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SUPPORT IS STRONG FOR $15 WAGE & ENFORCEMENT, BRINGING ENERGY IN LINE, AND IMPROVING GARBAGE COLLECTION AND POLICE PROTECTION
Survey Report and Data available on request and will be shared on Zoom conferenceZoom Press Conference: Tuesday, October 5, 2021 1:00 PM
for the Zoom link email communications@acorninternational.org
A post-Ida quality of life poll released today provides a fresh snapshot on a variety of issues including Entergy, garbage, crime, the city’s recovery, the $15 minimum wage, and Mayor Cantrell’s re-election prospects. The poll was funded by ACORN International, Local 100 United Labor Unions, and A Community Voice, an ACORN affiliate. ACORN is headquartered in New Orleans and has 250,000 members in fifteen countries. United Labor Unions Local 100 represents public and private sector workers in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, including cleaning workers, healthcare workers, and sanitation workers (hoppers) in the city of New Orleans.
A Community Voice, ACV is also a locally-based non-profit community organization that fights for social and economic justice for low to moderate-income families. Conducted September 29 and 30, 2021 by an out-of-state pollster who regularly works in Louisiana, the poll surveyed 815 Orleans Parish registered voters via live calls and interactive voice response (IVR). The margin of error is plus or minus 3.4%.
By far the most popular response indicated support for both a $15 minimum wage for city workers and all contractors, as well as active enforcement by the Mayor and City Council of the city minimum wage for workers and contractors. This question received the highest-level support in the survey with 69.6% of respondents supporting the initiative, 13.9% opposing it, and 16.5% undecided. Support was highest among Blacks (78.6%) and Democrats (76.1%). Of voters who consider themselves Support from “Other” voters, i.e. those who consider themselves multiracial, Latino or Asian, etc., was stronger than support from White voters. Support was also greatest (85.4%) in the Mid-City neighborhood followed by Bywater/Upper 9, and then New Orleans East.
There has been much public discussion surrounding Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s decision not to call for a mandatory evacuation. Even though a formal evacuation order was not in place, 64.1% or respondents indicated they did evacuate including 71.5% of Blacks, 53.0% of Whites, and 48.7% of Other. The largest group which evacuated were Blacks over the age of 65. New Orleans East residents accounted for 78.1% of evacuees followed by 66.1% of Mid-City residents, 63.3% of Bywater/Upper 9 residents, and 62.5% of Lakeview residents. Almost every citizen has been disappointed by the trash and debris that piled up on New Orleans streets after Hurricane Ida. In addition, one of the city’s contracted waste disposal companies was unable to properly service its route before the storm. The survey tested citizen satisfaction with pre-Ida garbage service. Respondents were almost equally divided on their satisfaction with the previous service. While 44.1% voiced satisfaction, 43.3% voiced dissatisfaction and 12.5% were undecided. White (57%) and Other (45.7%) were more pleased than Blacks (36.8%). Support was also highest among Republicans (51.1%), White males (59.1%), and residents of the French Quarter/CBD/Warehouse District (73.3%).
Dissatisfaction was most adamant in the Lower 9th Ward where more than 75% voiced displeasure. Entergy has been under ongoing significant scrutiny for transmission and distribution failures as well as for slow restoration of service after Hurricane Ida. Overall, only 36.7% of respondents indicated satisfaction with Entergy’s performance while 47.4% voiced disappointment and 16.0% were undecided. Satisfaction was highest among Republicans (44.4%), Other Males (50.0%) as well as Lakeview residents (53.8%). Support for Entergy’s performance is lowest in the Lower 9th Ward (14.3%).
Many residents have viewed Mayor Cantrell favorably for her COVID-19 response efforts. Almost a majority of citizens appear to support her post-Ida work as well – 46.9% of voters think she has done a good job versus 29.8% who are dissatisfied and 23.3% who are undecided. Her support is strongest among Blacks (58.8%), Democrats (52.7%), and Black males (53.8%) as well as residents of New Orleans East (56.8%). Cantrell’s support for her post-Ida response efforts is weakest in Lakeview and the French Quarter/CBD/Warehouse District. The survey asked whether citizens feel safer now than they did before Mayor Cantrell took office. Only 19.1% feel safer now, 45.4% do not feel safer and 35.4% are undecided. Those who feel not as safe include Whites (61.7%), Republicans (70.1%), and White females (62.0%).
Despite the extra police protection available in the 8th District, 71.4% of residents in the French Quarter/CBD/Warehouse District articulated they did not feel as safe since Cantrell took office. Mayor Cantrell and other municipal officeholders are all up for reelection in November 2021. Fourteen candidates, including Cantrell, are competing in the race for mayor. Based on her performance during the last four years, survey participants were asked if they would prefer to vote for her or another candidate. Fewer than half the respondents (44.75%) were fully committed to voting for Cantrell. Thirty-three percent (33.3%) said they would prefer another candidate and the remainder (22.2%) were undecided. Cantrell’s support for reelection is strongest among Blacks (58.1%), Black females (58.3%), and Democrats (52.5%). She is also most popular in Mid-City (54.2%), closely followed by New Orleans East and Bywater/Upper Nine.
