Comments on: New Orleans police enforce the “no poor folk in NOLA” rule http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:14:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » A Dangerous Distraction http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-145243 Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » A Dangerous Distraction Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:33:04 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-145243 [...] or not we win the writers strike, how strong the movement for housing in New Orleans becomes; whether the protests over what happened in Jena were a one off or a springboard; whether the [...] [...] or not we win the writers strike, how strong the movement for housing in New Orleans becomes; whether the protests over what happened in Jena were a one off or a springboard; whether the [...]

]]> By: louise http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143672 louise Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:25:44 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143672 I was sickened watching the video, sailorman- the crowds were NOT out of control and this was such a horribly brutal overuse of force. Actually, depending on what cable channel you watched, you could see the events unfolding from either inside the gates or outside- the outside shots showed alot of people, but looking peaceful enough, then large jets of mace flying out into the crowd. From the interior angle shots, one would think that the entire building was being rushed and that the police HAD to close the gates to save themselves! Eeks!! Really good editting in the control booths, huh? "Fair and Balanced", my ass... I was sickened watching the video, sailorman- the crowds were NOT out of control and this was such a horribly brutal overuse of force. Actually, depending on what cable channel you watched, you could see the events unfolding from either inside the gates or outside- the outside shots showed alot of people, but looking peaceful enough, then large jets of mace flying out into the crowd.

From the interior angle shots, one would think that the entire building was being rushed and that the police HAD to close the gates to save themselves! Eeks!!

Really good editting in the control booths, huh? “Fair and Balanced”, my ass…

]]> By: kactus http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143589 kactus Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:12:20 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143589 everythings.entangled, if it's more hands-on that you're looking for, the Common Ground collective link at the end of the post has tangible volunteer opportunities. http://www.commongroundrelief.org/ everythings.entangled, if it’s more hands-on that you’re looking for, the Common Ground collective link at the end of the post has tangible volunteer opportunities.

http://www.commongroundrelief.org/

]]> By: everythings.entangled http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143576 everythings.entangled Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:59:10 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143576 i'm aware that New Orleans is just one example of not just a national problem but a global one as well. i get all the -isms conservative agendas and how they work to screw over everybody (including themselves in the long run). im just looking for a more tangible response to the problem besides dissecting it. and new orleans in particular is still (kind of) on the media map and has a lot of strength as a community so if someone is going to try and make some kind of action against this nonsense i imagine new orleans has a lot of potential and opportunities to accomplish....something. i dunno maybe its the wrong question, maybe im looking at it wrong. and maybe i shouldnt except people to have that kind of answer for me. i’m aware that New Orleans is just one example of not just a national problem but a global one as well. i get all the -isms conservative agendas and how they work to screw over everybody (including themselves in the long run).
im just looking for a more tangible response to the problem besides dissecting it. and new orleans in particular is still (kind of) on the media map and has a lot of strength as a community so if someone is going to try and make some kind of action against this nonsense i imagine new orleans has a lot of potential and opportunities to accomplish….something.
i dunno maybe its the wrong question, maybe im looking at it wrong. and maybe i shouldnt except people to have that kind of answer for me.

]]> By: kate http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143555 kate Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:30:35 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143555 And tell me this. Why couldn't HUD had taken this opportunity to offer ownership and condoiazation of the old housing units, with grants or low interest loans for each tenant to remodel as they pleased? Afterall, my black brothers and sisters were promised forty acres and a mule so many years ago. A condo of their own with a grant for fix-up is a start in the right direction. Just saying. And tell me this. Why couldn’t HUD had taken this opportunity to offer ownership and condoiazation of the old housing units, with grants or low interest loans for each tenant to remodel as they pleased?

Afterall, my black brothers and sisters were promised forty acres and a mule so many years ago. A condo of their own with a grant for fix-up is a start in the right direction.

Just saying.

