Can Public Housing Be Privatized?

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Jordan Downs in LA's Watts district was begun as a shelter for factory workers during World War II. It was turned into public housing in the 1950's. After the Watts riots of 1965, it became known for gang violence and other forms of crime. Generations of families have been living there since, and they report that conditions aren't as bad as they used to be. Now HACLA, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, has authorized private developers to plan the tearing down of all 700 units, to be replaced with 1800 new homes they call an "urban village."

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Warren Olney