CRA/LA Being Sued by 3 Advocacy Groups For Disabled

Alleging discrimination against people with disabilities, three advocacy groups for the disabled are suing the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles and the city of L.A., according to the Daily News.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Jan. 13 and was brought by the Independent Living Center of Southern California, the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, and Communities Actively Living Free and Independent, according to the report.

The advocacy groups are being represented by attorney Michael Allen, who also represents Mei Ling, a North Hollywood woman who , claiming she could not find adequate wheelchair-accessible units at the Lofts at NoHo Commons at 11136 Chandler Blvd. and the NoHo 14 at 5440 North Tujunga Ave, development projects that received federal dollars.

The lawsuit came almost simultaneously as the L.A. Times also reported that the U.S. attorney had opened a fraud investigation to determine whether the city and the CRA failed to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act when building or fixing up housing that received federal funds.

The CRA/LA is also currently winding down its operations. Under legislation passed last year and recently , the state's 400 redevelopment agencies must shutter by Feb. 1.