SAVE AMERICA's PUBLIC HOUSING - No on PETRA! - NO on TRA!

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Lynda Carson
510/763-1085
tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com


Sunday May 23, 2010


Join The Struggle To Save America's Public Housing

by Lynda Carson


Public housing is home to approximately 3 million seniors, low-income families and people with disabilities.

Public housing is under attack locally and across the nation by corporate profiteers that want to make their fortunes by the dismantling of public housing programs, and the privatization of our 1.2 million public housing units.

The Obama Administration and HUD have decided to privatize our nations public housing and create a whole new profit motivated system that places around 3 million low-income public housing residents at risk of displacement or homelessness, and places our public housing stock at risk of bank foreclosure, if their plan is approved!

Very little discussion has taken place among the public about the scheme to privatize our public housing, and public housing residents and Section 8 renters have been totally left out of the discussions or meetings taking place, regarding the scheme to terminate our nation's public housing programs.

HUD and many so-called nonprofit developers want to grab funding from the poor in the Section 8 voucher program, to leverage financing for the scheme needed to privatize our 1.2 million public housing units.

With HUD's assistance, the so-called nonprofit developers plan to get their hands on the nation's public housing units where and when possible, and turn them into money making ventures.

This same scheme is already being played out in Oakland and Berkeley.

The scheme to privatize America's 1.2 million public housing units is being done under HUD's; "Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing" (PETRA)


Say No to the Obama Administration and HUD's efforts to privatize our nations public housing!


Stop the Administration's Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing" (PETRA)

Say No to "TRA - Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative" (TRA)

Stop PETRA / TRA: Stop the scheme to privatize our nation's 1.2 million public housing units!


These proposals are harmful to low-income families, and place them at risk of displacement from their long-time public housing!


URGENT NOTICE:

NOTE: May 25, 2010, Full Committee Hearing on TRA - Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative

There is a hearing next Tuesday, May 25, before the House Financial Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Housing, organized by Rep. Maxine Waters.  Phone: 202-225-2201. Fax: 202-225-7854.

Or, call 877-210-5351 to use the toll-free number for the Congressional switchboard, and ask to be connected to Maxine Waters, and additionally call your Representative's office.

Stop the Administration's Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing" (PETRA)

Say No to OBAMA & HUD's proposal called; Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative" (TRA)

Call 877-210-5351 to speak to Maxine Waters then call your Representative!

Say No to OBAMA & HUD's proposal called; Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative" (TRA)

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(May 25, 2010, Full Committee Hearing on TRA - Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative)

The Administration's Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing"

The Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative

May 25, 2010, 10:am 2128 Rayburn House Office Building

Click below for details...

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrfc_051910.shtml


Click here for list of Committee Members...

http://financialservices.house.gov/members.html


Leave a message for the Committee Members stating that you are opposed to HUD's "Proposal to Preserve and Transform Public and Assisted Housing."

Say no to the proposal called "Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative."

Click below to leave your message to the committee ...

http://financialservices.house.gov/contact.html

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Say "No" on TRA! -- Say "No" on PETRA!

Stop HUD and the profiteers from ICF International, EJP Consulting Group, Praxis Consulting Group, Overland, Pacific and Cutler and other profiteers trying to make their fortunes by displacing the poor with their involvement in schemes promoting the privatization of our public housing!

Toll Free Number To Congressional Switchboard...

No to PETRA! No to TRA!

Say No To HUD's proposal called PETRA or TRA "Preservation, Enhancement and Transforming Rental Assistance" or "Transforming Rental Assistance" initiative!

Call 877-210-5351, the toll-free number for the Congressional switchboard, and ask to be connected to your Representative's office or Maxine Waters.

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Contact Maxine Waters, and tell her to say NO to HUD's Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative!

Click below to send message to Maxine Waters...

https://waters.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm

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(Sign Petition to Save Public Housing)

Save Public Housing: Oppose PETRA / TRA

We, the undersigned, oppose the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department's plan titled "Preservation, Enhancement and Transforming Rental Assistance" which will allow for a mortgage to be taken out against Public Housing through private banks and other private funding interests.

Taking out a mortgage against our public housing places it at risk for foreclosure and jeopardizes public ownership, tenant rights, and long term affordability of the property. Loss of our public housing to banks and other private interests will displace low income tenants and increase homelessness.

Transforming Rental Assistance will also provide permanent mortgage interest income to banks through public property, which is unprecedented in American History.

Click below to sign petition...

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-public-housing.html

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For more on PETRA / TRA - Click below for a letter from the National Association of HUD Tenants:

http://www.saveourhomes. org/kaymathew/ trapositionpaper.pdf

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Here is an informational website, with letters, background information, and alternative proposals:

http://lacehh.wordpress. com/

Click above to learn what you can do to get the word out to create a national discussion.


See study and articles below regarding the privatization of our public housing...

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(See study on how disposition and demolitions affected other public housing residents in a negative way.)

Displaced Public Housing Residents Study

Click below for recent study -- submitted testimony: Regarding the displaced & homeless public housing residents - loss of tenant participation in process - loss of tenant's rights - All due to the relocation schemes from demolition or disposition projects, involving public housing sites...

Click below for full study...

http://tinyurl.com/38ffr9r


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Published on Friday, May 21, 2010 by CommonDreams.org

HUD is Trying to Privatize and Mortgage Off All of America’s Public Housing

Click below for full story...

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/05/21-1


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LA’s Project Tenants Mobilize Against HUD’s Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative

Low-income tenants feel sold out, don’t want Section 8.

Bell Gardens Sun - Gloria Angelina Castillo - ‎May 6, 2010‎

By Gloria Angelina Castillo, EGP Staff Writer

http://egpnews.com/?p=17943


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(California Black Media)

Berkeley Public Housing Residents Oppose Privatization
Friday, 08 January 2010 09:32

By Lynda Carson ... Click below...

http://tinyurl.com/yzp9sa3


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(Berkeley Daily Planet Newspaper)

Partisan Position: Residents Oppose Privatization of Berkeley Public Housing

By Lynda Carson

Berkeley Daily Planet -- Thursday January 07, 2010

Click below...

http://tinyurl.com/yajn84p


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(Berkeley Post Newspaper)
Berkeley’s public housing residents oppose privatization

By Lynda Carson -- January 6 - 12

Click below...

http://tinyurl.com/ybhkhgk


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Commentary: Berkeley’s Public Housing Residents Oppose Privatization Of Their Housing

Lynda Carson, Bay Area Indymedia , 1/1/2010

Click below...

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/news/print.asp?id=30236


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(SF Bay View Newspaper)

January 4, 2010
Berkeley’s public housing residents oppose privatization

By Lynda Carson

Click below...

http://tinyurl.com/y874tvm


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(Urban Habitat)
Berkeley's public housing residents oppose privatization of their housing

Dateline: 01/01/2010
Source: Indy Bay

By Lynda Carson

Click below...

http://www.urbanhabitat.org/node/5073


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Housing Industry Letter to HUD, Rejecting TRA

http://www.nmhc.org/Content/ServeFile.cfm?FileID=7960