Money problems at City Hall appear to be holding up several rebuilding projects. A software vendor which processes building permits says it had to shut down its service to New Orleans, in an action which the company says is a first of its kind.
The situation has created quite a bit of anger.
For the Harris family, the road to recovery just got a bit longer.
"It's been a long process for us. Katrina was (in) 2005, and it's a shame," Rashell Harris said.
Harris and her family were finally ready to move forward with a new home in New Orleans East, but due to a computer shutdown discovered in a joint investigation between Fox 8 and
The Lens, the city was not ready to approve their final building permit.
"The first time they said I didn't have my paperwork and they said the system was down that day. It's been an ongoing process," Harris said.
Harris was told her family's permit could not be approved. That is because the city failed to pay another vendor. This time it's Accela, a company that provides software for much of city government, including city building permits.
"It's a system for automating government functions, like permitting building permits, licensing, (and) planning public works. It has been deactivated and that's because the city's been past due for many months," Accela spokesman Paul Davis explained.
The city has had a contract with Accela for the past seven years. At one time, the 'Accela' software system was viewed as instrumental in the city's recovery. It provided an automated system for building inspectors to work from the field, severely cutting down on the time required to see if a building was ready for occupancy, or demolition.
"Following many months of a lack of communication, we deactivated, and that's unprecedented for us... and we have hundreds of customers across the country," Davis said.
The company's decision to cease service rendered useless kiosks intended for easy permitting.
Herman Scieneaux's Broadmoor renovation is now on hold.
"City Hall is not making it any easier, especially for people who are senior citizens," Scieneaux complained.
Though several people said Wednesday morning they were being held up because of software problems, by midday others were being allowed to go through using manual methods.
City Hall spokeswoman Ceeon Quiett said when it comes to the pay dispute, it is being resolved.
Senior citizen and stroke victim Edith Harris says she is ready to move back home.
Software provider Accela is ready too - ready for payment.
"I can tell you (the bill) is not so large that the city should ignore, but it's too much for us. It goes into the hundreds of thousands of dollars," Davis said.
And until the bill gets paid, a computer network that helps drive City Hall, is out of order, until further notice.
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FOX 8 News and The Lens are investigative partners. For more information on The Lens, visit their website at
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