[StBernard] Councilman says liberal, activist judge assassinating character of St. Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

Councilman says liberal, activist judge assassinating character of St.
Bernard Parish

07:11 PM CDT on Friday, September 11, 2009

WWLTV.com 

St. Bernard Parish will comply with a judge's order to allow the building of
a mixed income rental housing complex in a case that has had charges of
racism tossed around by a federal judge. 




U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan barred the parish from blocking plans by
Provident Realty Advisors Inc. to move forward with the complex and
threatened fines of between $5,000 and $10,000 per day if her order was not
followed. 


"Defendants are not free to defy this Court simply because they think they
know better," said Berrigan. She said parish officials had repeatedly tried
to "Thwart, delay and derail" the four developments. 


Berrigan said her order in effect approved the applications by Provident. In
a ruling issued last month, Berrigan said she found that parish officials
had a racially discriminatory intent in trying to block the developments. 


Parish officials quickly met in executive session Friday to discuss the
ruling and councilman Wayne Landry said the parish would comply with the
initial requirements, while continuing to appeal the ruling. 


Landry also lashed out at Berrigan for "assassinating the character of the
parish." 


"I'm tired of being called a racist by this liberal, activist judge," he
said. 


Landry said his opposition was based on what he believes would be an
eventual reduction in property values from lower income housing. 


"My objections were financial in nature. Supply and demand, the rental
prices will drop, property values will drop and as a result of that tax
collections will drop."