RE: [CPEO-BIF] Katrina Survivor Association

["Robert Paterson" <rgfp@mail.utexas.edu>]

The residents of the 9th ward and other communities impacted on the gulf
coast can and should be involved in redevelopment planning and decision
making. However, much of the discussion quoted in the press is about making
things as they were....but planning is not just re-doing what was....it is
based on informed choice of alternative futures as well as knowledge about
the consequences of those alternative futures....and if we do repeat the
past, who should pay for property and infrastructure replaced in high risk
locations??? What is a sustainable community development pattern in light of
proximity to the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast where land subsidence,
hurricanes and sea level rise are realities????

Much of the "rebuild now" comments assume that "all homes and businesses"
should be rebuilt? Is that wise? Buildings located in V-zones are subject to
wave action and will be destroyed yet again....given the reality of sea
level rise, is it wise to rebuild the same patterns, land uses and
intensities that existed pre-Katrina?  What land uses and population
intensities can be rebuilt and then safely evacuated within a 12 hour
certainty window of hurricane landfall?  What are the likely losses given
alternative future redevelopment scenarios and different land use and
building approaches? Wouldn't we be wise to use HAZUS-MH software to assess
what is a more sustainable recovery approach whenever a hurricane strikes?
Is it wise as a society to continue to build high intensity development in
high hazard locations?  Losses from natural hazards have been escalating for
decades because we have not asked these important questions before we
rebuild....empathy is important but objective, rational analysis of what
makes sense (and yes that includes consideration of the distributive impacts
across different income groups), for the long term is important as
well....Hopefully everyone realizes with Rita on the heels of Katrina and
now Wilma that mother nature is fickle...you may get 1 or 20 years before
the next big one hits or maybe a month........we have a responsibility to
present and future generations to plan well (make hard choices that informed
by best available data) before we invest $200 billion in rebuilding the gulf
coast.  We can plan and build more disaster resilient communities that
bounce back quickly from natural hazard events, or we can keep subsidizing
and encouraging "high-risk" development patterns to our peril in lost lives
and property. These are important societal decisions that need to be
informed by good data so the relative costs-benefits are known and we make
investment decisions with our eyes wide open to the risks...

Bob


Robert G. Paterson
Associate Professor
Co-Director, Center for Sustainable Development
1 University Station B7500
School of Architecture
The University of Texas
Austin TX 78712-1160
512-471-0734
Fax 512-471-0716
rgfp@mail.utexas.edu

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-----Original Message-----
From: brownfields-bounces@list.cpeo.org
[mailto:brownfields-bounces@list.cpeo.org] On Behalf Of Lenny Siegel
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 10:35 PM
To: Brownfields Internet Forum
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Katrina Survivor Association

ACORN Katrina Survivors Association Announced

On October 18th, ACORN announced the formation of the ACORN Katrina 
Survivors Association (AKSA) -- the first nationwide organization of 
displaced New Orleans residents and other Katrina survivors. The AKSA 
will unite members of our displaced communities in order to demand more 
effective relief efforts and a voice in the rebuilding process.

"We want to return to our homes, and take part in rebuilding our 
communities," says Tanya Harris, a former resident of the Lower 9th Ward 
and a leader of the AKSA. "Right now, too many decisions are being made 
without us at the table." Harris and 1,600 New Orleans residents from 
across the country came together to form the Survivors Association, 
whose launch was announced today in a national phone-in press conference.

The ACORN Katrina Survivor Association plans to reach a total of 100,000 
members in the next year. In the coming months, the AKSA will use public 
pressure, direct action, and dialogue with elected officials to win a 
platform that includes: respect and a voice for survivors, right of 
return, the means of taking care of ourselves, rebuilding the right way, 
recovering together, and accountability and honesty.

...

For the entire statement, see
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=4174&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=18352&tx_ttnews[ba
ckPid]=2716&cHash=6f9c217021
-- 
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org

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