1/27/2007 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now (1/22/07)

• Sen. Bernie Sanders: If You Are Concerned About Health Care, Iraq, the Economy, Global Warming You Must Be Concerned About Corporate Control of the Media
• Veteran White House Correspondent Helen Thomas on the Escalation of the Iraq War, Jimmy Carter's New Book & the Failings of the Washington Press Corp

Democracy Now (1/25/07)

• 911 Calls in North Dakota Town Reveal Dangers of Media Consolidation

Field of Dreams: Lakeview Residents Rally Around the Saints

For the intrepid few who are now already living in Lakeview, the Saints NFC championship game against the Chicago Bears was an occasion which inspired a celebration. In FEMA trailers, gutted homes, church halls, and outdoor tent parties, Lakeview neighbors were reunited to cheer their home team to victory, as well as to cheer for their own personal and collective victories.

More photos.

Related:

The New Orleans Saints Web site.

Neil Hayes, "Saints have team spirit," Chicago Sun-Times, 1/18/07.

Ian McGibboney, "Hate New Orleans? Read this!," Daily Kos, 1/25/07.

da po' blog, "Words That Hurt."

Eric Zorn, "The Silence of the Fans," Change of Subject, 1/24/07.

Richard Schneider, "Eagles fan finds New Orleans in a welcoming mood," Pensacola News Journal, 1/21/07.

Lolis Eric Elie, "N.O. comes off as loser on big stage," The Times-Picayune, 1/21/07.

1/20/2007 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now (1/16/07)

Bill Moyers at the Media Reform Conference

Lower Ninth Ward residents plan to rebuild

New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward remains a lifeless landscape of empty slabs and broken homes. Just a couple of miles downriver from the French Quarter, this was ground zero for the Industrial Canal levee break during Hurricane Katrina. Generations of families in this predominantly African American neighborhood became homeowners and created a tight-knit community of family and friends. The future risk of storm-driven flooding is one of the issues they were asked to consider, at a recent planning district meeting, in deciding where and how to rebuild their homes.

Unified New Orleans Plan organizers have scheduled the third and last Community Congress today. 1-877-527-3284 for more information.

The SF 95 form is required to file a suit against the Army Corps of Engineers for damages.

More photos. Also interesting -- view slides from the meeting H3 presentation.

Bill Quigley: Public Housing, the Right to Return, and MLK

St. Bernard public housing residents have been forbidden ever since Hurricane Katrina to re-enter the homes they once lived in. For nearly a year and a half, they haven't been given the opportunity to reclaim valued possessions, clean up their homes, or return to them as affordable housing at a time when rent has skyrocketed across New Orleans. They grabbed mops and brooms on the Martin Luther King holiday, marched into their homes, and started cleaning. Along with an army of volunteers, they proclaimed that they would not leave, despite the fact that HUD plans to bulldoze the apartment complex.

Bill Quiqley, an attorney at the Loyola Poverty Law Center, attended the reoccupation to support residents. In this interview, he talks about the right of residents to return to public housing, social justice, and how Washington's preoccupation with stabilizing Iraq is de-stabilizing New Orleans.

More stories and photos at New Orleans Indymedia. (Community Gumbo photos will be posted sometime this weekend).

Announcements:

The Newcomb College Center for Research on Women upcoming events:

"Flying into Hurricanes"
A presentation by Robbie Hood and Michelle Mainelli, as part of The Newcomb College Institute Powerhouse Speakers Series.
7 pm, Tuesday, 23 January 2007
Freeman Auditorium, Woldenberg Art Center

Mystick Krewe of Newcombus Festivity
Thursday 25 January 2007
Calling all Daughters and Friends of the Cosmic Acorn to the Mystick Krewe of Newcombus Festivity for the amusement of Her Majesty Abaigeal VanDeerlin, N 05, TU Law 06 a.k.a “Sophie Nuke’em” of the Big Easy Roller Girls featuring “By Invitation Only” a film by Rebecca Snedeker about gender, race, and old line Carnival traditions.

Screenings at 5 pm & 8 pm

Rebecca will introduce the film and take questions
following each screening

King cake tasting 6:30 - 8 pm

Mystick Newcombus Ritual 7 pm

Caroline Richardson Hall
Kindly RSVP: 504-865-5238

The Big Easy Roller Girls
The Big Easy Rollergirls rescheduled their January 21st bout against the Sin City Rollergirls so fans wouldn't have to choose between them and New Orleans' other favorite team, the Saints. But you can join the rollergirls for the Tomatoes CD release party at One-Eyed Jacks, and you can join them in cheering on the Saints to victory at Lucky's.





