Councilman defends charity- Claims don't match IRS filings
by Meghan Gordon - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

More than a year after questions arose about parish payments to a nonprofit he founded, Jefferson Parish Councilman Byron Lee publicly defended the sports charity Wednesday and asked its staffers to describe their good deeds before the Parish Council.

The Jefferson Sports and Scholastic Foundation has received the bulk of payments overseen by Lee from a landfill settlement fund, raising the ire of Waggaman residents who say the account should benefit areas directly affected by the dump.

Owners of River Birch landfill near Waggaman agreed to the $70,000 annual payments in 1997 to break the council's stalemate over a permit that would allow it to open and eventually become the largest in the state. The settlement gives the 3rd District councilman discretion to dole out the money.

Lee asked Director Lester Dunn, who also acts as the politician's campaign treasurer, and volunteer Sylvester Williams to appear at Wednesday's meeting but did not list the presentation on the council agenda.