STILL HAS GIGANTIC NEEDS AND PROBLEMS 

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 By Job Mashariki

ceo@bvsj.org

Nov. 22, 2006 - Revised

Over half of the indigenous population of New Orleans, 200,000 or more, is spread across the United States. They are saying, “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans”? 

            On November 7^th I just returned from an intense 2 1/2 day tour and meeting sessions along with Councilman Al Vann, New Yorkers for the Gulf Coast and the Human Service Council of New York City. We traveled as one body: New Yorkers Who Care About New Orleaneans. Last year, when many New Orleans residents were brought to New York under   strange “temporary” strenuous conditions, Councilman Al Vann galvanized a number of community organizations in his district with the purpose of identifying Katrina victims in this city and providing them with help.  A number of these organizations working collectively, one being Black Veterans for Social Justice, which I lead, Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Boys High Guys and Friends, Restoration Corp, Family Dynamics, Bridge Street AME Church and First Baptist Church of Crown Heights surveyed the many hotels where people were living. We helped many of the folks. However, we identified 16 families, several had veterans and we provided them with money, wrap-around social services, placement into housing and employment. BVSJ housed six of these families. We continue to service these displaced New Orleans residents as a collective.  

            Since last year, Councilman Al Vann has pushed to raise money to obtain homes for several families who wish to remain permanently in our community of Bedford Stuyvesant. Our interest was shared with the New Yorkers for the Gulf Coast. They were talking to people in New Orleans about housing needs as well, and it seemed natural that this trip was necessary. Representatives who sojourned were Dr. Billy Jones, President of Black Equity Alliance, Robert Gumbs and Cheryl Wills of New Yorkers for the Gulf Coast and Black Equity Alliance. As we began to make plans, it was communicated that the Human Service Council (HSC), a composite of various services organizations had been discussing for some months with local service providers as to how they could be helpful particularly in the Mental Health field.     

The HSC played a tremendous role in helping, providing social services and money for the families and persons traumatized by the 911 tragedy. A connection was made; we met and agreed on a proposed agenda and format. Their staff and Chair had done a superb job in laying the foundation for our trip. Sixteen of us went to New Orleans to meet with approximately 15 of their social service organizations to get an on-site sense of the mental health condition of the people, what their general needs are and how we can be of assistance. Our Human Service Council was headed by Chairman Gorden Campbell. Others who participated in the leadership are Jack Kauskoft, Peter Gudatis, Jerry McCleary and Ellen Stoller, Terry Bishchoff and Michael Stoller, HSC’s Executive Director. See full listing of conference participants and invitee's.

            We met with the New Orleans council for two half-day discussions, informational exchanges, planning and becoming familiar with their social and political networks. We toured a number of sectors in New Orleans – the 9^th ward, lower 9^th ward, as well as Gentally, 17^th Street and London Canal breaches and part of the French Quarters. We also met with several public officials, and spoke to ordinary residents on the street about the issues that plagued them.  

            From my interaction and limited time there, my analysis is that overall New Orleans needs some drastic, immediate assistance in crucial areas. These are some of the needs, in my opinion, not necessarily in order of their priority: 

1. 1)     Housing – Most people I talked to are living with someone. The Federal government has refused to allow thousands of rental apartments in Federal projects to be reused. Thus, the original tenants cannot return home. Rebuilding of owner homes has been at a trickle pace. 

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3. 2)     Mental Health – Nearly everyone we met had a story of suffering and is presently living under inconvenient conditions. First respondents and service providers are going through hell. They are performing their duties, as well as providing assistance to others, but are receiving little or no help for themselves. Crime is at a pre-Katrina level with only half the population existing in New Orleans.  

4. 3)     Economy – Business cannot operate fully, if at all. There is an insufficient work force and the economy is dragging along. We saw many “Help Wanted” signs. It seems that many immigrants are attempting to fill this void. However, will employment be available for the dislocated workers when and if they return?  

