The public was unusually quiet at the Feb. 15 council meeting considering the HUD court decision and construction beginning on the controversial Provident Realty Advisors mixed-income apartment buildings.

“While the Provident project permits are currently active, St. Bernard Parish continues to seek dialogue with the developers and related agencies to discuss and address concerns of sequencing and impact to the overall development and redevelopment of St. Bernard Parish,” said Parish President Craig Taffaro in his opening remarks. “HUD specifically stated its position that denial of the permits relative to the Provident developments would be seen as a matter of racially discriminatory activity and trigger a recommendation to the Department of Justice for an investigation of a civil rights violation.”

After returning from an executive session, the council elected Councilman Mike Ginart, Jr., District D, to represent them in HUD settlement and negotiations.

Census
St. Bernard elected officials are planning to dispute the 2010 Census reporting 35,897 as the parish’s population.

“Our estimates suggest that the count is nearly 8,000 to 10,000 people short,” said Taffaro.

“We are in a unique position after Katrina,” said Ginart who asked for further details on contesting the results.

At this time there is no concrete plan. Taffaro said they will hire a consultant with experience in this realm.

Other decisions:
• The council unanimously entered into a contract with agreement with Acadian Ambulance Service.

• Bayou Road has been damaged by “the repeated hauling of earthen material and concrete,” notes resolution SBPC #758-02-11. The heavy truck traffic has caused numerous bumps and is now a safety hazard, said Fred Everhardt, Jr.
District E Councilman. The resolution, passed unanimously, begins the discussion process with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to bring Bayou Road up to safety standards.

• Also, unanimously passed was a resolution urging the state legislature and Gov. Bobby Jindal to create one coastal congressional district. “We want to be properly represented in Congress,” said Wayne J. Landry, Councilman at Large East.

• The October 22 ballot will now have a measure asking voter approval to an additional homestead exemption for disabled veterans. “They deserve the benefit,” said Landry. “The people of St. Bernard are very strongly supportive of disabled veterans.”