“A Community Voice (ACV) is committed to serving the citizens of New Orleans including the working poor, the elderly, women, children, and families. This survey has provided valuable information that will help us better support our members and constituents,” said Debra Campbell, an ACV leader. Wade Rathke, Chief Organizer of ACORN and Local 100 United Labor Unions, said “We represent workers contracted to the city of New Orleans to clean their buildings, garbage workers who pick up the trash in difficult conditions, and health care workers entrusted with life and death for their charges. The pandemic and Hurricane Ida has established how essential these workers are.
This survey indicates that the public supports them and wants them not only to receive a fair wage but to see the full force of the City enforcing fair wages and working conditions for these workers. We hope the Mayor and Council take the public’s opinions to heart and convert their views into action.“We’ll also be closely watching the choices they make while governing to ensure that all the citizens are well served. We are starting by reviewing the candidates currently running in our municipal elections and the public contracts already in place,” said community organizer Pat Bryant. Byrant is involved in the newly formed grassroots coalition “Hold ‘Em Accountable New Orleans.
New Orleans voters or organizations interested in more information about the poll and their neighborhood should contact ACORN, ACV, or Local 100 at 2221 St. Claude Avenue. Those interested in work with Hold ‘Em Accountable NOLA should reach out via Facebook.
For additional information:
Wade Rathke 504-628-8050 chieforganizer@unitedlaborunions.org
Pat Bryant 504 905-4137 pat46bryant@yahoo.com
Since winning the temporary 2% rent cap in November 2020 – ACORN has been hearing stories and receiving rent increases from tenants whose landlords intend to raise rents after the cap lifts. Some increases are as high as $2000 extra dollars a month, while most range between $100-500 more. The new PC government has made it clear that they are not interested in protecting tenants from unreasonable rent increases past the state of emergency, so ACORN rallied in front of the legislature to demand they keep the rent cap.
We had 70 people at the initial rally, with 150 people dropping by throughout the day to sit in, tell their stories, and protest the government’s unwillingness to protect tenants. ACORN leaders Janet Niyonkuru, Lina Hamid, Hannah Wood, Sam Hall, Campbell McClintock, Pat Donovan, and Lisa Hayhurst spoke about everything from the discrimination they’ve faced as newcomers finding housing, to affordability, to issues getting repairs done in buildings.
Allied organizations and unions joined to both hold workshops and speak to the crowd. Nan McFadgen VP of the NSFL and President of CUPE, Gary Burrill and Suzy Hansen of the NSNDP, Christine Saulnier of the CCPA-NS, African Nova Scotian social justice and human rights advocate Raymond Sheppard, support workers and clients from the Truro Homeless Outreach Society, Vicky Levack speaking to universal design and accessible housing, Aparna Mohan from the Dalhousie Student Union, and Amanda Sprigs from the This Should Be Housing project. Along with a tenancy Q+A with Dal Legal Aid and food from The Loaded Ladle.
There’s a compilation of news coverage below, and we’ve already forced a response from Premier Tim Houston! Residential Tenancies emailed the night of September 23rd and said the government no longer plans to lift the state of emergency when we go to phase 5, so the rent cap will stay in place for a bit longer. ACORN knows this isn’t enough, and we’re going to fight to make sure the rent cap is permanent!
Stay tuned for upcoming actions. And in the meantime, send an email to the Premier and your MLA here demanding permanent rent control and real action on affordable housing: https://acorncanada.org/take-action/keep-rent-cap
Read More:
NS Advocate: https://acorncanada.org/nova-scotia-advocate-media-release-acorn-rallying-keep-rent-capThe Chronicle Herald: https://acorncanada.org/saltwire-group-rallying-legislature-fight-continued-cap-rent-increasesCBC: https://acorncanada.org/cbc-news-protesters-ns-legislature-demand-permanent-rent-controlHalifax Today: https://acorncanada.org/halifax-today-thursday-rally-will-call-rent-control-stay-placeThe Coast: https://acorncanada.org/coast-acorn-rally-calls-government-extend-rent-controlCTV: https://acorncanada.org/ctv-news-rent-control-rally-held-halifax
CATU Cabra met with new branch members and with their neighbors in the Stonybatter/Grangegorman branch. They did outreach on the NCR knocking on doors and spoke to lots of future members!
<<Read more here >>
CATU Maynooth was also doing outreach in their community!
<< See more pictures of the event here >>
The Citizen Alliance’s Hijabi s’ Union is taking action at the FFF-Fédération Française de Football to fight for for Muslim women wearing scarves. right to play official competition matches wearing sports hijabs.
The new Aberystwyth Chapter had a very successful direct action ( pictured above) that resulted in the member receiving their deposit back in full! Congratulations to the Aberystwyth Chapter on their victory!
