Judge dismisses NY county’s challenge to HUD (Wall Street Journal)

Wall Street Journal
(8/15/2013 8:30 PM, Associated Press)

White Plains, N.Y. — Westchester County has suffered another loss in federal court in its long battle over a housing desegregation settlement.

A judge dismissed on Thursday a county challenge to the government’s plan to withhold $7.4 million in grants.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development had said it would send the money elsewhere unless Westchester files an acceptable analysis of zoning in the county.

The analysis was one of the requirements of the 2009 settlement of a lawsuit.

Westchester has done several analyses concluding there are no impediments to fair housing. HUD says that’s unacceptable. In a letter last week, it demanded that Westchester do a new analysis, following specific instructions.

On Thursday, the county refused, but a spokesman said he hoped HUD would allow the state to administer the funds.