HOUSTON, Texas – La tormenta tropical Don ya se aproxima a la costa del Golfo, pero miles de texanos siguen esperando ayuda para poder reconstruir sus casas después de la devastación causada por el Huracán Ike hace tres años. Los departamentos de vivienda locales se han sentado en – o han manejado mal - los fondos federales de ayuda para desastres. Varios funcionarios de la ciudad han culpado al estado por contribuir a un proceso complicado.
Mientras tanto, en algunas áreas son comunes las lonas azules deshilachadas sobre los techos – a modo de reparación temporal que sustituye a lo real. En el condado de Harris, Christopher Young trabaja en el Texas Organizing Project (Proyecto Organizador de Texas), un grupo proselitista que exige más responsabilidad tanto del estado como de la oficina de vivienda de Houston.
"Mientras en Houston rezamos porque llueva porque hemos tenido una sequía terible, hay gente en Houston rezando porque pare de llover. Porque llueve dentro de sus casas, a través de su instalación eléctrica. Algunas de estas casas son habitables, pero apenas. En otras definitivamente no se puede vivir."
Dice Young que de los 83 millones de dólares que se destinaron al área de Houston por los daños causados por el Huracán Ike, la ciudad destinó más de 60 millones a constructoras, dejando solamente lo suficiente para arreglar 242 viviendas de ingresos bajos y moderados, y negando fondos a miles de personas que trataron de solicitar la ayuda. A la fecha, añade, sólo se ha aprobado la construcción de cerca del 25 por ciento de esas casas. Se espera una segunda ronda de ayuda en los próximos meses.
En junio pasado, el Gobernador Rick Perry cambió el manejo estatal de los fondos del Department of Housing and Community Affairs (Departamento de Vivienda y Asuntos Comunitarios) y el Department of Rural Affairs (Departamento de Asuntos Rurales a la General Land Office (Oficina General de Tierras). Organizadores comunitarios como Young tienen esperanzas de que esto no sólo agilice el proceso, sino que también presione a departamentos de vivienda, como el de Houston, a distribuir los fondos con más justicia.
"Estos departamentos no ven por los intereses de sus vecinos. Y los vecindarios de todo Houston se están uniendo para corregir estos problemas."
El TOP (Proyecto Oranizador de Texas) está solicitando a la alcaldesa de Houston, Annise Parker, la creación de un grupo de ciudadanos y expertos que vigilen continuamente los fondos de recuperación. Con monitoreo desde arriba y desde abajo, Young piensa que otras ciudades de Texas pueden aprender de los errores pasados y cambiar la manera de manejar la ayuda en el futuro.
"Estamos en el 'peor de los casos' aquí en Houston, pero otros lugares están en situaciones similares. Así que si podemos domar a la bestia de una de las ciudades mas grandes del país – el Departamento de Vivienda de la ciudad de Houston, se puede arreglar en cualquier parte."
Se espera que mañana participen cientos de residentes del área de Houston, en un taller informativo patrocinado por el TOP. Habrá funcionarios de la ciudad disponibles para discutir cómo ser elegible en la próxima ronda de subsidios, y los organizadores ayudarán a los dueños de casas a navegar en las burocráticas aguas del proceso de solicitud.
Para registrarse en el taller del sábado, visite: www.organizetexas.org.
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Libraries across Virginia and the nation are fighting back on censorship issues.
So far this year, 100 bills are pending at the state and federal levels to limit school library database access, criminalize librarians or defund libraries altogether. Virginia is no exception.
A bill restricting the purchase, distribution, or exhibition of so-called "obscene material" was brought before the General Assembly, though it failed to pass.
Peter Bromberg, associate director of the advocacy group EveryLibrary, noted unclear language is not uncommon in these bills.
"If a bill is passed with vague terms saying, 'If you put books on the shelf that have sensitive material, you might go to jail.' You know, what the heck is sensitive material?" Bromberg asked. "And you have librarians as well as principals and school administrators, and superintendents and board members who are all, like, 'Just don't buy it.'"
