Protest at Governor's Mansion: Racism, cronyism alleged in long running French Quarter permit battle

Nov. 22--A disabled Army veteran has taken to protesting just outside the gates of the Louisiana Governor's Mansion each day since Friday to draw attention to the ways she says she was wronged five years ago in an alcohol permitting dispute.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Tracy Riley, 45, said she won't stop her protest until she meets personally with Gov. John Bel Edwards, himself an Army vet, to plead her case.

"I believe the governor can resolve these issues," Riley said on Tuesday, sitting on the lawn next to a giant placard that prominently displays a photo of Riley in her military uniform. "The state Constitution says I have a right to see him."

The sign says she's on a hunger strike, though she admits its one directed by her doctor because Riley has health complications that could be exacerbated by her protest. On Tuesday afternoon at about 4 p.m., she said the last thing she had was a smoothie Monday night.

The governor's office, asked for comment on the demonstration, said that Edwards has tried to help Riley with her predicament.

"Gov. Edwards and his administration have made every effort to assist Ms. Riley," Edwards deputy chief of staff Richard Carbo said. "We stand ready to help guide her through the various processes with ATC and connect her with resources that are available from Louisiana Economic Development. Unfortunately, Ms. Riley has not taken us up on those offers."

The governor's office provided to The Advocate a letter from Edwards to Riley detailing interactions that his administration has had with her in the past year and what options are available to help businesses in Louisiana.

"Those remain available today, and the administration will provide reasonable help in any way that we can," Carbo said.

Riley, who lives on the West Bank of New Orleans, said she's been setting up in front of the Mansion every day since Friday, and will continue to do so, "as often as I can get here." She was medically retired from the military after 12 years of active duty and 12 years in the Army Reserves, she said.

Riley's dispute with the state predates Edwards' administration and stems from efforts to open a supper club on Decatur Street in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter.

Riley had envisioned an upscale supper club on the first and second floors, and eventually a record studio for independent artists and internet radio station on the third and fourth floors.

"It was going to be the Motown of the South," she said.

The Rouge House applied for an alcohol permit through the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in 2013, but was denied after opponents said during a public hearing on the property that Riley's establishment sold alcohol without a permit and that residents and nearby businesses opposed issuing the license. Riley denies that her establishment ever served alcohol without a permit and says she feels she was discriminated against because she is black.

"More and more, the story shaped up to be about race," she claims.

The Rouge House opened in July 2013 and closed January 2014, after failing to secure an alcohol permit. The years since have been marked with legal action. Each of Riley's legal petitions have been denied.

Riley said she has had multiple meetings with members of Edwards' administration in the past year, which the governor's office confirmed.

"We always get to a point in the conversation where they want to say it was a previous administration," she said. "I didn't do anything wrong, so just fix it."

The governor's office said Edwards' hands are tied. In the letter to Riley, Edwards wrote that he couldn't assess whether her claims of racism and cronyism are accurate. "The courts are the appropriate place to adjudicate issues such as those with the prior administration," he wrote.

Riley said the Edwards administration has offered her information about economic development programs that could be of assistance if she wants to restart her business, but said she doesn't have the money for what they are suggesting. She wants the state to "restore her damages" so she can reopen the supper club.

"They are saying they can't, and I just don't accept that," she said.

In his letter, Edwards claims that Riley had sought up to $20 million from the state to resolve the issue.

"The state has no authority to grant you the monetary relief requested and the court system has repeatedly denied you the relief request," he wrote. "However, the commitments my staff have made to assist you in identifying potential business growth opportunities through LED still stand."

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