By a Gallier St. Resident
New Orleanians who live in the upper ninth in the Florida neighborhood are seeing our homes destroyed due to the arrogance of the city, Sewerage and Water Board and the Army Corps of Engineers. They are jointly in charge of the Southeast Louisiana (SELA) drainage project which will cost over $300 million on Florida Avenue Canal. It began several years ago and was scheduled to finish this year, but its now extended to 2020 so the cost will rise as well.
Every day 50 giant trucks speed down our streets, shaking our entire homes starting as early as 6:30 am. We have cracked walls and foundations, pipes not aligned and many breaks in water lines to the road caused by these trucks.
One neighbor, A. Collins, said “why was our street designated a main truck route? We were not notified, and it seems no one is willing to help us or inform us what is going on.”
Now they have closed off Louisa street, which is the main road connecting our neighborhood to the Chef Menteur shopping areas, forcing us to go a long distance out of our way. No notice was given that the street would be closed or for how long. Even before it was closed the street from Law to the canal was pitted with craters.
Neighbors who live on Law, Louisa, Gallier and other streets have been complaining for years. We have filed for compensation but are told that will only happen after the project is completed. And it will be subject to inspections by the same agency that is causing the problem!
For six months Gallier St. neighbors demanded a meeting to discuss ways the problems could be solved. After months of stalling, officials finally came to a local meeting and tried to give us a Power-Point on the project. They refused to have a one-on-one discussion with the community. 40 neighbors attended and poured their hearts out about the destruction of our homes, disruption to our lives, destruction of our vehicles and health issues caused by the project.
DUST EVERYWHERE
Every day our homes and vehicles are coated with dust as the streets have crumbled. They have laid down a product that when dry gives off tons of dust whenever a truck comes by. Many residents are experiencing health issues as a result. Gallier street is no longer a real road but more like a dirt road.
COUNCILMAN BROUSSARD IGNORES US TOO – DOES NOTHING
37 emails to Councilman Broussard were ignored. Finally, Broussard wrote to advise us to contact the same agencies we were complaining to him about. He has never come to the area or met with the residents.
Boh Brothers and high-paid consultants and politicians are getting rich off this project. They would never treat the French Quarter or mansion littered St. Charles this way.
WILL WE STILL HAVE HOMES? WHO WILL FIX THEM?
This is proof that working-class residents and especially predominantly Black communities must get organized to militantly challenge the powers that care nothing for us. To protect ourselves, we should put these agencies under the direct control of the people.