from the US Senate.

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

Sept. 22, 2008 — Yesterday on Galveston Island in Texas three street medics were harassed and threatened by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and local police agencies while working on hurricane Ike relief efforts. read more

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???