City of New Orleans files appeal to court order to expand Orleans jail Share Updated: 5:54 PM CST Mar 9, 2021 WDSU Digital Team Share Updated: 5:54 PM CST Mar 9, 2021
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Show Transcript SULA: WE WILL CHECK IN LATER. A LOCAL ACTIVIST GROUP WANTS THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TO APPEAL A JUDGE’S ORDER TO EXPAND THE ORLEANS JUSTICE CENTER JAIL, PLANS FOR THE EXPANSION WERE IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS, BUT LAS YEAR THE CITY ASKED THE JUDGE TO SCRAP THEM, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE LANCE AFRICK WROTE IN HIS RULING THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING IS PART OF THE AGREED-ON PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE JAIL’S OBLIGATIONS IN A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. THE NEW BUILDING IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESSE CITY ATTORNEY SUNNI LABEOUF NOW CLAIMS THE CITY’S COVID-RELATED FINANCIAL HIT MEANS A NEW BUILDING WOULD BE TOO COSTLY TO OPERATE. LABOUF TOLD WDSU IN OCTOBER EXPANDING THE JAIL WOULD BACKSLIDE ON PROGRESS MADE IN