Our mission is to transform unjust housing policies, discriminatory practices, and inequitable development schemes by engaging in strategies that create permanently affordable housing, advance tenant rights, expand housing security, and uphold equitable housing patterns and land use planning.
The Future Belongs to Us: The People United Will Never Be Defeated
Disturbing bills continue to rain on us from the state legislature. We have seen impacts to voter rights and prison-industrial complex reforms. However, on the housing front, a coalition of local, statewide, and regional organizations have banded together to fight back. As of this writing, we remain optimistic that the most horrific bills impacting our unhoused neighbors won’t become law, but we’ll have to see. By the time this issue of ANTIGRAVITY arrives at your favorite store, coffeehouse, or other community space, we’ll know what’s fully happening and report on it for the July issue. The legislative season ends on June 1. #godspeed
What’s Happening on the City Level?
Current focuses for the rest of the year for renters, working-class homeowners, and unhoused neighbors in our city are on issues we’ve talked about before: short-term rentals, habitability standards, and services for unhoused individuals.
STRONG (Short-Term Rental Opposition in Neighborhoods Group)—a coalition made up of neighborhood associations, cultural groups, musicians, and businesses—will be canvassing the city, educating community members, talking to anyone and everyone about the impact of commercial short-term rentals (CSTRs). You may know about Airbnb, Vrbo, and other short-term rental entities in residential areas, but the impact in mixed-use and commercially zoned areas (MUCZA) is also an issue. This is because in MUCZA zones, they’re allowed to operate at even higher levels than in our residential neighborhoods (imagine whole apartment buildings gobbled up by tourists). Due to this reality, STRONG wants to stop CSTRs due to the massive overproliferation of illegal short-term rentals in our residential neighborhoods already! If CSTRs expand, we will definitely see increases in rent in places like Mid-City!
Image: property.nola.gov
For example, in the image above, you can see an entire area zoned HU-MU and MU-1 in Mid-City between Canal Street and Orleans Avenue, and from Norman C. Francis to North Carrollton. In theory, due to current zoning policies and City policies, that whole area could be swept up and inundated with transient lodging. The transient lodging study (TLS) largely recommends this to become a reality. But as a land trust that develops permanently affordable housing, we know that this area houses many cooks, bartenders, teachers, and other working-class and middle-class folks. This area needs to be preserved for folks surviving on moderate incomes! So please see Jane Place’s social media (@janeplace_communitylandtrust on Instagram and @JanePlaceCLT on Facebook) on June 1 for a petition that will run for six months demanding that City Council rein in CSTRs!
Understanding How Things Came to Be: History, Context, Data, and Facts during “30 Days of Housing Justice”
During our monthlong “30 Days of Housing Justice” celebration this month, we’ll have many workshops and events where you can learn the history, context, and facts about housing justice in our region. Get empowered, educated on the issues, and learn about how to take action at these presentations and events.
On Saturday, June 6, we’ll offer the following workshops and panels at our 30 Days of Housing Justice Celebration and Resource Fair:
“New Orleans Can Win: Methods of Resistance and Diversity of Tactics”
12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
(A panel and workshop on historic tactics and strategies to advance social and housing justice in our city and region.)
“Homes for People, Not for Profits: The Fight for Affordable Housing and Renters Rights”
2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(A panel and workshop on alternatives to the affordability crisis. Walk away with an understanding on how the city can preserve affordable housing.)
“Residents Over Tourists: Fighting for our City and Our Culture”
4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
(A panel and workshop on what’s happening to our city’s neighborhoods, working-class renters, and musicians. Learn about how you can fight back!)
Upcoming Fun Events, Workshops, and How to Connect
Wanna get involved? Get informed? Join us at these events!
New Orleans Renters’ Rights Assembly (and Renters’ Rights Legal Clinic)
Thursday 6/4
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
First Grace UMC (entrance through back parking lot)
3401 Canal St. 70119
30 Days of Housing Justice Celebration and Summer Resource Fair
(FREE healthcare, FREE food/produce, and FREE fun)
Saturday 6/6
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
First Grace UMC (entrance through back parking lot)
3401 Canal St. 70119
(Volunteer at tinyurl.com/30Days2026)
Jane Place Annual Neighborhood and Members Meeting (everyone invited)
Saturday 6/13
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
RSVP to frank@jpnsi.org for more info
Gentrification or the Ghetto?: How Intentional Policies Created Housing Disparities in New Orleans
Saturday 6/20
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
RSVP to frank@jpnsi.org for more info
Land Justice Outdoor Film Night: Occupy the Farm
Sunday 6/21
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Mid-City
RSVP to frank@jpnsi.org for more info
Know Your Rights Workshop + Renters Rights Legal Clinic
Tuesday 6/30
6 to 8 p.m.
Healing Center, 2732 St. Claude St.
For more information, go to jpnsi.org or @janeplace_communitylandtrust on Instagram, email frank@jpnsi.org, or text UPDATES to 504-517-5470 with your name and the event you have interest in.
