Metro Councilmen Attempt to Censor Central City News in BR Court Filing

Eleven members of the Metro Council have asked the 19th Judicial District Court to impose a gag order on the Central City News in its coverage of a suit filed by former Metro Councilman Darrel Glasper.

The proposed order targeting the Central City News was filed by Parish Attorney Greg Rome.

Glasper’s suit challenges the legality of ‘slush’ funds created by the Metro Council in December 2024.  At that time, Entergy came before the Council to ask for an extension of their natural gas franchise for 30 years. In connection with the extension of the franchise, the Metro Council imposed a four percent tax on natural gas purchased by the public. Entergy opposed the tax.

After imposing the tax on natural gas, the Metro Council created a fund in the amount of $105,000 for each Councilman to administer during 2025. The Metro Council renewed these funds for the 2026 budget with some deductions approved by the Council.

Parts of these funds were donated to different organizations at the direction of the individual Council members.  Other funds were used for contracts and capital expenses authorized by the individual Council members.

In its coverage of this story, the Central City News outlined the actions of the Council.  The plaintiffs in the case, led by former Councilman Glasper, said the Council violated Art. 7, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution.  That section prohibits the donation of public funds.  The suit also challenged the funds as a violation of the Plan of Government and separation of powers.  The Plan of Government provides that funds must be administered by the Mayor-President, rather than the Council, which is the legislative branch. Glasper’s suit cited many other violations of law.

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In its filing before the 19th Judicial District, the 11 Metro Council members said the websites of the Central City News were “actively trying to prejudice any potential jurors against Defendants [Council members] prior to trial and preventing Defendants from a fair trial.”

The motion by Parish Attorney Greg Rome said the Defendant council members “pray that the Court order certain portions of these websites claiming the illegality and criminal nature of the Defendants be taken down during the pendency of the above captioned litigation in order to allow the Defendant [council members] to have a fair trial and prevent the Plaintiffs from ‘poisoning the well’ for the potential jury pool in this matter.”  They also prayed that the websites be required to remove such inflammatory statements.

The Defendant Council members particularly objected to a portion of a Central City News’ article which said, “Many citizens have labeled these pots of money as slush funds. Others have said it is illegal. Basically, they say it boils down to ‘We’ll extend your franchise, but only if we get $220,000 each to personally spend as we please.

Central City News editor Woody Jenkins said, “The Metro Council failed to read Art. 7, Section 14 the State Constitution prohibiting donation of funds and the Plan of Government prohibiting them from administering public funds. It is no surprise that they also failed to read the First Amendment, which guarantees Freedom of the Press. By the way, gag orders can only be put on attorneys or parties to a case. And prior restraint is unconstitutional.”

Central City News article:

While Cutting the C-P Budget, Metro Council Created New $2.7M Slush Fund for Themselves