Open letter to Pres.-Elect Obama: Include Gulf Coast Civic Works in Economic Recovery Act
President-Elect Barack Obama, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi received letters Friday urging the signing of an Executive Order authorizing the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program and the inclusion of $6.7 billion for Gulf Coast Civic Works projects to rebuild communities, restore the coastal environment and revitalize local economies in the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The letters were signed by more than 130 community, environmental, faith, human rights, labor and student organizations across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and their national allies as part of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign.
The text of the letter reads:
Dear President-Elect Obama,
As representatives of diverse Gulf Coast communities and their national supporters, we would like to extend our congratulations on your remarkable Presidential victory. During the campaign, as hurricanes Ike and Gustav struck, Americans were reawakened to the unmet needs Gulf Coast communities still face in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita more than three years later. In visits to the Gulf Coast, you have articulated a desire to partner with hurricane survivors as they rebuild their communities and revitalize the region's economy.
Whether by inaction or injustice, we still have failed to protect the rights and wellbeing of Gulf Coast survivors, immigrants and their families, especially the children, the elderly, the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable. The collapse of local institutions, homelessness, internal displacement, poverty, abusive labor practices and environmental degradation mean communities continue to suffer and struggle unduly.
This crisis demands a powerful response. Despite the millions of hours volunteered by selfless Americans and the heroic efforts of residents, Gulf Coast communities still lack a robust and responsive federal partner in their recovery. As President of the United States of America we hope you will move sign an executive order authorizing the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program in the first 100 hours of your Administration and request that Congress appropriate $6.7 billion for Gulf Coast Civic Works projects in your upcoming economic recovery plan.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Program fits well within your plan to create 3 million jobs. The program would directly partner with communities to create 100,000 "green" jobs and training opportunities to tackle local recovery challenges and revitalize the region's economy. Working with local officials and community organizations it would; rebuild and repair vital public infrastructure including schools, police and fire stations, hospitals, parks, roads, flood protection, and restore eroding natural flood protection like marshes and wetlands. This comprehensive approach will train a new generation of skilled workers, encourage green building techniques, promote local businesses and help communities build resilience to future disasters, securing vital national security interests along America's Gulf Coast.
This policy has bipartisan support from 27 Members of Congress including Representatives Rodney Alexander, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Charlie Melancon, Gene Taylor, and Bennie Thompson, over 100 supporting organizations, dozens of national faith leaders, as well as the Louisiana Republican Party, the New Orleans City Council, and the Lafourche and Terrebonne, LA Parish Councils. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Program includes oversight and community participation in federal investment and serves as an innovative model for tackling our national need for infrastructure and green jobs.
It is our sincerest hope and prayer that you will issue an executive order authorizing the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program and calling for an appropriation of $6.7 billion in your upcoming economic recovery plan.
Signed,
232-HELP/Louisiana 211
ACORN
AFL-CIO Investment Trust Program, Gulf Coast Revitalization Program
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.
Alabama Arise
All Congregations Together
Appleseed
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc
Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing
Bayou Grace Community Services
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana
Biloxi Branch NAACP
BIT Bayou Interfaith Together
BlueStone Ministries
CDC58:12, Inc.
Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal
Christian Justice Action (United Church of Christ )
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Churches Supporting Churches
Clergy Strategic Alliances
Coastal Women for Change
Color of Change
Common Cause
Common Ground Health Clinic
Community Center of St Bernard
Community of Christ Outreach Program
COPE Congregations Organizing People for Equality
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University
Desire Street Ministries
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
ENPHRONT, INC
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice
Equal Partners in Faith
Equity and Inclusion Campaign
Evangelicals for Human Rights
Every Child Matters Education Fund Louisiana
Finding Our Folks
First Pilgrims Baptist Church JEDC HDM (New Orleans, LA)
FUEL Faith United for Empowerment and Leadership
Gert Town Revival Initiative
Global Green USA
Green For All
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project
Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center
Gulf Coast Southeast Asian Resource Center, Inc.
Gulf Restoration Network
Gulf South Allied Funders
Hands On New Orleans
Hope Community Development Agency
Hope Haven of Hancock County Inc.