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6. 4)   Bureaucratic and Political Malaise – Billions of dollars has been in the pipeline for sometime. Federal regulations and political ineptness has held money from getting to the sources where it is needed; such as, to school children, childcare, and grants to homeowners for rebuilding. An example of this is – The “Road Home Program”. This program provides grants to help homeowners come back to New Orleans and rebuild their property. There were 80 thousand applications for assistance this year. Since July 2006 only 1,400 persons received money. It is said that this state government agency lost many of the peoples’ applications.  

It seems that Mayor and the City Council President are not communicating often and at times may be working against the interest of the people who elected them? Some of the discussion seems to be irrelevant - should garbage be picked up once or twice a week; should planning be for a permanent smaller population? At the same time, private and business property speculation is mushrooming. As several of us were leaving New Orleans, security personnel asked if we had been speculating for land. One member responded yes. The security person indicated that when we come back to get in touch with her.

 5)     Strengthening of Levees – Many folk seem pessimistic as to whether the levees are completely fixed and able to secure them or are strong enough to hold back a Category 5 water surge. Residents have not, in many instances, resolved their insurance claims. Insurance companies are saying that where water came over or under the levees and where the levee did not crack or break them are not responsible for flood damage, unless it was specifically in the policy.  

     There are many more issues and needs that can be espoused upon, like racism, where the money is going, etc. However, there are a number of things, we the public can do to assist our people in New Orleans immediately.  

•  Our national leadership needs to talk to and pull together, in one mind and one voice, the political leaders in New Orleans to work for the rebuilding and bringing home all the residents who wish to return.  

•   Immediately, get at least 100 mental health providers into the City of New Orleans to provide care to the caregivers.  

• Advocate to the Feds, your Congressional representatives to provide the resources and to trim the bureaucracy to build and free-up housing immediately for the scattered citizens who live outside of New Orleans; build bridges, develop policy, advance the money, provide transportation, etc. to get the New Orleans population back home.  

Those who wish to provide economic support should donate to New Yorkers for the Gulf Coast, an initiative of Black Equity Alliance.  Contributions may be mailed to: New Yorkers for the Gulf Coast  2 Park Place, New York, New York 11016.

New York City Katrina Meeting Participants

Terry Bischoff, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater New York (bischofft@arcgny.org) 

Joseph Buttigieg, Associate Executive Director, Catholic Charities (joseph.buttigieg@archny.org) 

Peter Campanelli, CEO, Institute of Community Living (pcampanelli@iclinc.net) 

Gordon Campbell, CEO, Safe Horizon (gcampbell@safehorizon.org) 

Malaak Compton-Rock, Board Member, Safe Horizon (malaak@styleworks.org) 

Christy Gibney, Senior Director, Safe Horizon (cgibney@safehorizon.org) 

Peter Gudaitis, Executive Director and CEO, New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS)  (pgudaitis@nydis.org) 

Robert Gumbs, CEO, Community Health Alliance of Harlem and Northern Manhattan  (rdg@chaforhealth.org) 

Billy Jones, Chair, Black Equity Alliance & Billy Jones Consulting (bjonesconsulting@aol.com) 

Jack Krauskopf, Distinquished Lecturer, Baruch College (CUNY), School of Public Affairs   (james_krauskopf@baruch.cuny.edu) 

Hayyim Obadyah, Director of Disaster Preparedness, Human Services Council   (obadyahh@humanservciescouncil.org) 

Michael Stoller, Executive Director, Human Services Council (stollerm@humanservicescouncil.org) 

Ellen Stoller, Assistant Vice President, Community Service and Training, F.E.G.S. (estoller@fegs.org) 

Job Mashariki, President & CEO, Black Veterans for Social Justice (ceo@bvsj.org) 

Jerry McCleery, Associate Executive Director, Mental Health Association of NYC   (gmccleery@mhaofnyc.org) 

