New Orleans: The Work Will Never Be Finished
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/06/AR2006010601649.htmlThe city says as many as 5,500 houses and businesses on the east bank of the Mississippi River may need to be razed because hurricane damage has made them unsafe. Mayor C. Ray Nagin has asserted that the city can demolish houses without the owners' consent if the structures pose an imminent danger to the public. But community activists filed a lawsuit last month disputing that authority.
A federal judge is to hold a hearing Jan. 19 on the city's request to move the case from state court to federal court. If the judge agrees to take the case, he will then decide whether to allow demolitions.
Much of the hubbub is over the demolition of predominately black neighborhoods. Of course! DUH!! It's whitey trying to drive the black man out of New Orleans. Not that your home is a moldy pile of rubble covering the street.
The city actually had to file for special permission to get knocked-over homes out of the street... 'cause they were protected, too.
At this rate, their grandchildren will still be trying to knock down houses.