NAACP calls for indefinite suspension of Section 8 investigators

PALMDALE – The NAACP is appealing to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to continue to postpone funding for Section 8 enforcement until the federal lawsuit against the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale is resolved.

In June, the NAACP joined The Public Counsel Law Center in filing a federal lawsuit against the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, claiming more than 3,600 black and Latino families using Section 8 were victims of constant, unbearable harassment at the hands of housing authority investigators, sheriff’s deputies and local politicians who had incited neighbors against the families.

In the wake of the lawsuit, Los Angeles County Supervisors postponed additional funding for Section 8 enforcement for 90 days, and called for an investigation into the charges.

Supervisors will revisit this decision in two weeks. With this in mind, NAACP President Juan Blanco held a press conference Tuesday to appeal to the Board. The following is the full text of his statement:

Our purpose today is to remind the community that this past June 21st, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors reviewed the memorandum of understanding’s (MOU) for the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale that authorized funding for three additional Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program investigators in the Antelope Valley and who, at that time voted unanimously to place a 90 day moratorium on those MOU’s as a response to a lawsuit filed, June 7th, 2011.

On September 13th, the supervisor’s will revisit these MOU’s in the great Kenneth Hahn Hall.

We are here to encourage the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to continue the moratorium on these MOU’s indefinitely and to allow the pending litigation to take its full course.

Now because there’s on going litigation, it will not be possible to take or answer any questions at this time however, I can announce that this coming Thursday evening September 1st from 6pm until 8pm we will be hosting a community forum at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38500 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, Ca. 93550.

At the forum, attorney’s involved in the litigation will be present along with community leaders who are active participants, to comment on the upcoming September Supervisor’s meeting, the progress to date and will accommodate statements and questions from those in attendance.

It is important to note that our Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have carried out their duties to the community faithfully and fairly even when at times we are not always in agreement and we also recognize that our 5th District Supervisor, Michael D. Antonovich, may feel some trepidation in this matter, so today, we lift him up in prayer and ask that GOD will continue to fill his heart with the spirit of helping those in need of help in this matter and continue the unanimous vote in favor of the moratorium.