In This Together, Inc.
Institute for Southern Studies
Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies
Interfaith Worker Justice
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Judy Drive Civic Association, Meraux, LA
Keys To Abundant Life Community Outreach Agency, Inc
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Louisiana Appleseed
Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Louisiana Community Reinvestment Coalition
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Louisiana Housing Alliance
Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper
May Day New Orleans
Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Washington Office
MICAH Project
Middle Collegiate Church (New York, NY)
Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
Minnesota Tenants Union
Minnesota-New Orleans Solidarity Committee
MIRA! Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance
Mississippi Center for Justice
Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Mississippi Poultry Workers for Equality and Respect
MQVN Community Development Corporation
Ms. Foundation for Women
National Alliances of Vietnamese American Service Agencies
National Council of Churches
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
National Employment Law Project
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Inc.
Neighborhood Partnership Network
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative
North Gulfport Community Land Trust
Northside Neighbors for Justice
Orleans Recovery Foundation (ORF)
Ouachita Riverkeeper
OXFAM America
Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement
People for Community Recovery
PICO Louisiana
PICO National Network
PolicyLink
Praxis Project
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Presbytery of So. Louisiana Recovery
Prince Garrett Ministries (McLain, MS)
Protestant Justice Action
Providence Community Housing
Puentes New Orleans, Inc.
REJOICE, Inc. Resource Center for Families
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Shelter Resources, Inc. d.b.a. Belle Reve New Orleans
Sierra Club, Mississippi Chapter
Sisters of Charity of New York, Office of Justice and Peace
Soria City Civic Organization (South Gulfport, MS)
South Bay Communities Alliance
Steps Coalition
Survivors Village New Orleans
Technical Assistance Collaborative
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (t.e.j.a.s.)
Turkey Creek Community Initiatives (TCCI)
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Christian Community Association
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Hearts Community Action Agency, Inc.
United Houma Nation
UNITY of Greater New Orleans with Common Ground Institute
Volunteers of America
Women Donors Network
YOUTHanasia Foundation Inc.
Youth Build Americorps Katrina Rebuilding Project
Zion Travelers Cooperative Center, Inc
---
See a summary of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign here.
For more information contact: Gulf Coast Civic Works Program, Dr. Scott Myers-Lipton, (510) 508-5382, smlipton@sjsu.edu
The text of the letter reads:
Dear President-Elect Obama,
As representatives of diverse Gulf Coast communities and their national supporters, we would like to extend our congratulations on your remarkable Presidential victory. During the campaign, as hurricanes Ike and Gustav struck, Americans were reawakened to the unmet needs Gulf Coast communities still face in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita more than three years later. In visits to the Gulf Coast, you have articulated a desire to partner with hurricane survivors as they rebuild their communities and revitalize the region's economy.
Whether by inaction or injustice, we still have failed to protect the rights and wellbeing of Gulf Coast survivors, immigrants and their families, especially the children, the elderly, the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable. The collapse of local institutions, homelessness, internal displacement, poverty, abusive labor practices and environmental degradation mean communities continue to suffer and struggle unduly.
This crisis demands a powerful response. Despite the millions of hours volunteered by selfless Americans and the heroic efforts of residents, Gulf Coast communities still lack a robust and responsive federal partner in their recovery. As President of the United States of America we hope you will move sign an executive order authorizing the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program in the first 100 hours of your Administration and request that Congress appropriate $6.7 billion for Gulf Coast Civic Works projects in your upcoming economic recovery plan.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Program fits well within your plan to create 3 million jobs. The program would directly partner with communities to create 100,000 "green" jobs and training opportunities to tackle local recovery challenges and revitalize the region's economy. Working with local officials and community organizations it would; rebuild and repair vital public infrastructure including schools, police and fire stations, hospitals, parks, roads, flood protection, and restore eroding natural flood protection like marshes and wetlands. This comprehensive approach will train a new generation of skilled workers, encourage green building techniques, promote local businesses and help communities build resilience to future disasters, securing vital national security interests along America's Gulf Coast.
