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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| New Orleans approves demolitions | New Orleans approves demolitions |
| (5 days later) | |
| New Orleans City Council has voted to demolish 4,500 public housing units despite violent protests against the development project earlier on Monday. | New Orleans City Council has voted to demolish 4,500 public housing units despite violent protests against the development project earlier on Monday. |
| The US Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to replace the units, which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with new mixed-income housing. | The US Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to replace the units, which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with new mixed-income housing. |
| But critics say the development will restrict the stock of cheap housing. | But critics say the development will restrict the stock of cheap housing. |
| Earlier, police used pepper spray and stun guns on the protesters when they tried to get into the council chamber. | Earlier, police used pepper spray and stun guns on the protesters when they tried to get into the council chamber. |
| Several people were treated for the effects of the pepper spray. It is not known if any of the protesters were arrested. | Several people were treated for the effects of the pepper spray. It is not known if any of the protesters were arrested. |
| Temporary housing | Temporary housing |
| Following hours of debate and clashes outside the meeting, New Orleans City Council voted in favour of the government's plan to replace the decades-old structures damaged by Katrina to be demolished. | Following hours of debate and clashes outside the meeting, New Orleans City Council voted in favour of the government's plan to replace the decades-old structures damaged by Katrina to be demolished. |
| In pictures: City hall clashes | In pictures: City hall clashes |
| Beforehand, critics of the plan had argued it would further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina. They also said the brick buildings were still sound and only needed to be renovated. | Beforehand, critics of the plan had argued it would further restrict the stock of cheap housing at a time when the city is still struggling to rebuild from Katrina. They also said the brick buildings were still sound and only needed to be renovated. |
| "It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition. | "It is beyond callous, and can only be seen as malicious discrimination," said Kali Akuno of the Coalition to Stop the Demolition. |
| "It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans." | "It is an unabashed attempt to eliminate the black population of New Orleans." |
| But supporters of the demolition plan argued it would allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing. | But supporters of the demolition plan argued it would allow developers to take advantage of tax breaks and build new neighbourhoods with an allotment of low-income housing. |
| Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks. | Thousands of families from the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina are still living in government-funded temporary housing, including caravan parks. |