Thanks to Massachusetts

Last night in Biloxi a cold front blew through. The temperature dipped into the 50s and the wind picked up significantly. Today dawned bright and clear, temps in the 60s, and a strong gusty breeze. I tell you this not to rub it in, but because cool temps and windy days in South Mississippi can only mean one thing…. Pecans! As I sat at my desk this AM I thought I was being attacked as the trees shed their bounty on the tin roof that covers the parish house. Bam! Bam! What a racket! So this afternoon we headed out into the yard to gather them up. We filled two large wheelbarrows and decided that our backs would prefer that we stop for the day. The abundant harvest of pecans reminded me of the hospitality and affirmation that I received in Massachusetts. It was beyond my wildest imagination and I will never forget it. Thank you.

Many of you know that thanks to the indefatigable effort of Tim Green I did not have to drive a truck back to Mississippi. Instead we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of an 18 wheeler filled with collected appliances and furniture. Thank you to all the folks in Wellesley who supported the project and to Tim for having the imagination and the energy to make it happen.

On several occasions while I was in MA I had the opportunity to speak about the importance of advocacy. The Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act is before the Senate now. I received the following from Amelie Ratliff today:

http://www.colorofchange.org/s1668/?id=1834-142331

Saving Affordable Housing in New Orleans

"New Orleans public housing residents have been fighting for over two years to return to apartments that were minimally damaged by the storm. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has shut them out, because it wants to demolish most of the available public housing units--and replace them with far fewer mixed-income housing.[1] The vast majority of the most affordable public housing units, pushing thousands of mostly Black low-income residents out of the city.

S.1668 honors the right to return of all New Orleans public housing residents. It requires the re-opening of at least 3,000 public housing units and ensures that there is no net loss of units available and affordable to public housing residents. It also designates $1.7 billion for rental housing assistance and earmarks millions for community development programs, which will benefit an even larger segment of the lower income population. But the bill is in danger of dying -- because some senators are opposed to preserving affordable public housing."

Please take the time to ask your senators to support it and then spread the word.

Happy Turkey Day
Jane+