City Council Rejects Chevron Deal for City Hall

By Eileen Fleming

New Orleans, La. – Councilmembers Arnie Fielkow, Jackie Clarkson, Stacy Head and Shelley Midura voted against Nagin's plan to buy the Chevron building complex downtown. They complained that they didn't have enough time to review the proposal Nagin announced in May. And they said the $12 million dollar price tag is too high while the city is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Fielkow said a future city hall should be designed as a flow point between the Superdome and the city.
Clarkson says Chevron should have donated the building and taken a tax write-off.
Head says Nagin should keep working with Chevron on the deal, and get more public input.
Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said she favored the deal because it's a practical alternative to the high maintenance and upkeep needed at the current 50-year-old City Hall.
The city has until Friday to give Chevron a final decision.