Comments for LPTFA attorney, board complicit in ethical dilemma at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 4 out of 4 comments http://www.theind.com Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:19 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/10855-lptfa-attorney-board-complicit-in-ethics-matter#comment-26959 Ms white, thanks for the letter and openness, but it does not excuse the abuse. Michael, I think part of the problem is plain ole buddy buddy crap! gachassin give to shelvin, i think he give to joey, why would they oppose him. arceneaux and becker both served with gachassin on the lpta for the past several years, why would they stop him? i'm sure this is typical or more than just this orginization in the city. I (unfortunaely for me) have had the pleasure of seeing this bs at my own front door. i'm sure if we investigate in other neighborhoods and/or contriversies, well'll find more of the same abuse, I can't belive any of them can look themselves in the mirror, or maybe they're just making too much public funded money to care. - Krista Fontenot Sat, 30 Jun 2012 17:39:41 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/10855-lptfa-attorney-board-complicit-in-ethics-matter#comment-26956 Does anyone have any idea why the conflicts, relationships, back door deals, etc. are never investigated. Does the administration of the City of Lafayette even give a $*!T about the taxpayers? Isn't it ironic that they will investigate a traffic light violation to the fullest. But, not this!! What's up wit dat!!??? Lucky they didn't take any water!! - Michael A. Moss Sat, 30 Jun 2012 12:56:29 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/10855-lptfa-attorney-board-complicit-in-ethics-matter#comment-26955 [Editor's Note: The Independent received the following email from LPTFA board member Celeste White Friday afternoon. With her permission, we have posted the letter.] Ms. Turk and Mr. Pierce, I became an LPTFA trustee in November of last year because I believed in its mission. I still believe in its mission. I'd like my community to believe in it as well. I hope you can help me with this last bit. It is clear to me, given public comments made at the last four LPTFA board meetings and the spate of articles printed (or posted) in recent months by various media outlets regarding matters before and decisions by the board, that the public is due an explanation of LPTFA's origins, purpose, and intentions. I plan to present to the board at the next meeting a resolution calling for a public presentation, to take place between now and September, during which we will outline those items. In the mean time, I invite the public to explore our web site (lptfa.org) to get an idea of the types of projects that, in addition to the low- to middle-income housing developments mentioned in Ms. Turk's article, convinced me that becoming a trustee was a unique, worthwhile investment of my volunteered time. A cursory glance will show you that the Trust, for example, provided an $850,000 grant to Lafayette City-Parish Government for the development and construction of the beautiful Rosa Parks Multi-Modal Transportation Center, a $125,000 donation towards the design and construction of UL Lafayette's award-winning BeauSoleil Solar Home, a $400,000 no-interest loan in support of the UL Lafayette Building Institute's efforts to build urban, green, infill homes (including the Event House located at Madison and Olivier Streets that was featured in a photo shoot in your paper a few weeks ago). We've also pledged a $2 million contribution to the city of Lafayette for the development of a public park on the property currently known as The Horse Farm. A particular point of recent public contention involves LPTFA's dealings with and development of the former Acadiana Outreach Center campus. In an effort to admit sunlight to the Trust's processes and decisions regarding that property, at our March 16th meeting we passed the following resolutions with regard to the development of that campus: 1. [A resolution d]irecting and authorizing the LPTFA, acting by and through its officers, attorneys and authorized representatives to develop a master plan for the property owned by the LPTFA adjacent to the Joie De Vivre project (the "Adjacent Campus"). The master plan for the Adjacent Campus (the "Master Plan") shall be developed through public meetings with stakeholders, neighborhood groups and any other interested parties and groups in order to involve all interested parties and consider all public input in the development of the Master Plan; and 2. [A resolution that i]n connection with the implementation of the Master Plan approved by the Trustees, the Chairman shall authorize and direct the publishing of a request for proposals to be advertised and distributed in accordance with applicable law to solicit proposals from developers for the development of the Adjacent Campus pursuant to the Master Plan. [Emphasis added.] The first of the Master Plan public meetings is scheduled to take place July 16th at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center. I encourage anyone interested to attend, discuss their objectives and concerns, and speak candidly with LPTFA trustees. Once the Master Plan is developed, keep an eye out for the Trust's RFP notices. Thank you for your time and have a great weekend. Best, Celeste White LPTFA Trustee - Leslie Turk Sat, 30 Jun 2012 09:15:20 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/10855-lptfa-attorney-board-complicit-in-ethics-matter#comment-26953 Leslie, I have questions: isn't mike hebert a law partner with the lptfa's attorney, Richard Becker? Did anyone every find out why the Joie De Vivre housing project suddenly passed the Section 106 review. From what I was told, it failed 4 times until scott angelle, the architects brother, had brandon Badinger replaced. Could this be true? Will the city council take into account that greg gachassin and glen angelle donate money to brandon shelvin's campain, (Joey's too) and that greg gachassin built a another housing project in nothern lafayette with maybe boudreaux's blessing , is that right? - Krista Fontenot Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:51:54 +0100