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July 3, 2007

Ortiz, Akbari deny wrong doing in housing scheme

Mary Meaux

PORT ARTHUR — Outgoing Port Arthur Mayor Oscar Ortiz and Ike Akbari of ITEX Developers LLC. both debunk allegations of wrongdoing and favoritism set forth by local businessman and Port Arthur Housing Authority Chairman Roosevelt Petry Jr.

Petry has brought his complaints about Ortiz and Akbari to the District Attorney’s office. His allegations claim Ortiz pressured the PAHA to cancel contracts with other developers and solely use ITEX for housing authority projects, which will be funded through federal community development block grants.

“We simply ask the Housing Authority to pick us as their developer of choice and allow us to go forward to get the funding for Port Arthur,” Akbari said.

The developer said the application for the position is a competitive and detailed process.

“Even if the mayor or another government official wanted to help (me get the contract) they couldn’t,” Akbari said.

Akbari added that if his firm is chosen for the work for the PAHA, Ortiz will donate his time to work with his company and the Housing Authority as a liaison.

“The mayor is a great mayor, he is always trying to help Port Arthur and this would be another way he could help with no money or expectations,” he said.

Jefferson County District Attorney Tom Maness did confirm that Petry brought information to the District Attorney’s office, but declined to comment on specifics.

Petry declined to comment on the issue as well, saying he was tired of discussing the issue. Petry’s allegations were reported in an article in the June 29 issue of The Examiner, a weekly newspaper in Beaumont.

Ortiz, who will soon turn over leadership of the city to Mayor-Elect Deloris “Bobbie” Prince, said the issue is all trash talk by certain people and there is no validity to the claims.

“The only people I work for is the city and Mc-O Construction,” he said.

Both Ortiz and Akbari said they have not been contacted by the District Attorney’s office regarding to the issue.

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