[imc-st.louis] Citizens COALITION TO FIGHT EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE

[Ben West]

 Citizens COALITION TO FIGHT EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE

 Protecting the Rights of Property Owners

 Media Alert

 March 4, 2008

 Contract: Isaiah Hair at 387-7592

 Mayor Francis Slay and The Community Development Administration Under
 Investigation

 Mayor Francis Slay, of the City of Louis and the Community Development
 Administration is under Federal Investigation by U.S. Department of
 Housing and Urban Development for complaints of discrimination and
 violations of the Federal Fair Housing Law.

 The Citizens Coalition to Fight Eminent Domain Abuse, a grassroots
 organization formed in 2005 to address the abuse of Eminent Domain
 particularly in north St. Louis, a primarily African American community.

 An audit by HUD's Office of Inspectors General in July of 2006,
 revealed the city had failed to use the federal community block grant
 money (CDBG) it received for its intended purposes. The Coalition then
 filed complaints with the U.S. Department of HUD and the U.S.
 Department of Justice.

 THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (BLOCK GRANT)

 Is to provide assistance to grantees to ensure decent affordable
 housing, provide community services, and create jobs, and expand
 business opportunities. Block Grant funds can only be used to meet one
 of HUD's national objectives, which are:

 • Activities benefiting low- and moderate-income persons,

 • Activities that aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or
 blight, and

 • Activities designed to meet community development needs having a
 particular urgency.

 Instead Mayor Slay and the City have depleted the African American
 community and have created blight and slums in north St. Louis. Mayor
 Slay is not above the law and should be held accountable.

 We will discuss the notice from the U.S. Department of Housing and
 Urban Development that the complaint was accepted and that HUD has
 officially filed a Notice to Sue the City of St. Louis on 02-05-08
 under the Federal Fair Housing Law, (42 U.S.C. Sections 3601-3619).

 On March 13, 2008, at 6 p.m. we will hold an informational meeting at
 the Gateway Classic at 2012 Martin Luther King Dr. The public is
 invited to attend this very important community meeting and to
 participate in finding a community resolution.

 P.0. Box 78355 St. Louis, MO. 63178

 (314)385-4262


-- 
Ben West
westbywest at gmail.com
http://savetheinternet.org