Near the end of the business day, Mayor Nagin declined an offer to appear before the City Council’s meeting about NOAH, drawing a harsh rebuke from members of the Council. All this happened on the same day that NOAH terminated all employees effective Friday. 

Council members expressed disappointment in the mayor’s absence and also expressed frustration in learning that city administration will also be launching an investigation into the embattled New Orleans Affordable Homeownership program, a home remediation program at the center of a series of 4 Investigates reports by Lee Zurik.

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Mayor Nagin said in a letter that he will not be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts. 

“It is disconcerting that you are ‘probably’ unable to attend the meeting as previously requested due to ‘prior scheduling commitments,’” read the letter from Council members Arnie Fielkow and Shelley Midura. 

“The City Council meetings begin at 10 a.m. and generally do not end until at least 3 p.m.  Given the importance of the entire NOAH matter, it is difficult to believe that somewhere within that five hour or so time block a scheduling modification could not be made enabling you to appear before the City’s legislative branch.  We believe the Council, and more importantly the public, deserve this respect.”

As for the city administration conducting its own investigation, the members said “we are very troubled by the prospect of the City administration, including ORDA and City staff, conducting an internal investigation involving the many legal (and potentially criminal) issues involving NOAH, its staff, its contractors, and/or its governing board.”

The members felt that another investigation is a waste of taxpayer’s money, redundant and should be left to independent entities, such as the Inspector General’s Office and FBI. Both office are now investigating the home program.

“This type of OIG/FBI outside and independent investigation is now needed and warranted if the final results are to have credibility with the public,” the letter said. “Given that NOAH is a non-profit agency created by the City, it makes no sense for those doing the investigation to have had any relationship with the entity and individuals now being investigated.”