Louisiana Residents Sue to Unwind SpaceX Tax Deal
The suit says officials used a code name, added agenda items mid-meeting and hid records while advancing a $100 billion SpaceX spaceport.
- On Monday, the Vermilion Citizens Coalition and three residents filed a lawsuit against the Vermilion Parish Police Jury and its industrial development board, alleging eight violations of Louisiana's Open Meetings Law during approval of SpaceX's proposed $100 billion spaceport.
- Plaintiffs allege the board, revived in July after nearly 30 years, approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement on Aug. 25 using the code name "Project Osprey" on agendas to conceal the deal, which includes a property tax exemption valued at nearly $24 billion.
- Attorney William Most claims the governor's office collected all copies of an Exxon settlement to prevent public review; the lawsuit filed in the 15th Judicial District Court asserts officials conducted business behind closed doors without providing required public notices.
- The petition asks a judge to void actions taken by the board, though the lawsuit does not name SpaceX or the state as defendants, as plaintiffs seek to ensure decisions affecting the community are reconsidered publicly.
- Monday marked the final day to file the suit under the 60-day limit for challenging public actions, with plaintiffs stating the litigation targets government transparency rather than opposing the economic development project or tax incentives offered to SpaceX.
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Louisiana residents sue to unwind SpaceX tax deal - WXXV News 25
CHRISTIAAN MADER/The Current Three Vermilion Parish residents and a new nonprofit have sued parish officials for alleged open meetings violations related to the landmark SpaceX deal. The stakes of the open meetings suit, filed Monday, are high. It could void the tax incentive agreement reached to land the $100 billion bill, if the court grants the relief sought. The plaintiffs...
Louisiana residents sue to unwind SpaceX tax deal – WTOP News
Three Vermilion Parish residents and a new nonprofit have sued parish officials for alleged open meetings violations related to the landmark SpaceX deal. The stakes of the open meetings suit, filed Monday, are high. It could void the tax incentive agreement reached to land the $100 billion bill, if the court grants the relief sought....
SpaceX deal faces transparency lawsuit in Vermilion Parish
The Vermilion Citizens Coalition and three parish residents have sued the Vermilion Parish Police Jury and its industrial development board, alleging eight violations of Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law during the approval process for SpaceX’s proposed $100 billion spaceport near Pecan Island, Louisiana Illuminator reports. Filed Monday, the lawsuit seeks to void the board’s Aug. 25 […]
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