Council Delays Decision on Suing Brookins

Delaying a decision on whether to sue Bishop H.H. Brookins, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday directed the city attorney’s office to negotiate with Brookins in a dispute over $48,000 he may owe the city.

The council gave the order during a closed session and continued the matter until May 11, Councilman Robert Farrell said.

At issue is $48,000 in Community Development Department funds paid to a Brookins organization to rent a building that Brookins owned.

The CDD has concluded that the money is owed to the city because Brookins had a conflict of interest in his dual role as a landlord who collected city rent for his property while serving as the head of a poverty program located in the building.