ACORN URGENT ALERT
Oct. 19 2006
Oct. 19 2006
From: Steven Kest [mailto:natexdirect@acorn.org]
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 2:19 PM
To: ACORN Katrina organizing
Subject: An attack on community-based planning in New Orleans
Dear friends of ACORN’s work in New Orleans:
Yesterday New Orleans ACORN and the ACORN Housing Corporation received notice from
the New Orleans Community Support Foundation that their earlier selection as the official
planning team for the Lower 9th Ward and surrounding neighborhoods had been rescinded.
Leaders of New Orleans ACORN and supporters have vowed to fight against this politically-
motivated removal.
“ACORN Housing and the ACORN Planning team won by a landslide vote and have the
overwhelming support of the community,” said Vanessa Gueringer, an ACORN Board
member for the Lower 9th Ward, and a leading participant in the planning process. “The
planning process in the 9th ward has been hijacked by individuals with special interest and
political agendas. This decision derails the efforts of the largely low and moderate income
African American community and its right to return. This is a statement about how the
process is democratic for some but not for the downtown neighborhoods”
In an open and competitive process, the ACORN Planning Team was awarded the contract to
serve as planners for New Orleans Districts 7 and 8. According to the New Orleans
Community Support Foundation, ACORN had one of the most impressive applications and
presentations of all 65 applicants for the planning process. The Foundation also reported
that ACORN received significantly more votes from community residents than the other
potential teams to be the district planner for Districts 7 and 8.
The contract requires adherence to a 30-day notice before it is terminated. “Removing the
ACORN Planning team is just another attempt to destroy the efforts of citizens to rebuild, and
ACORN won’t stand for it!” said Gueringer. “We have a valid contract, and we plan on using
every legal means available to enforce the terms of that contract, and to ensure that the
planning process is not hijacked by those who would like to see much of planning districts 7
and 8 turned into swampland and industrial parks against the wishes of former and current
residents.”
The New Orleans Community Support Foundation claimed that the ACORN Planning team
was not eligible to conduct planning in part because ACORN Housing had received tentative
approval to redevelop abandoned housing in the Lower 9th, and that ACORN therefore had a
“conflict of interest”. The ACORN Planning team presented a number of proposals to the
Foundation for resolving this alleged conflict, but these proposals were ignored without
discussion.
ACORN, ACORN Housing, and their partners (Cornell University, Pratt Institute, LSU, and
others) remain deeply committed to guaranteeing the rebuilding and return of residents in
New Orleans and in all parts of the 9th Ward. Regardless of the final outcome of any legal
action, the ACORN Planning Team will continue its work with neighborhood residents, and will
develop a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the Lower 9th ward and surrounding
communities.
For an update on ACORN’s work to rebuild New Orleans, please go to www.acorn.
org/Katrina. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these developments or
want more information.
--------------------------
Steven Kest
Executive Director
ACORN
2-4 Nevins Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-246-7900 ext 201
917-855-3165 cell
skest@acorn.org
www.acorn.org
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 2:19 PM
To: ACORN Katrina organizing
Subject: An attack on community-based planning in New Orleans
Dear friends of ACORN’s work in New Orleans:
Yesterday New Orleans ACORN and the ACORN Housing Corporation received notice from
the New Orleans Community Support Foundation that their earlier selection as the official
planning team for the Lower 9th Ward and surrounding neighborhoods had been rescinded.
Leaders of New Orleans ACORN and supporters have vowed to fight against this politically-
motivated removal.
“ACORN Housing and the ACORN Planning team won by a landslide vote and have the
overwhelming support of the community,” said Vanessa Gueringer, an ACORN Board
member for the Lower 9th Ward, and a leading participant in the planning process. “The
planning process in the 9th ward has been hijacked by individuals with special interest and
political agendas. This decision derails the efforts of the largely low and moderate income
African American community and its right to return. This is a statement about how the
process is democratic for some but not for the downtown neighborhoods”
In an open and competitive process, the ACORN Planning Team was awarded the contract to
serve as planners for New Orleans Districts 7 and 8. According to the New Orleans
Community Support Foundation, ACORN had one of the most impressive applications and
presentations of all 65 applicants for the planning process. The Foundation also reported
that ACORN received significantly more votes from community residents than the other
potential teams to be the district planner for Districts 7 and 8.
The contract requires adherence to a 30-day notice before it is terminated. “Removing the
ACORN Planning team is just another attempt to destroy the efforts of citizens to rebuild, and
ACORN won’t stand for it!” said Gueringer. “We have a valid contract, and we plan on using
every legal means available to enforce the terms of that contract, and to ensure that the
planning process is not hijacked by those who would like to see much of planning districts 7
and 8 turned into swampland and industrial parks against the wishes of former and current
residents.”
The New Orleans Community Support Foundation claimed that the ACORN Planning team
was not eligible to conduct planning in part because ACORN Housing had received tentative
approval to redevelop abandoned housing in the Lower 9th, and that ACORN therefore had a
“conflict of interest”. The ACORN Planning team presented a number of proposals to the
Foundation for resolving this alleged conflict, but these proposals were ignored without
discussion.
ACORN, ACORN Housing, and their partners (Cornell University, Pratt Institute, LSU, and
others) remain deeply committed to guaranteeing the rebuilding and return of residents in
New Orleans and in all parts of the 9th Ward. Regardless of the final outcome of any legal
action, the ACORN Planning Team will continue its work with neighborhood residents, and will
develop a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the Lower 9th ward and surrounding
communities.
For an update on ACORN’s work to rebuild New Orleans, please go to www.acorn.
org/Katrina. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these developments or
want more information.
--------------------------
Steven Kest
Executive Director
ACORN
2-4 Nevins Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-246-7900 ext 201
917-855-3165 cell
skest@acorn.org
www.acorn.org