This policy has bipartisan support from 27 Members of Congress including Representatives Rodney Alexander, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Charlie Melancon, Gene Taylor, and Bennie Thompson, over 100 supporting organizations, dozens of national faith leaders, as well as the Louisiana Republican Party, the New Orleans City Council, and the Lafourche and Terrebonne, LA Parish Councils. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Program includes oversight and community participation in federal investment and serves as an innovative model for tackling our national need for infrastructure and green jobs.
It is our sincerest hope and prayer that you will issue an executive order authorizing the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program and calling for an appropriation of $6.7 billion in your upcoming economic recovery plan.
Signed,
232-HELP/Louisiana 211
ACORN
AFL-CIO Investment Trust Program, Gulf Coast Revitalization Program
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.
Alabama Arise
All Congregations Together
Appleseed
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc
Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing
Bayou Grace Community Services
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana
Biloxi Branch NAACP
BIT Bayou Interfaith Together
BlueStone Ministries
CDC58:12, Inc.
Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal
Christian Justice Action (United Church of Christ )
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Churches Supporting Churches
Clergy Strategic Alliances
Coastal Women for Change
Color of Change
Common Cause
Common Ground Health Clinic
Community Center of St Bernard
Community of Christ Outreach Program
COPE Congregations Organizing People for Equality
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University
Desire Street Ministries
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
ENPHRONT, INC
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice
Equal Partners in Faith
Equity and Inclusion Campaign
Evangelicals for Human Rights
Every Child Matters Education Fund Louisiana
Finding Our Folks
First Pilgrims Baptist Church JEDC HDM (New Orleans, LA)
FUEL Faith United for Empowerment and Leadership
Gert Town Revival Initiative
Global Green USA
Green For All
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project
Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center
Gulf Coast Southeast Asian Resource Center, Inc.
Gulf Restoration Network
Gulf South Allied Funders
Hands On New Orleans
Hope Community Development Agency
Hope Haven of Hancock County Inc.
In This Together, Inc.
Institute for Southern Studies
Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies
Interfaith Worker Justice
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Judy Drive Civic Association, Meraux, LA
Keys To Abundant Life Community Outreach Agency, Inc
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Louisiana Appleseed
Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Louisiana Community Reinvestment Coalition
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Louisiana Housing Alliance
Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper
May Day New Orleans
Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Washington Office
MICAH Project
Middle Collegiate Church (New York, NY)
Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
Minnesota Tenants Union
Minnesota-New Orleans Solidarity Committee
MIRA! Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance
Mississippi Center for Justice
Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Mississippi Poultry Workers for Equality and Respect
MQVN Community Development Corporation
Ms. Foundation for Women
National Alliances of Vietnamese American Service Agencies
National Council of Churches
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
National Employment Law Project
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Inc.
Neighborhood Partnership Network
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative
North Gulfport Community Land Trust
Northside Neighbors for Justice
Orleans Recovery Foundation (ORF)
Ouachita Riverkeeper
OXFAM America
Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement
People for Community Recovery
PICO Louisiana
PICO National Network
PolicyLink
Praxis Project
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Presbytery of So. Louisiana Recovery
Prince Garrett Ministries (McLain, MS)
Protestant Justice Action
Providence Community Housing
Puentes New Orleans, Inc.
REJOICE, Inc. Resource Center for Families
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
Shelter Resources, Inc. d.b.a. Belle Reve New Orleans
Sierra Club, Mississippi Chapter
Sisters of Charity of New York, Office of Justice and Peace
Soria City Civic Organization (South Gulfport, MS)
South Bay Communities Alliance
Steps Coalition
Survivors Village New Orleans
Technical Assistance Collaborative
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (t.e.j.a.s.)
Turkey Creek Community Initiatives (TCCI)
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Christian Community Association
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Hearts Community Action Agency, Inc.
United Houma Nation
UNITY of Greater New Orleans with Common Ground Institute
Volunteers of America
Women Donors Network
YOUTHanasia Foundation Inc.
Youth Build Americorps Katrina Rebuilding Project
Zion Travelers Cooperative Center, Inc
---
See a summary of the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign here.
For more information contact: Gulf Coast Civic Works Program, Dr. Scott Myers-Lipton, (510) 508-5382, smlipton@sjsu.edu
