An Example Of Gentrification In New Orleans

Background from a neighbor: Miss Carmen, an amazing grandmother, friend and activist, and the children she raises, live around the corner from our house in the 7th ward. 2 days ago they were all evicted from their home--the home carmen has lived in for 13 years-- another example of greed and apathy that exists post-Katrina (there was a realtor there just as they were moving their belongings out, hungry to sell the place). i visited her and the kids last night at the hotel they are staying; it's a temporary situation for 3 days and then they don't know where they will go. she wanted to spread the word about what happened and expose that such injustice still occurs here in New Orleans. she knows she's not the only one and hopes that through communicating her story, it will help not only her family but so many others who are going through the same.

Carmen's Letter:

"My name is Carmen Anderson from New Orleans, LA. I am a disabled grandmother raising my 3 grandchildren, because my daughter, their mother, was killed 3 years ago on Oct 17, 2004.

I had filed for bankruptcy a week before Katrina, therefore it didn't go through until after Katrina and Rita (April 2007). Having the responsibility of paying for my daughter's funeral on a fixed income, trying to replace some of our belongings after Katrina, and being evacuated to Lufkin, TX it still was a hardship, so my case was dismissed from bankruptcy in Sept 2006. I was never notified or given anymore information concerning my home, but I was told by FEMA in Nov 2006 that we needed to return to our home in New Orleans, and that is when I got in contact with Ms Dyan (Mama Dee) French Cole, and she got some workers to fix our home so we could return, and we returned on Jan 6, 2007.

I went to Road Home for my closure, which was July 30, 2007, my paperwork was incorrect, and I would be notified as to when I would return for my closure. But a week later instead of a call from Road Home, I was served a paper by Toni Tanner Realtor (Aug. 7, 2007) that my property was purchased by Chase Bank on Aug. 1, 2007. Two days later I received a call from Tanners Realtor with an offer of $1250 to move by Aug. 20, 2007 and sweep up our home (the home we survived Katrina in and the words "water" and "food" still on our rooftop from Katrina), and give them the keys. A week later I received an eviction notice in the mail.

This is when I acquired a lawyer from the New Orleans Legal Service to negociate an offer to buy back my property for the $37,000 that I owe them. She was told by the Realtor (Toni Tanner Realtors) that it was a DONE DEAL and Chase Bank refused to sell me my property that I paid for, and I offered to repay the loan off that I owe them. Granted I performed a stupid act, and got a loan with Bank One which is now Chase Bank, but instead they are more concerned with stealing our property and so many other African American properties, and reselling them for a profit.

I was in a workshop in Nashville, TN (2 days ago, Oct 16) when I received a call from home with the news that our belongings that we had acquired after Katrina were being put on the side of the street in the rain for anyone to take. But thank God for my neighbors and my community for watching over our belongings, and placing covers over them to keep them from getting wet or taken. Meanwhile this is taking me and my granchildren from our home, their school, our community, our friends, our neighbors, and taking us from our safety net. Now we are HOMELESS and HELPLESS at a time when rent exceeds my income.

I feel we are being victimized all over again by Tanne's Realtor and Chase Bank. I am only one of many that this is happening to due to the LAND GRABBERS post-Katrina.

Thank you, Carmen Anderson"

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2007/10/11235.php