After $2 million had been spent and the new 35 unit Hero group trailer site neared completion in April controversy swirled around the site threatening to close it down before it ever opens.

The disputed location is immediately adjacent to the property line wall of the exclusive Lakewood gated subdivision behind the Lakewood County Club golf course. FEMA began construction at the site in mid-March.
 
Mayor Nagin sent letters to FEMA objecting to the site and refusing to permit it and suggesting an alternative across the street. The residents furnished documents showing that Mayor Ray Nagin directed FEMA on March 24 to cease construction on the site and to consider the larger tract on the south side of Tullis Drive, which was approved for trailers by City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson.

Wali Armstead of FEMA said "We received an initial OK from the city in the form of the mayor approving it. If we didn't have a permit, we couldn't have done what we have done so far." He did not know when the authorization was granted and could not immediately produce documents showing it. He confirmed that FEMA had no plans to stop work at the site.

Despite residents' protests and a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans by a homeowners group hoping to halt construction, the site appeared nearly complete Saturday, April 2nd.

On April 3rd Nagin requested that Michael Chertoff replace the FEMA leadership in New Orleans. He also placed a moritarium on new group trailer sites in the city and suggested he may push for modular homes rather than continuing with trailers at all.

The story continues into April. FEMA is willing to stop construction at the site but wants $1.6 million of site work to be reimbursed by the city. ( Does anyone notice that $1,600,000 divided by 35 is $45,714 per trailer of site preparation. That might be worth an audit to see just how it was spent.)  FEMA claims that Nagin's initial acceptance of the site in December was never rescinded and that they obtained a permit for the site from the city. Nagin now admits they got a permit but claims they got it only by bullying a city employee. I haven't heard a thing from Chertoff about replacing the management team and Nagin hasn't brought it up again. Apparently all sites in the city except those that were in progress are on hold. Has anyone got a list of the ones in progress to see if citizens will have further objections.