News - Local
Housing Authority update: Protest in support of board; questionable expenses
Posted: Aug 30, 2010 6:33 PM by Shawn Kline
Updated: Aug 30, 2010 6:51 PM
A protest at the Lafayette Housing Authority Monday defended the actions of LHA board members.
This comes after a recent audit found more than $400,000 in misused funds.
Nearly a dozen protesters made their opposition to Parish President Joey Durel's decision known.
They want six African American housing authority board members re-instated into office.
They say Durel's decision was politically and racially motivated.
Durel wouldn't comment on the protest... but says he made the move in order to get board members with accounting experience over the agency.
More possible mismanagement of funds are also being discovered.
Removed board member, Leon Simmons was seen at Monday's rally... still driving a housing authority van...
"I don't get paid to do this," Simmons said. "I'm doing this pro bono- bringing residents groceries."
A further look into the Housing Authority budget, tax dollars are also being used to give low income housing residents trips in that van... one of the places mentioned, the casino...
Simmons adds he offered to do this community service before he became a commissioner as resident liason.
But the line-item for trips in the budget is another questionable expense auditors point-out.
KATC.com is Social!
KATC Videos
Comments