Photo credit: ESY NOLA http://www.esynola.org/

Film Premiere: "Nourishing the Kids of Katrina" - Alice Waters and Michelle Obama
Discussion with Filmmaker Robert Lee Grant

Wednesday, July 29 from 6:30 PM [Doors open] Film begins 7:00 PM - 7:40 PM
with Discussion with local filmmaker to estimate perhaps to 8 - 8:30 PM
Suggested donation $5 - $10.00. Consider bringing a wedge pillow as seating is not cush, but on metal fold up chairs.

Shepard Garden & Arts Center McKinley Park Downtown Sacramento (Sacramento, CA)
3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816
You can RSVP here.

Better nutrition for America's kids is a vital part of the Obama's agenda in dealing with the health care crisis. Initiatives in this area are planned by the White House in the coming months. Recently, Brahm Ahmadi, Executive Director of People's Grocery spoke at Sacramento's second annual Common Table event, "We don't have a health crisis, we have a food crisis."
Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 7:00pm PST

Jimmy Carter on the first day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention (8/25/08)

Panel Discussion: 'Flood, Culture, Loss And Geology'

Thursday, Mar. 6
Musician Allen Toussaint, UC Davis geology professor Jeffrey Mount and African American studies professor Patricia Turner discuss the impact of Hurricane Katrina. 4 p.m. Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center, UC Davis. Free. (866) 754-2787 Duration ???
Time: Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 3:00pm PST

[Related: 1, 2, SFD's Katrina page]

From Digby:

While thousands of Mississippians who lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina remain in FEMA trailers, the federal government on Friday approved a state plan to spend $600 million in grants earmarked for housing on a major expansion of the state-owned port — a project that could eventually include casino and resort facilities.

[...]

The money in question is part of $5.5 billion in HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that Congress authorized for Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005. Administered by the Mississippi Development Authority, about $3.4 billion was allocated to replace and repair some of the nearly 170,000 owner-occupied homes destroyed or damaged by the storm. Another $600 million was set aside for programs to replace public housing, help small landlords fix their units and foster construction of new low- and moderate-income housing.

When it became clear that homeowners, who had to meet specific criteria on damage and insurance, would not tap all of the grant money, Barbour instructed the state development agency to seek a waiver from HUD to redirect $600 million for work on the port.

Katrina Survivors Auction

Saturday, Sept. 15
Preview begins at 6 p.m.
Live Auction 7:15 p.m.
Silent Auction, too!

Loomis Basin Congregational
United Church of Christ
6440 King Road, Loomis 95650
916-652-6011

$10 includes entrance to the auction, a beverage and hors d'oeuvres

The magnitude of the hurricane disasters of 2005 require long-term assistance for victims. Last year's auction raised enough funds to send a team of five people to help with clean-up. This year's proceeds will help send another team to help with rebuilding.

Last year we sent and housed a team that gave hands on effort in the rebuilding. They came back so moved and wanted us to send a crew again. So much still needs to be done
Time: Saturday, September 15, 2007 - 6:00pm PST

[Click the pic for video. WARNING! Some offensive words ... but not nearly as offensive as the neglect and abuse by the federal government. I'm pointing at you Decider Guy™]

“They wanted them poor n***ers out of there.” New Orleans two years after

Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-08-30 12:32.

By Greg Palast

"They wanted them poor n***ers out of there and they ain't had no intention to allow it to be reopened to no poor niggers, you know? And that's just the bottom line."

It wasn't a pretty statement. But I wasn't looking for pretty. I'd taken my investigative team to New Orleans to meet with Malik Rahim. Pretty isn't Malik's concern.

We needed an answer to a weird, puzzling and horrific discovery. Among the miles and miles of devastated houses, rubble still there today in New Orleans, we found dry, beautiful homes. But their residents were told by guys dressed like Ninjas wearing "Blackwater" badges: "Try to go into your home and we'll arrest you."

These aren't just any homes. They are the public housing projects of the city; the Lafitte Houses and others. But unlike the cinder block monsters in the Bronx, these public units are beautiful townhouses, with wrought-iron porches and gardens right next to the tony French Quarter.

Raised up on high ground, with floors and walls of concrete, they were some of the only houses left salvageable after the Katrina flood.

Big Easy struggles 2 years after Katrina
By ALLEN G. BREED and CAIN BURDEAU - Associated Press Writers | Published 7:33 pm PDT Saturday, August 25, 2007

Two years after Hurricane Katrina, much of the "city that care forgot" still lies in ruins. But Otis Biggs' task as he shuffles his Tarot deck this moist August day is to peer into the future to 2015, the storm's 10th anniversary.

Rings of silver and turquoise flash as one card, then another flops onto a zodiac-patterned table in the incense-perfumed Bottom of the Cup Tea Room in the French Quarter, where the diminutive Biggs has been telling fortunes for 32 years.

An upside down tower - violent storms will hold off until levees are repaired.

The ace of cauldrons - money will flow.

The empress - stability, fruitful things.

Let's compare and contrast - the first pic is of a neighborhood in New Oleans, and the second is of the football condos in Tuscaloosa
.

Katrina aid goes toward football condos

Jay Reeves - August 13, 2007 02:28 PM EST

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With large swaths of the Gulf Coast still in ruins from Hurricane Katrina, rich federal tax breaks designed to spur rebuilding are flowing hundreds of miles inland to investors who are buying up luxury condos near the University of Alabama's football stadium.

About 10 condominium projects are going up in and around Tuscaloosa, and builders are asking up to $1 million for units with granite countertops, king-size bathtubs and 'Bama decor, including crimson couches and Bear Bryant wall art.