]]> By: kate http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143553 kate Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:24:55 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143553 I agree with Brownfemipower. It is happening everywhere, fueled by racism, classism and the grab for available land for speculators and developers to make a buck. Also, as fuel prices rise and cause the increased devaluation of large suburban tracts with huge McMansions, the demand for innercity housing by the affluent will rise. Gentrification is occurring now Harlem, Chicago and other urban areas, even in smaller cities. The removal of industrialization and well paying low skilled work overseas is meaning that there are larger and larger groups of people who cannot find good paying work. The depend on government programs operated by HUD to have a decent place to live. As costs of living rise and wages remain stagnant, the demand on public services increases which also increases the propaganda machine of the far-right to engage in dismissing the importance of publically funded housing or even the importance of housing citizens at all. Republicans since Reagan have made a killing with misinformation feeding off of racism and classism. The propaganda allows the powerful and the greedy to divert funds that would normally go to helping the public, back into their pockets. Civil service is scorned and government is no longer seen as anything more than an institution to protect the wealthy the propertied. Social Darwinism has come back into vogue as we enter the new Guilded Age. Contrary to the lies propounded by conservatives, there is plenty of money for this country to do well and meet the basic needs of its population. Its just that we won't have a country-sized population of the privileged, who will be able to exploit without accountability. I am a carpenter and I don't know how many people in the trade have talked about going down to New Orleans to rake in big bucks rebuilding the city. Unfortunately, most common people have no idea or understanding that the people who need the rebuilding the most cannot afford it, that FEMA is shut up tighter than a bull's ass and that only a small number of closely tied, favored and selected contractors will get any of the small amount of work that will be done in the 'redevelopment' process. If FEMA released their funds like they should have, if the insurance companies had been forced to release funds like they should, if there were tighter controls on contractors (safety practices, not trucking in and exploiting illegals) then possibly there would be a boon in the local economy, but its a lie to say so with the way things are now. Its only a boon to a select few. I agree with Brownfemipower. It is happening everywhere, fueled by racism, classism and the grab for available land for speculators and developers to make a buck. Also, as fuel prices rise and cause the increased devaluation of large suburban tracts with huge McMansions, the demand for innercity housing by the affluent will rise. Gentrification is occurring now Harlem, Chicago and other urban areas, even in smaller cities.

The removal of industrialization and well paying low skilled work overseas is meaning that there are larger and larger groups of people who cannot find good paying work. The depend on government programs operated by HUD to have a decent place to live. As costs of living rise and wages remain stagnant, the demand on public services increases which also increases the propaganda machine of the far-right to engage in dismissing the importance of publically funded housing or even the importance of housing citizens at all.

Republicans since Reagan have made a killing with misinformation feeding off of racism and classism. The propaganda allows the powerful and the greedy to divert funds that would normally go to helping the public, back into their pockets. Civil service is scorned and government is no longer seen as anything more than an institution to protect the wealthy the propertied. Social Darwinism has come back into vogue as we enter the new Guilded Age.

Contrary to the lies propounded by conservatives, there is plenty of money for this country to do well and meet the basic needs of its population. Its just that we won’t have a country-sized population of the privileged, who will be able to exploit without accountability.

I am a carpenter and I don’t know how many people in the trade have talked about going down to New Orleans to rake in big bucks rebuilding the city. Unfortunately, most common people have no idea or understanding that the people who need the rebuilding the most cannot afford it, that FEMA is shut up tighter than a bull’s ass and that only a small number of closely tied, favored and selected contractors will get any of the small amount of work that will be done in the ‘redevelopment’ process.

If FEMA released their funds like they should have, if the insurance companies had been forced to release funds like they should, if there were tighter controls on contractors (safety practices, not trucking in and exploiting illegals) then possibly there would be a boon in the local economy, but its a lie to say so with the way things are now. Its only a boon to a select few.

