Louisiana officials ordered to pause evictions of homeless people near the Superdome until November

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A judge in Louisiana has temporarily blocked further efforts by state officials to clear out homeless encampments in New Orleans, stalling efforts that preceded three Taylor Swift concerts in the city this weekend.

Efforts to relocate about 75 people living in tents under an overpass near the Superdome began days before the pop star’s performance, which could draw 150,000 visitors to the stadium.

Judge Laurie Jupiter on Friday issued a temporary restraining order, ordering state law enforcement officials not to “destroy or dispose of the property of homeless people without legal process” and to notify people at a “state-sanctioned encampment” that they are “free to leave.”

The order is valid until November 4.

The judge’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by homeless people targeted in the sweep. In lawsuits, they alleged that state troopers violated their constitutional rights by illegally searching, confiscating and destroying their property, disposing of their valuables and “forcibly taking” them.

According to the lawsuit, a legal observer heard state police officers say, “The governor wants you to leave because of the Taylor Swift concert.”

State officials said residents are being moved to a new location about two blocks away, where homeless people living in the tourist area of ​​the French Quarter will also be relocated.

Gov. Jeff Landry’s spokesman said the effort was aimed at addressing homelessness and safety issues, tying it to the concerts and the city’s Super Bowl in February.

“As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans performs at its best on the world stage,” Landry communications director Kate Kelly said in a statement released to locals Media. .

Advocates say the efforts have hampered the work of local officials to connect homeless people with social services and help them find more permanent housing.

Martha Kegel, executive director of Unity of Greater New Orleans, a nonprofit that seeks permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness, said the sweep was unnecessary and harmful, and that many of those at the encampment suffer from mental illness and distrust authorities and to those who are trying to help them.

“Some people got scared and left, and that’s not good,” she said. “Because then all the work that we did to assess them, document their disabilities and, you know, work with them on their housing plan was now wasted.”

Among those who made the move Wednesday was Terrence Cobbins. He said that while taking a break from packing, he was told to move because of concerts.

“They’ve never done this for other people before,” he said. “Why Taylor Swift?”

___ Kate Payne is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.