Phil Saperia, Executive Director, Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies (psaperia@coalitionny.org) 

Al Vann, Council Member, New York City Council (vann@council.nyc.ny.us) 

Cheryle Wills, Treasurer, Black Equity Alliance (cwills@blackequityalliance.org) 

INVITEE LIST- NOV. 6-7, 2006 

Mr. Ron McClain, Family Services of Greater New Orleans 2515 Canal Street, Suite 201New Orleans, LA 70119 

Mr. Keith Liederman,  Kingsley House 1600 Constance Street New Orleans, LA 70130 

Dr. Nina Kelly, Children's Bureau of New Orleans 400 Lafayette St., Suite 140 New Orleans, LA 70130 

Ms. Judith Watts, Agenda for Children P. O. Box 51837 New Orleans, LA 70151

Ms. Gina Warner, After School Partnership 1600 Constance St. New Orleans, LA 70130 

Ms. Luceia LeDoux, Baptist Community Ministries 400 Poydras Street, Suite 2950 New Orleans, LA 70112 

Ms. Valerie Branch, Louisiana Spirit 2751 Wooddale Blvd., Suite 2779 Baton Rouge, LA 70805

Dr. Richard Dalto, LA/YES Director Tulane University Medical Group, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 1008 New Orleans, LA 70112 

Dr. Howard Osofsky, LSUHSC Dept. of Psychiatry Lion's Clinic - 7th Floor 2020 Gravier Street New Orleans, LA 70112 

Dr. Charles Zeanah, Tulane University Health Sciences Center Child Psychiatry 1440 Canal Street, TB-52 New Orleans, LA 70112-2715

Dr. Martin J. Drell,  New Orleans Adolescent Hospital 210 State Street New Orleans, LA 70118 

Mr. Gordon Wadge,  Catholic Charities-Archdiocese of N.O. 1000 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130 

Ms. Marsha Broussard,  Louisiana Public Health Institute 1515 Poydras St., Suite 1200 New Orleans, LA 70112 

Dr. Charlotte Cunliffe, Greater New Orleans Non-Profit Knowledge Works 1600 Constance St. New Orleans, LA 70130

Ms. Deena Gerber, Jewish Family Services 3330 W. Esplanade Avenue, Suite 600 Metairie, LA 70112 

Ms. Jacqueline H. Smith, Metropolitan Human Services District 1615 Oretha Castle Haley New Orleans, LA 70113 

Dr. Jerome Gibbs, Metropolitan Human Services District 1614 Oretha Castle Haley New Orleans, LA 70113 

Ms. Shelia Webb, Center for Empowered Decision-Making 1515 Poydras, Suite 1060 New Orleans, LA 70112 

Ms. Jennifer Kopke, Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority 3300 W. Esplanade, Suite 213 Metairie, LA 70001 

Ms. Beth Terry, United Way of Greater New Orleans 4152 Canal Street New Orleans, LA  70119 

Ms. Janice Briscoe, Office of Community Services - Orleans Parish P. O. Box 61210 New Orleans, LA 70161 

Ms. Rebecca Corbello, Office of Community Services - Jefferson Parish P. O. Box 10009 Jefferson, LA 70181

Mr. Raymond Jetson, Louisiana Family Recovery Corps 525 Florida St., 2nd Floor Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Dr. Anthony  Speier, Louisiana Spirit 2751 Wooddale Blvd., Suite 2779 Baton Rouge, LA 70805 

Ms. Mary Joseph, Children's Defense Fund-LA 938 Lafayette St., Suite 407 New Orleans, LA 70113 

Mr. James LeBlanc, Volunteers of America 4152 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 

Mr. Edward C. Carlson, Executive Director Odyssey House of Louisiana 1125 North Tonti St.New Orleans, LA 70119 

Ms. Barbara Major, 5123 Citrus Blvd. Apt. 240 Harahan, LA 70123 Ms. Kay Wilkins American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter