[StBernard] Federal Judge Ginger Berrigan approves Temporary Restraining Order on Friday Nullifying Cease and Desist Orders issued by St. Bernard President Craig Taffaro

[Westley Annis]

Federal Judge Ginger Berrigan approves Temporary Restraining Order on Friday


Nullifying Cease and Desist Orders issued by St. Bernard President Craig
Taffaro

 

Although St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro issued Cease and Desist
orders Friday morning stopping work at all four sites where 72-unit
apartment complexes are under construction in Chalmette, federal Judge
Ginger Berrigan approved a Temporary Restraining Order Friday afternoon that
nullified the orders Taffaro issued earlier in the day. 

 

Under the federal court ruling, local officials must allow work at the sites
to proceed. A hearing will be held in federal court in mid-March to address
the TRO filed by Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center and
Provident Realty Advisors.

 

Taffaro announced Tuesday of his intentions to issue a Cease and Desist
order. By Wednesday night Provident filed for a TRO in federal court and a
group of local residents filed suit in state court to mandate the permit
process follow all applicable laws.


 

At the council meeting, the council decided to ask for an administrative
review of the entire process regarding the development of the buildings and
how the developments were awarded tax credits and other federal assistance,
and it authorized Taffaro to engage an attorney with expertise in
constitutional law to determine the constitutionality of the federal
government forcing local government's hand in this matter.

 

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