New Orleans Agrees to Hearing Before Razing Homes

Community activists have convinced city officials in New Orleans to postpone the planned demolition of thousands of homes damaged earlier this year by Hurricane Katrina until after a hearing before a state judge that has been scheduled for next week. Activists had filed suit against the city in order to halt plans to level buildings without holding a hearing or receiving consent from the owners. The city announced last week that it would raze about 2,500 flooded buildings found to be dangerously unstable. New Orleans officials say they do not need the permission of a judge or owners to flatten buildings deemed an imminent threat to safety. The plaintiffs are arguing that the city's plans overstep its authority and were based on flawed inspections. About 5,534 buildings on the east bank in New Orleans have been tagged with red stickers, indicating they are unsafe. Source: USA Today (12/29/05)