]]> By: brownfemipower http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143544 brownfemipower Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:02:51 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143544 everythings.entangled--new orleans is not the only place where gentrification and violent enforcement of government destruction is taking place. I think one of the most important things to do is to begin considering how the city you are located in is connected to new orleans--and then start making change within your own city in any way you can. it's not just the police who are doing this, nor is it just the new orleans city council or the Louisiana state government etc--this is our entire system, our entire government, our entire population. we are *all* culpable in this because new orleans was allowed to happen at a different time in a different place over hundreds of years and nobody ever said anything. What is happening to the poor in NOLA happened on that same plot of land to native peoples (and continues to happen, native peoples are experiencing the same shit in that area as well). I think the place to start 'action' is by recognizing that if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. if it happens over there, it's going to happen 'here'. it's all just a matter of time. everythings.entangled–new orleans is not the only place where gentrification and violent enforcement of government destruction is taking place. I think one of the most important things to do is to begin considering how the city you are located in is connected to new orleans–and then start making change within your own city in any way you can. it’s not just the police who are doing this, nor is it just the new orleans city council or the Louisiana state government etc–this is our entire system, our entire government, our entire population. we are *all* culpable in this because new orleans was allowed to happen at a different time in a different place over hundreds of years and nobody ever said anything. What is happening to the poor in NOLA happened on that same plot of land to native peoples (and continues to happen, native peoples are experiencing the same shit in that area as well).

I think the place to start ‘action’ is by recognizing that if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. if it happens over there, it’s going to happen ‘here’. it’s all just a matter of time.

]]> By: Read this. Read this now. « The Unquiet Mind http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143537 Read this. Read this now. « The Unquiet Mind Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:54:29 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143537 [...] Read this. Read this now. Filed under: Uncategorized — rowancrisp @ 8:54 am They’re purging New Orleans all over again. [...] [...] Read this. Read this now. Filed under: Uncategorized — rowancrisp @ 8:54 am They’re purging New Orleans all over again. [...]

]]> By: Skullhunter http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143535 Skullhunter Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:05:43 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143535 Sailorman, usually it isn't a "crowd rush the gates" thing, but the police will sure as hell claim it was. It's pretty much standard operating procedure; "less than lethal" measures are used against protesters either on specific orders to force them to leave or just because some thug in uniform felt like doing it, then afterwards they make vague and unsupported claims about objects being thrown at the cops or people attacking them and the general public nods and agrees that the protesters deserved what they got. They know they're dealing with a public that's been indoctrinated for generations to unquestioningly trust authority and to believe that callous brutality by the authorities is almost always justified. Sailorman, usually it isn’t a “crowd rush the gates” thing, but the police will sure as hell claim it was. It’s pretty much standard operating procedure; “less than lethal” measures are used against protesters either on specific orders to force them to leave or just because some thug in uniform felt like doing it, then afterwards they make vague and unsupported claims about objects being thrown at the cops or people attacking them and the general public nods and agrees that the protesters deserved what they got. They know they’re dealing with a public that’s been indoctrinated for generations to unquestioningly trust authority and to believe that callous brutality by the authorities is almost always justified.

]]> By: everythings.entangled http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143529 everythings.entangled Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:13:34 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/12/21/new-orleans-police-enforce-the-no-poor-folk-in-nola-rule/#comment-143529 so is there anything to do about this besides be depressed and sign some online petition? if i go to new orleans could i do anything concretely useful? or would i just be another white kid doing my part for gentrification? .watching the destruction of such a community and culture is too much..i really want to do something about this but i have no idea what. i google katrina and New Orleans and it seems the only way to help is by donating stuff and writing letters. is that really the only thing a person outside of New Orleans can offer? i want to do more than just be aware of the problem... so is there anything to do about this besides be depressed and sign some online petition? if i go to new orleans could i do anything concretely useful? or would i just be another white kid doing my part for gentrification? .watching the destruction of such a community and culture is too much..i really want to do something about this but i have no idea what. i google katrina and New Orleans and it seems the only way to help is by donating stuff and writing letters. is that really the only thing a person outside of New Orleans can offer? i want to do more than just be aware of the problem…

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