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Volume CCXXXIII, Number 40   December, 2003    Worcester, Massachusetts    Since 1770

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State and federal officials from both political parties are working together to provide decent housing to replace the disastrous conditions in South Central L.A.

By Ann Colt .45
Poverty Editor

Californians are cheering the recent decision to declare South Central Los Angeles a state and federal disaster area. The designation means that aid will pour in to ease the suffering of the unfortunate residents.

Explained California Governor Loretta Sanchez: "These people have been overwhelmed by a firestorm of disasters, including racism, poor schools, drugs, economic stagnation, and lack of job opportunities. Everyone understands that government must help victims of these disasters."

Gov. Sanchez's decisive action had been expected in the wake of her successful campaign to unseat former California Gov. Carrot Top in a bitter recall election. Californians, realizing that cheesy celebrity was no substitute for experience, judgment and a grasp of public policy, sent Mr. Top packing and installed the state's first Hispanic woman governor.

For weeks, Californians had been glued to their television news programs, which featured day-and-night coverage of South Central residents trapped by unemployment, slum housing and an almost complete absence of affordable child care. Finally, the pressure on state and federal governments grew too intense.

President Al Gore appeared in South Central yesterday, offering food stamps to local residents and low-cost financing to nonprofits and local entrepreneurs seeking to build low- and moderate-income housing. "Hundreds of thousands of South Central Angelenos lack adequate food and shelter through no fault of their own. This is intolerable," the President stated.

Disaster relief aid rushing to L.A. will rebuild the scarred neighborhood

Republicans criticized the Democratic leadership in Sacramento and Washington for what they claim is too little, too late. "We need to mobilize the vast resources and wealth of this great land to help those stricken by this infernal confluence of disasters," said House Minority Leader Tom "the Exterminator" DeLay. "And if that means higher taxes, it would be a small price to pay for relieving the suffering of the innocent."

Private agencies have also risen to the challenge of the South Central disasters. The Catholic Church, stating that helping the poor is their "number one moral priority," sold several former convents and retreat houses for tens of millions of dollars and then promptly donated the entire proceeds to the relief effort.

Los Angeles Cardinal Sally Field said: "I've also told all parish priests to make sure that a fair share of this aid gets to the gay and lesbian population of South Central, who have suffered from these disasters perhaps more acutely than any other oppressed group."

And Hollywood was not to be outdone in the collective rescue effort. Some of Tinseltown's brightest stars, including Angelina Jolie, Brittany Spears, Ben Affleck and rapper 50 Cent spent the weekend clearing garbage and litter from vacant lots. Ms. Jolie refused a reporter's request for comment stating, "I've got work to do here. I'm too busy for interviews."