In 2023, Hanover County school administrators banned 75 titles from school library shelves, including Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," and "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. Last year, Virginians challenged more than 350 different book titles between January and August; twice the amount in 2022.
Most books being targeted in these bans address complex themes like race or rape, or are by LGBTQ+ authors or authors of color. Book challenges are not always granted, but some titles are not as safe on shelves as they once were. Bromberg feels book bans rob readers of a chance to pick their own books.
"When you think about this kind of individualistic, Libertarian streak of American philosophy, this idea that the library is the place you walk in the door, nobody tells you what to think, nobody tells you what to read," Bromberg stressed.
His view is libraries should be places of exploration for people to learn about new ideas, cultures, or concepts. Or, they can be mirrors to help people know there are others like them in literature. But he noted censorship legislation prevents libraries from being unfettered places of learning.
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Minnesotans with low to moderate incomes can turn to free services to help get their tax returns ready to file but some programs are saying a lack of volunteers means they cannot assist everyone.
Community Action Agencies are among the offices helping file income tax returns for qualifying households.
Tara Kaufman, community service specialist for Tri-County Community Action in north-central Minnesota, said they are fortunate to have some volunteers on hand but they are still well short of what is needed to serve additional clients. For example, she pointed out the schedule is booked through April at their Brainerd site.
"It is one area that we have continuously struggled with, is getting other volunteers who might be able to come a few hours a day at one of our sites, for the whole tax season," Kaufman explained.
Even though the tax filing deadline is about a month and a half away, Kaufman still encouraged anyone interested to sign up for training. She noted volunteers could also help with other tasks, allowing the current roster of certified tax preparers to focus on returns. The offices have on-site locations, including at some assisted living facilities and apartment complexes, to help people with transportation barriers.
The federal government does have a free e-file program for eligible households.
Carol Laudenbach, financial program assistant for Lakes and Pines Community Action Council in Mora, said not everyone has internet access. And maintaining no-cost programs ensures individuals dealing with hardships have their tax filing needs met.
"Helping people understand taxes and helping them certainly meet their tax liability," Laudenbach outlined. "We're also committed to having them reap the benefits, as much as they can, of available credits."
Among the credits available in Minnesota is a new Child Tax Credit worth up to $1,750 for each child age 17 and under in qualifying households. Laudenbach added filers can use the refund to cover an expense weighing down their family's budget, as opposed to paying fees collected by tax preparation companies.
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The risk first responders face is getting renewed focus following the fatal shooting of two police officers and a paramedic in Minnesota. Amid challenges facing agencies, leaders say those in the field remain committed to the mission. The tragedy occurred Sunday in the Twin Cities suburb of Burnsville when teams were responding to a domestic-violence call. Smaller police departments and ambulance crews are having difficulty recruiting staff these days, and law enforcement has been under more scrutiny following the murder of George Floyd.
Eric Bullen, president of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, said even with these challenges, there are many dedicated professionals still out there.
"I think there needs to be a realization that public safety workers get up every day with truly the best intentions. And the people that you see day to day going out on the front lines are truly there for the right reasons and truly there to support their communities and public safety," Bullen emphasized.
Bullen added the public is right to scrutinize "bad actors" within public safety, adding that those situations need to be dealt with in appropriate ways. Meanwhile, this weekend's tragedy has led to concerns about negative effects on recruiting. For EMS crews, a statewide task force has already been studying hiring gaps, and some police departments in rural areas have closed amid staffing woes.
Julie Gotham, executive director of the Minnesota 100 Club, which financially supports families of first responders killed in the line of duty, said while people might sometimes get frustrated with public-safety agencies, it's important to still recognize the risks and the duties that go along with them.
"If I get a traffic ticket - for example, if I'm going too fast - maybe it means that I'm putting someone else in danger and somebody needs to slow me down and give me that warning. So, if I get outside of my own worldview and think about the broader good, it makes perfect sense to me," Gotham explained.
If you feel inspired to donate to the families of those killed on Sunday, officials warn there have been scammers trying to take advantage of the situation. Gotham said in these moments, carefully researching fundraisers and nonprofits trying to organize donations is vital.
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