State Senator Ann Duplessis issued the following letter to constituents regarding issues surrounding the issuance of residential building permits in Eastern New Orleans.

  Recently, many of you have encountered a very serious obstacle to your efforts to continue rebuilding your homes. The City of New Orleans has ceased issuing residential building permits in Eastern New Orleans and has redirected you to ENONAC and my office; asserting that legislation authored to protect neighborhoods and families is the cause of their inability to operate in the normal fashion. Many of you have been told that through this legislation my office has placed a moratorium on the issuance of building permits. Please be assured that this is not the case.

  I have made several attempts to clarify both the letter and intent of the legislation with the city. These efforts yielded no results. During this time, many of you were frustrated by a process that was corrupted by missteps and misinformation that significantly hindered your ability to move forward. For this reason, I sought the expertise of the Louisiana Attorney General's Office to give a nonbiased explanation that will once and for all put this issue to rest.

  According to Attorney General Caldwell:

  It is my sincere hope that the City of New Orleans has simply been operating with a distinct misunderstanding of its responsibilities to you our constituents and not intentionally seeking to obstruct your efforts to rebuild. Should you encounter further impediments please contact Leonard Odom in New Orleans Inspector General's Office at 504.681.3200.