Mowad Street Residents Sue City; Officials ‘Astonished’ By Action
EL PASO, Tx. – Former residents of the Mowad Street neighborhood hit hard by Storm 2006,are suing the city.
The suit was Filed last Friday and is seeking an injunction to force the city to turn the utilities back on.After Storm 2006 the city said the buildings were unsafe for various health and safety reasons.
ABC-7visited the homes Tuesday and found the street was quiet and mostly deserted.
The city is now trying a voluntary buy-out program, appraising the homes and offering homeowners pre-flood value to get a replacement home somewhere else. In the meantime residents can tap into federal money throughFEMA to find a temporary home.
City officials say they are astonished that some people are actually filing suit and fighting to move back-in, even after they’ve moved forward with their plan.
A consultant also told city council today that the program is moving faster than any other program he’s ever worked with.
ABC-7 spoke to Carmen Rodriguez,the attorney representing the former residents. She said she did not want to appear on camera or talk about this suit in detail at this time.
ABC-7 also tried reaching one of the plaintiffs but he was not available by deadline.
