Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Gulf Coast religious leaders unite against plan

Diversion of $600 milliion away from housing recovery

Religious leaders of the Gulf Coast Community are being vigilant as we recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, to ensure that the state and local government vision of economic development does not over shadow or overlook the basic needs of its people.  It is with this understanding that we have come together to ask that the Governor’s office desist in its plans to shift $600 million dollars from money earlier promised for housing reconstruction, to a new project to expand the Port of Gulfport.

While we believe in economic development and are in agreement with the proposed expansion of the Port of Gulfport, it would be a grave injustice to utilize money that was promised for housing, when 17,000 Gulf Coast families are still living in FEMA trailers, with no place to go, or that 30,000 wind-damage homeowners have no way to bridge the gap between insurance and repair costs, to fund the Port expansion project.

The plan, submitted September 7 by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) calls for the diversion of $600 million from a fund set aside for housing recovery. Instead of using the money to rebuild homes damaged during Katrina, the MDA intends to use the funds to expand the Port of Gulfport. The port, which is currently in operation, sustained $50 million in damage during the storm. 

WHEN: 12:00 noon, Wednesday, September 19
WHERE: Saenger Theatre, Reynoir Street, Biloxi
WHO:
Pastor Jason Johnson, Abundant Life Evangelistic Church
Pastor Rick August, Greater Grace Apostolic Church
Pastor Eric Dickey, First Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Kenneth Haynes, Main Street Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Darrell Taylor, Prince of Peace Baptist Church
Pastor DeBruce Nelson, Lighthouse Apostolic Church
Pastor Henry McNeal, Oasis of Faith Church
Pastor Glenn Johnson, Family of Faith Christian Church

Moderator Gulf Coast Baptist Association
Pastor Larry Hawkins Union Baptist Missionary Baptist Church

Moderator Shiloh Baptist Association
Pastor Jessie Trotter, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

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