Houma resident alleges racial discrimination and legal restraint attempts during Terrebonne Parish Council public comment

Tommy Jenkins of 1702 Rivista Avenue addressed the Terrebonne Parish Council during public comment to allege racial discrimination by parish officials and describe legal pushback he said he received after filing documentation related to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Jenkins said that after his Feb. 7, 2024 presentation on the CDBG program he sent requested documentation to a council member and was met, he said, “with aggression, anger, as well as racial comments and discrimination.” He read from a letter he said was from the parish attorney that stated the attorney "represents the Terrebonne Parish consolidated government... regarding your allegations of discrimination, misappropriation of CDBG funding, implementation of HUD regulations, and all other allegations..." and directed Jenkins to direct further contact in writing only. Jenkins said an attempt was made to enact a temporary restraining order through the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office to keep him from attending meetings.

During his remarks Jenkins cited federal civil-rights law, noting section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and passages from the disaster-recovery CDBG grantee administrative manual about how civil-rights complaints should be reviewed. The council granted an extension for Jenkins to finish his remarks (motion by Carl Harding, second by Clayton Wasan; vote passed 7-0). The chair thanked Jenkins for coming forward, noted the matter appeared to be outside the council’s direct authority and said Jenkins had the right to seek legal advice and pursue other remedies.

No council member offered a factual rebuttal on the record to Jenkins’s allegations during the meeting. The council’s response was procedural and advisory: acknowledging the right to legal counsel and suggesting Jenkins pursue appropriate legal avenues if he believes discrimination occurred.