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### Lawsuit filed against River District and City of New Orleans

An environmental advocacy group, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, has filed a lawsuit against the River District and the City of New Orleans. This legal action aims to prevent a tax break that was approved for the construction of a new local headquarters building for Shell Oil. The tax break exempts the developers from paying property tax for the first 15 years of the building’s existence.

#### The legal Landscape

The lawsuit alleges that there are serious issues with the approval of the tax break by the City Council. The developers and city officials are accused of making false claims about retaining and growing Shell jobs in New Orleans. The 147,000 square foot Shell building is a significant project within the broader $1 billion River District development.

### The River District Project and the PILOT Controversy

The River District project is set to bring numerous residential units, office spaces, and retail and entertainment venues to the area. It has received widespread support from politicians and economic development advocates. However, the controversy surrounding the $21.6 million tax break for the Shell building has created opposition. Critics argue that the approval process did not comply with state law and was rushed through without sufficient scrutiny.

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The AI legalese decoder can assist in this situation by analyzing the legal language used in the lawsuit and providing a comprehensive breakdown of complex legal terms, making the case’s details more accessible to a wider audience. This can be particularly helpful when communicating the lawsuit’s key points to the public.

### Differing Perspectives

Members of the City Council, including Helena Moreno and JP Morrell, have expressed reservations about the approval process for the tax break. They assert that more time should have been taken to review the deal and that it did not align with the state law governing tax breaks in the River District.

### The Role of the State Attorney General’s Office

The state attorney general’s office has offered its opinion on the matter, with Assistant Attorney General Brett Robinson stating that the City Council’s approval of the tax deal complied with state law.

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### Misleading Claims and Industry Impact

The lawsuit also challenges the tax break on the grounds that the developer and City Hall officials misled the City Council about retaining and growing Shell jobs in New Orleans. This raises questions about the necessity and validity of the tax break for the oil company. The filing asserts that the tax benefit was wrongly claimed as essential to keep Shell in the city.

### Conclusion

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is taking a stand against the tax break, arguing that it benefits a multi-billion-dollar oil and gas company on false premises and through a rushed and legally questionable process. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold, but the lawsuit has already sparked important conversations about the role of tax breaks in economic development and their impact on local communities.

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