I mentioned Wednesday that a couple of our African-American pastors are supporting the plans to demolish New Orleans’ public housing projects and replace them with multi-income planned developments. I should mention that Pastor Marshall Truehill of First United Baptist on Jeff Davis Parkway is vocal in his opposition to those plans. Friday’s Times-Picayune quotes Marshall, who was attending a meeting which HUD officials called to give information and take questions on the issue. He asked if the former residents of those projects had bonafide rental contracts prior to Katrina and if so, did the lease have a clause that one could be evicted because of a natural disaster. Columnist Lolis Eric Elie calls that “an important question.” Apparently, those attending the meeting came away feeling this is a done deal and their dissent is meaningless.
Thursday, en route to Natchitoches to speak to the Baptist association’s annual Christmas dinner for ministers and spouses, I ran by Fellowship Baptist Church at Prairieville where a large group from several churches in Idaho and Utah are constructing the new sanctuary. The rain was coming down, but they were hard at work inside the roofed and enclosed building. David Vise, student minister from Calvary Baptist Church of Idaho Falls, ID, called everyone together and let me address them. David told how one day back in 1974 he walked into my office at the First Baptist Church of Columbus, Mississippi, and we prayed together and he gave his life to Christ. He finished seminary at Southwestern in Fort Worth and is one of those young men we preachers look to with pride.
I thanked the group for their involvement in our area and urged them to make the drive into New Orleans while they’re this close. We’d like to have them take more mission trip down this way to help us build housing for New Orleanians.
That night, I tried my best to thank the Natchitoches Baptist Association and the First Baptist Church of that city for their work in our area. These are the good folks who took the lead and bore the costs for the Church Library Conference held at Marrero a month ago. Lee Dickson is the director of missions there, and if the Lord has a finer servant, I’d like to meet him. Of course, Hope and Dr. Jerry Ferguson spearheaded everything. People involved in church media work all over this country will recognize the name of Hope Winter Ferguson who has published books and articles and other materials to help churches establish libraries and do it right. In addition to being committed to this work, they are incredible friends and hosted me overnight.
In Friday’s letters column, one writer wants the city to open the public housing developments and let the displaced New Orleanians come home. Just below, another writes, “All public housing should be demolished and townhouses built in their place, with the residents of public housing given the opportunity to buy…with federally backed, low-interest loans.” The debate continues. Meanwhile, plans for the demolition apparently go forward.
Folwell Dunbar of New Orleans writes: “Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center forecast another bumper crop of killer storms for 2006. As it turns out, they were way off the radar. They were not alone in dispensing erroneous information, though….
“The Times-Picayune panned the blockbuster ‘Borat,’ Sports Illustrated picked the Saints to finish last in its division, and the pundits said, ‘Landrieu can’t lose.’ Next time I need expert advise, I’m consulting my trusty Magic 8-Ball.”
In the Lower Ninth Ward, the historic 100-acre Jackson Barracks military post is about to be rebuilt. General Bennett Landreneau signed five contracts this week worth $158.3 million to bring the post back to usefulness.
Saturday, displaced New Orleanians are convening in five cities across the Southland to learn what’s going on and what they can do to get back. The invitations promised, “Breakfast, lunch, transportation, child care, and translation will be available.”
Beginning at 9 am, the meetings will be linked by television, connecting citizens in Baton Rouge, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta with those downtown at the Morial Convention Center. The schedule says they will discuss flood protection, owner-occupied housing, rental and affordable housing, infrastructure, community support services such as police and fire, and parks. Some 4,000 people have preregistered, including 2,000 here, 800 in Houston, 600 in Dallas, 300 in Atlanta, and 275 in Baton Rouge. Walkups and dropins are encouraged.
For more information, check out www.unifiedneworleansplan.com.