Judge: affluent county making fair housing "excuses"

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal appeals court says an affluent county north of New York City is "engaging in total obstructionism" of a plan to build affordable housing that can be marketed to nonwhites.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal by Westchester County on Friday. A lower court had found that Westchester violated a consent decree reached in 2009 with the Department of Justice.

The appeals court acted only a week after hearing arguments. Some rulings in that court are delivered months after arguments occur.

In a seven-page order, the 2nd Circuit said Westchester County should "stop making excuses" and complete its obligations.

An attorney for Westchester did not immediately comment.

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