Government reports confirm that half of the working poor, elderly and disabled who lived in New Orleans before Katrina have not returned. Because of critical shortages in low cost housing, few now expect tens of thousands of poor and working people to ever be able to return home.

A year after the Signal strike, Guest Worker organizing continues in Mississippi and Louisiana.
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Shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, hundreds of Indian welders and fitters were trafficked to the Gulf Coast. For a hefty fee of $20,000, the recruiters promised the workers good jobs, permanent residency, and a chance to bring their families to the US. Workers sold their homes, took high-interest loans, and plunged their families into debt to pay for the American Dream.

When they arrived they discovered that all of the promises that had been made to them were false. They learned that in fact there were no green cards for them: they would not receive permanent status and they would remain separated from their families. Surely this was better than the way they had lived in India they were told, but many of the workers had worked in several countries and the accommodations here were the worst of all.


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Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter spoke in New Orleans Wednesday night. Ritter called for increased and informed civic responsibility and action to oppose the domination of special interests in government, to prevent Bush from invading Iran, and to create real democracy.

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New Orleans - February 19, 2008 – 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. The accompanying Notice of Condemnation also posted on some doors February 16th states that filing an appeal does not in itself change the condemnation status, but merely gives the homeowner the right to a hearing prior to demolition of the structure being officially ordered.

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Jamie "Bork" Loughner, a housing activist, and disabled worker, who has relied on public housing for safe and affordable shelter, was arraigned on a politically inspired charge of possessing a false explosive device in Orleans Parish Criminal Court on January 29th, 2008.

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