Public Employee Press

“Green ribbon” locals support New Orleans hurricane relief

As the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina gets closer, housing problems still loom large.

All along the Gulf Coast, residents continue to struggle with the devastating legacy of the Aug. 29 whirlwind.

In mid-March, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin appeared before the U.S. Congress to appeal for additional funds. He pointed out that a large part of assistance to the city has come from private donations.

In the face of government inaction and neglect, individuals and organizations have found numerous ways to help in the rebuilding. DC 37 members have been part of these voluntary efforts from the beginning.

Members from several DC 37 locals have backed the Green Ribbon Campaign to show support for Gulf Coast survivors and to call attention to the need for housing. Hospital, clerical, school, and social workers have joined together with librarians and others to raise awareness about the crisis in the Crescent City.

In January, the New York Solidarity Coalition sponsored three separate “Days of Action.” The first, on Jan. 12, was held at Hunter College. There, the emphasis was on linking participants to the various relief efforts established to help the displaced and the homeless.

On Jan. 25 and 26, the local activities were part of a national effort to rally activists around the country in a show of solidarity with public housing residents in New Orleans.

“Our campaign is an effort to show support for the right to housing for people who were displaced across the country,” said Local 1549 member Brenda Walker. A member of the Local 1549 Political Action Committee, Walker has taken on the mission of speaking before groups of union members to solicit signatures for petitions that support this basic right.

For more information, visit www.NYKatrinaRita.org.