An Appeal for the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita International Tribunal
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/25842
By Cynthia McKinney

Yesterday, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats toured New Orleans, including the Lower Ninth Ward. They "signaled that the federal largesse would have limits." One Louisiana Democratic Representative indicated that they were "here to differentiate the needs from the wants."

However, the Democratic Congress has failed to differentiate Bush Administration needs from its wants and has granted the Administration legalized spying on the American people; funding for the surge and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and maneuvering room to do all this and more by taking impeachment "off the table."

Katrina survivors, through their People's Hurricane Relief Fund, are no longer willing to wait for justice; they have formed the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita International Tribunal to hold all levels of the government accountable for massive failures. I have joined their call for justice and have agreed to serve as a Convener of the Tribunal. The Tribunal takes place in New Orleans from August 29, 2007 to September 2, 2007. If you can make it, please come. If you are a member of an organization, please have your organization endorse the Tribunal at http://internationaltribunal.org/registration

FILM: SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Is Sacramento the Next Katrina?
A film and discussion about Sacramento's history of levees and flooding with the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.

Following a screening of the History Channel documentary, Mega Disasters: California's Katrina, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency will lead a discussion that explores Sacramento's history with flooding, its levees and their current state, and what the future holds for protecting Sacramento from what occurred with New Orleans' levees.
Time: Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 2:00pm PST

The Sacramento Progressive Alliance, AFRICA, & the Sacramento Area Black Caucus
Honor Black History Month

When the Levees Broke
A Spike Lee Film (Acts 1 & 2)

Followed by a discussion with
African American Educator Bill Calhoun
Recipient, MLK Human Rights Award

Wednesday, February 21, 6:30pm
FREE ADMISSION!!
Hinde Auditorium, Sac State University Union
Time: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 6:30pm PST

INVEST IN AMERICA: BUY A CONGRESSMAN
LOYAL TO BIG OIL BRIBES REPRESENTATIVE DOOLITTLE FOR HANDOUTS

“BILLIONAIRES” ATTEND FUNDRAISER TO THANK
REPRESENTATIVE DOOLITTLE AND PRESIDENT BUSH

WHAT: LOYAL TO BIG OIL DEMONSTRATION - “BILLIONAIRES” DRIVING A HUMMER THANKING BUSH FOR OIL INDUSTRY SUPPORT – SIGNS, BANNERS, COSTUMES
WHEN: 9AM TO 12:30PM. [BEST TO PICK ONE MEDIA TIME!]
WHERE:CORNER OF SERRANO PARKWAY AND EL DORADO HILLS BOULEVARD

Art and Quilt Auction to benefit Hurricane Katrina Recovery

Hurricane Katrina Recovery Auction* — An Abundance of Creativity
Art and Quilts to be Auctioned Friday Sept. 8, 2006
*
On Friday Sept. 8, the Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ will hold an art and quilt auction to benefit Hurricane Katrina Recovery*. The small church plans to send a team to the New Orleans area to help with clean up efforts from last year’s devastating hurricane.
Time: Friday, September 8, 2006 - 6:59pm PST

The Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley
Presents

An Evening of Remembrance
August 29, 2006 marks the first anniversary of what is now being called the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States: Hurricane Katrina.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
6:00pm to 7:30pm
Miller Park, Sacramento CA
(Harborview & at the end of Broadway [The gathering will be held near the snack bar/building on Harborview] Please look for directional and event signs)

Program

Drumming* Libation Ceremony
Music * Speakers, Spoken-Word

For more info, please contact Faye Kennedy at (916) 484-5025
E-mail: fayek@spring.com
** Please note: for seating please bring your own chair
Time: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 6:59pm PST

It's hurricane season.. Quicktime video [click]

Peggy Gorman is working with the New Orleans library to restock their shelves. She will be going down in July. Help her bring books back to New Orleans city Library. Please donate hardcover and paperback books for people of all ages (new or used). The staff will assess which titles will be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Bring your donated books to the next Meet-up on June 7th and I will get them to her or contact Peggy Gorman @ 916-638-9022 to drop off or have her pick up the books.

Look outside: The weather seems great, but one or two warm storms out of the tropics melting the snowpack (which is at 200%) and we have 1997 again; or one earthquake on one of the faults in the East Bay knocking out those 150 year-old levees and disaster hits; not just for Northern California but Southern California, and the Central Valley, (the pics are illustrative) which means - much less water for swimming pools, golf courses and most importantly several crops go dry and whither away.

Confessions of a Repentant Republican

"I supported George W. Bush in the presidential election in 2000, believing then that he best reflected my love for America and for our tradition of liberty. I supported the war in Afghanistan. In March of 2003, I believed that the invasion of Iraq was justified based upon pre-war revelations presented to Congress and to the American people. Acordingly, the indictments contained herein apply, first and foremost, to myself.

Check out these pics of our Bush protest in West Sac, taken by Gary Zimmerman!

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/04/1727110.php

This Saturday, March 11th, from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, we'll build upon the spectacular, colorful, energetic gathering of political voices that we had at 16th & Broadway last weekend. (see http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/1725300.php )

Once again, we'll join forces and hold a major anti-war/anti-Bush/pro-democracy rally, rain or shine.

Saturday's event is the second of three consecutive Saturday rallies at 16th & Broadway. As we approach the third anniversary of the US-led/UN-opposed invasion of Iraq, let's increase the momentum of our demand to end the war!
Time: Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 3:59pm PST