The chapter also spoke to voice.wales about the tenants’ campaign that led them to found ACORN Aberystwyth, how a few landlords have stitched up the local housing market, and why the local community should join their efforts.<<Listen in Here >>
Manchester:The Manchester chapter is looking for a member defense organizer to work in Manchester, focused on recruiting, developing, and supporting members to take action on issues affecting them and the communities they come from. The successful candidate will start work on the 4th of October and will have a focus on organizing direct action housing campaigns and working with women in Manchester.Find out more here
Newcastle: Newcastle launched a campaign to save the Apollo Bingo Hall from being turned into more expensive student accommodation. The chapter raised awareness about the campaign through outreach in Durham where they spoke to many local residents and got their thoughts on the proposed demolition of a much-loved bingo hall, as well as getting people to write a comment on how to object to the plans through the council website.
Find out more here
Oxford: Victory Experienced a city-wide VICTORY for their YES TO DSS CAMPAIGN! Yet another demonstration of the power that direct, collective action has to win change for ordinary people in Oxford.
Oxford City Councillors unanimously passed a cross-party motion to stamp out discrimination against renters in receipt of universal credit or other housing benefits.Check out their latest action >>
Brighton:
Weeks after ACORN Brighton members marched on The Property Shop to demand these issues are fixed urgently, nothing has been fixed, and contractors continue to turn up unannounced and get nothing done. They were back, telling the public about the conditions Stephen is happy to let his tenants live in, and dozens of people were up for supporting our campaign
<< Read More Here >>
Birmingham: VICTORY
Member Yun Fang was living in a council flat riddled with mushrooms and dampness. Her kids’ health was impacted by the conditions and she was upset, distressed, and at the end of her tether when she became a member of Acorn Birmingham. We are thrilled that she has won her demands for repairs, and finally the council has listened and responded! Her kids can enjoy their safe home now.
The chapter also hosted a meet with tenants in Nechells Tower blocks last night who were sick of the conditions they were putting up with. Most of the residents were tenants and customers of Birmingham City Council and the Wates Group. They are dealing with issues like chronic mold, unsanitary communal corridors, smelly rubbish chutes, mice and cockroach infestations, and disturbance from contractors who are working on the windows of the towers.
ACORN Birmingham members were out leafletting today and delivered invites to our resident’s meeting in 290 flats in Nechells.
Toronto ACORN members had a great Internet for All rally on Tuesday, July 6th at 11 am at City Hall, demanding the City to make connections to community-owned, community-controlled, and $10 internet for all low and moderate-income people.
ACORN Vanier Rallies to save homes from N13 Demoviction!
Tenants Speak out in London To Demand Healthy Homes:
“London ACORN member Samantha, had a Tenant Speak Out event outside her Landlord’s office to demand a healthy home for her and her daughters. Samantha has been asking for repairs to be fixed in her home so she and her daughters can live comfortably. Instead of fixing the repairs, the landlord has told Samantha she can just move out.
<< Read More Here>>
“Several representatives of ACORN Hamilton, a tenant rights group, backed the idea of a vacant housing tax.”
“Dayna Sparkes, ACORN’s east Hamilton chair, said the tax would discourage landlords from keeping units vacant. This is an important tool Hamilton can use to prevent speculation.”<< Read More Here >>
The chapter contacted the vice minister of public health Dr. Roberto Cosenza, in the municipality of Puerto Cortés, from whom we recently requested assistance and vaccination for the Choloma and Lopez Arellano sectors. After receiving a positive positive response a vaccination process was started as of July 22 including the municipality of Puerto Cortes.
The management is done in a particular way because there is a lot of demand with the issue of covid-19 as the country is seeing an uptick in Delta variant cases
Pictured below: meeting with representatives of civil organizations in Puerto Cortes and collecting signatures to protest about the employment zones (ZEDE) and demand the right to respect national sovereignty, the signatures will be presented later to the national congress in Tegucigalpa.
ACORN Puerto Cortes getting signatures at the protest. The Chapter also met with representatives of civil organizations in Puerto Cortes and collected signatures to protest about the employment zones (ZEDE) and demand the right to respect national sovereignty, the signatures will be presented later to the national congress in Tegucigalpa.
In Puerto Cortes, the reforestation of beaches and mangroves is being carried out permanently to protect the environment. ACORN is supporting this group who we hope will join us in this effort.
Thirty families have now joined ACORN Nigeria to launch a new affiliate in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The first step in order to grow the membership is formally registering ACORN Nigeria, and we are on our way. This organizing was triggered by ACORN President Marva Burnett working with a local organizer, Etida Anthony Edem.
Minal Diwan, an ACORN member in the Dharavi area of Mumbai. She is 27-years old and has been unemployed since the pandemic closed her workplace. Her 23-year-old brother is also without work. The entire family is living on the 8000 rupees ($107.85 USD) her father makes. They have been living in Dharavi all of her life. Their rent and utilities there cost 5000 rupees ($67.41), so they survive on only 3000 rupees or about $40 for the month. She credits the rations that she has received from ACORN with support from RIST for their survival. Watch the Full Interview Here
