[FONT=Verdana]In normal times, redevelopment of public housing to make way for mixed-income neighborhoods might have gone largely unopposed. But passions are high in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, where residents are desperate for cheap housing.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Protesters stopped a demolition crew from taking down decrepit buildings at the B.W. Cooper housing site Wednesday afternoon and vowed to continue disrupting work there and at other sites around the city.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to demolish about 4,500 public housing units at four of the city's largest complexes and replace them with mixed-income neighborhoods.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Protesters have marched on Mayor Ray Nagin's home and disrupted City Council proceedings with chants. A march on the HUD offices in Washington, D.C., was planned for Thursday.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The protesters have also won the blessing of one presidential contender, John Edwards.

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]"There is a housing crisis in New Orleans today