Music played:

Dr. John, sippiana hericane (various)

Stanton Moore, "When Levee Breaks"

Potpie, "Blues for the Lower Nine"

1/13/2007 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now (1/12/06)

• Mike McConnell, Booz Allen and the Privatization of Intelligence
• As Thousands Gather in Memphis for National Media Reform Conference, A Look at the State of the U.S. Media
• Young People of Color Take on Clear Channel Dominance in Bay Area

March Against Crime

The march against crime was the largest, most diverse demonstration of community solidarity in New Orleans history. Every neighborhood, every race, every age, every class, streamed out of homes, businesses, and schools, to join a 5000-strong march to protest the void of leadership in City Hall, and to solemnly respond to the deaths of two beloved members of the community, Dinneral Shavers, and Helen Hill. Interviews with marchers, speeches, and a memorial to Dinneral and Helen. Audio contributions borrowed from Fausto Caceres and Dan Streible (Helen Hill memories).

Additional audio of speeches available at New Orleans Indymedia.

The New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund is accepting donations dedicated to help Dinneral Shavers' family and for funeral expenses (NOMHRF.ORG). The Tipitina's Foundation hosts a Web site for the Hot 8 Brass Band.

Donations in Helen Hill's memory may be sent to the Columbia College "Helen Addison Wingard Scholarship Fund," or to Doctors without Borders, or to her son's scholarship fund. Visit HELENHILL.ORG for more information.

Music played:

Susan Cowsill, "Nanny's Song"

Irvin Mayfield, "A Closer Walk With Thee"

The Troublemakers, "Troublemakers' Theme," Here Come the Troublemakers.

Hot 8 Brass Band, "Fly Away"

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, "A Closer Walk With Thee," Dirty Dozen Brass Band Collection

1/06/2007 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now (1/01/07)

From Bolivia to Baghdad: Noam Chomsky on Creating Another World in a Time of War, Empire and Devastation

Left Behind: The Story of New Orleans Public Schools

“Left Behind: The Story of the New Orleans Public Schools” documents a school system which had a dropout rate as high as 70 percent, with only half of the students passing math and reading proficiency tests. Before Hurricane Katrina, there were approximately 60,000 students in the New Orleans public school system, and the school budget was more than $500 million. Post-Katrina, the operating budget is about half as large, the school system has about half the number of students, and – the biggest change – about half of the schools are now being operated by private charter schools, with the majority of the remainder being operated by a Recovery School District after a state takeover. Only a small handful of schools are still being operated by the New Orleans Public School System.

Vincent Morelli is a writer, producer, and co-director of the film (along with writer Jason Berry and executive producer Bobby Moresco).

Related:

American Zombie -- What twisted webs they weave

Metroblogging New Orleans -- Left Behind: Horrors of the Orleans Parish School System

People Get Ready -- Left Behind: The Story of the New Orleans Public School System

Associated Press -- Mayors seek to take charge of schools

Announcements:

Housing Conservation District Review Committee
January 8, 2007
10 a.m., Room 7E07 City Hall
The Committee will consider replacing six four-plex structures in the Hollygrove-Carrollton area with addresses on Palm, Stroelitz, and Cambronne Streets off of Carrollton Avenue with a 48-unit residential apartment building.
More information: Squandered Heritage

Planning District meetings
The last Planning District meetings before the Unified New Orleans Plan finalizes the citywide master rebuilding plan are being held today and next Saturday, 1/14/06. Also, the third and last citywide Community Congress has been postponed from January 13th to January 20th.
More information: UnifiedNewOrleansPlan.org

Democracy Now (1/03/07 excerpt)

As Rudy Giuliani's Secret Presidential Campaign Plan is Revealed, A Look At His Run for the White House & the Untold Story of Giuliani and 9/11

Music Played:

Leadbelly, "I Will Be So Glad When I Get Home," Leadbelly "Live", Document Records, 2004.

Treme Brass Band, "Saints/Mama Don't Allow," I Got a Big Fat Woman, Sound of New Orleans, 1992.

Furry Lewis, "Why Don't You Come Home Blues," The Complete Vintage Recordings, 1927-1929, Document Records, 2003.