Tuesday, February 20, 2007

NATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY

Tuesday - February 20, 2007

It’s time once again to join with law schools across the country in a National Day of Solidarity, which will take place on February 20, Fat Tuesday, or otherwise known as Mardi Gras!
Last year’s National Day of Solidarity was a great success. And this year it is time to once again to remind the public that the struggle is not over, that tens of thousands of people are still being barred from returning to their homes, that hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals still have no way of knowing the condition of their homes and communities, that many others are still unable to enjoy the kinds of social guarantees like basic education and health care that we take for granted. And it is time to once again remind our communities that there are still those that continue laboring to uphold the fundamental rights of these people, and that they, too, need help. So on February 20th, when the focus of a celebrating country inevitably turns to New Orleans as “the greatest free show on earth,” remind your family, friends, colleagues, coworkers, and fellow citizens what’s at stake.

Schools planning events for the National Day of Solidarity:

American University Washington College of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Boston University
Brooklyn Law School
Chicago - Kent Law School
DePaul University College of Law
Fordham University School of Law
FSU College of Law
George Mason University School of Law
George Washington School of Law
Harvard Law School
Howard University
The John Marshall Law School in Chicago
Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson
Pace University School of Law
Pepperdine
Seton Hall Law School
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort Worth
Tulane Law School
University of Akron School of Law
University of Baltimore
UC Berkley (undergrad)
UC Davis
UC Hastings
University of Denver
University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Oregon
University of Toledo
University of Wisconsin School of Law
Washburn University
Washington University School of Law
Western New England College of Law
William and Mary

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Mardi Gras Events

Mardi Gras will be here soon and we've got some great events coming up this week.

This Is My Home (a documentary)
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
12:30 PM
Room 303

Fordham Law School

On Tuesday February 20th, Mardi Gras, over 30 law schools across the country will be holding events to observe a day of solidarity with the residents of the Gulf Coast affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Here at Fordham, SHN and the Housing Advocacy Project will be screening This is My Home, a documentary about the fight for public housing in New Orleans.

Most of New Orleans public housing withstood the hurricane with little or no damage, yet thousands of families are still shut out of their homes and remain displaced across the country. This Is My Home is a tribute to the perseverance of the displaced residents of New Orleans, and it is a call to action for the public, politicians, and all justice-minded people to support their right to return home.

There will be King Cake and Two Boots Pizza.

* * * *
Mardi Gras Celebration
Tuesday Night, February 20th
Location & Time TBA


Come on out and celebrate Mardi Gras with your SHN pals. It will be a great opportunity to re-connect with folks you worked with on trips. Spring Breakers, you can get to know the people you will be working with in March. As soon as we decide where to party we will let you know.

* * * *
An Inconvenient Truth
Thursday, February 22nd
6:00 PM
McNally Amphitheater

Fordham Law School

Along with Environmental Law Advocates, The Environmental Law Journal and Amnesty International, SHN is co-sponsoring a screening of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."

The Number of Category 4 and 5 Hurricanes has almost doubled in the past 30 years. With 2005, the worst storm season ever experienced in America just behind us, it seems we may be reaching a tipping point - and Gore pulls no punches in explaining the dire situation. Interspersed with the bracing facts and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming; to a young Senator facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his perspective, to the man who almost became President but instead returned to the most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a difference.

* * * * *
And don't miss this weekend:
Mardi Gras NYC 2007
A Benefit for the People's Hurricane Relief Fund
Saturday, February 17th
Doors 8pm
The Pussycat Lounge
96 Greenwich St. at Rector


Featuring:(9 BANDS!!!) Hungry March Band (at 12 midnight), The New York Howl, Screaming Females, The Two Man Gentleman Band, Higgins, Man in Gray, The Unsacred Hearts, The Invincible Gods, and Eisenhower. Expect some surprise performances.

Many of us who went on the first trip to NOLA in January 2006 worked with the People's Hurricane Relief Fund. PHRF is an organization that has been successful in getting money and assistance directly to people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Hungry March Band donates their performance and any funds raised in the name of Dinerral Shavers, the snare player for the Hot 8 Brass Band who was recently shot and killed in New Orleans while driving his car.

More info:
myspace.com/mardigrasnyc

We hope to see you at these events.

Monday, February 5, 2007

Call Congress Today!!!

Dear Friends,
Support displaced public housing residents from New Orleans in their fight
to go home. Displaced residents have traveled to Washington, DC to make
their voices heard, but *they need our help *in telling their stories. Please
take *5 minutes *on *Monday, February 5th *to help New Orleanians in their
battle to return home.
*The Situation: *50 displaced public housing residents are in DC for a
Congressional hearing about federally-assisted housing in post-Katrina New
Orleans. Residents would like to have a voice at the table. But, so far,
no displaced residents are on the hearing agenda.
*The Ask: *Call Representative Barney Frank's office and tell them *you want
public housing residents to speak at Tuesday's hearing*. Tell them you do
not support HUD's plans to demolish four of New Orleans largest public
housing complexes. Tell them that you believe in a democracy where
government responds to those affected, instead of leaving them displaced and
behind.
*Who to Call: *Call Barney Frank's Financial Services Committee office at:
(202) 225-4247. *Ask for Dominique McCoy*, Chairman Frank's housing
staffer. If she isn't available, please leave a message with the person
answering the phone. Also, if your Representative is on the Financial
Services Committee, please call them and make the same request: find your
Representative and their
Committee assignments .
*Background Information*
- Tuesday's congressional hearing will discuss the Bush
administration's plans to demolish over 4,000 units of affordable housing
instead of allowing residents to return home.
- Before the hurricane, the four projects targeted for demolition had
4,534 units of affordable housing: 1,546 in BW Cooper, 723 in C.J.
Peete; 1,400 in St. Bernard and 865 in Lafitte.
- Plans for Lafitte housing are not yet public, but the other three
projects will be *reduced from a total of 3,669 units to 1,415 units*.
Of these, only 468 will be low-income units and another 426 will be
mixed-income units. The rest will rent at market rate.
- HUD's demolition plans fail to meet the commitment Scott Keller,
Deputy Chief of Staff at HUD, made following a New Orleans City Council
meeting on June 15, 2006, where he stated, "What we are looking for is
one-for-one replacement [in public housing units] across the continuum of
New Orleans."
- Demolishing these
buildingswill
cost more than rehabbing the existing ones.
It will also provide fewer affordable units. More money for fewer
units isn't right for post-Katrina New Orleans.