NEW ORLEANS —
A top New Orleans safety and permits inspector who is fighting for her job spoke exclusively with WDSU Investigates.
Devra Goldstein has been suspended without pay after she and her attorney claim she blew the whistle on issues within the department.
Goldstein had a pretermination meeting Tuesday at City Hall. She wants to stay and help the city with its embattled and vital department.
Goldstein told WDSU Investigates she felt like she was being retaliated against for being a whistleblower when it comes to issues plaguing the city's permitting process.
“Yes, I do." Goldstein said, “Probably because they don't like the way it makes them look. I want to keep my job. I'm from New Orleans, and I feel like it's important. I feel like I'm one of the few people at this point remaining in safety and permits who can have a positive impact on the safety of the citizens and visitors.”
Goldstein spoke publicly for the first time after WDSU Investigates uncovered audio from a staff meeting. Tension between Goldstein and top staff is evident in the recordings.
Her attorney, Justin Schmidt, says her potential termination stems from allegations regarding permits not being signed off on.
"The allegations are, at best, petty,” Schmidt said. “Shining a light on an issue and then being terminated is a problem for everybody. Devra Goldstein was justified in not wanting to be the next poster child for a major collapse that results in death or harm.”
The Office of Mayor LaToya...
A Guatemalan national residing in the U.S. illegally has been indicted for his alleged role in smuggling a 14-year-old girl into the country. Juan Tiul Xi, 26, was indicted on Thursday for alleged...