Residents of Shreveport, La. are no strangers to flooding. This is not due to being located on the banks of the Red River, but rather to the irresponsible amount of power over its infrastructure the city has given to private enterprise.
Major projects in the city must be supervised by financial advisers supplied to the government by a private firm hired by the city. In 2013, this made any financial decision-making incredibly difficult when the City Council refused to re-hire Grigsby and Associates, putting several projects on hold, including the expansion of Ockley Ditch, a drainage canal.
Since the flooding in 2008 which swept away two cars in a six foot wall of water, residents have been fighting to upgrade the city’s drainage system, especially Ockley Ditch. Some had hoped that things would begin to change.
Then in 2013 came the financial adviser fiasco as the government looked for other options and work ceased on several projects and investments around the city. Now, in 2015, seven years after the flooding, the city is finally ready to tackle to Ockley problem—if only they can reach an agreement with Sears—which owns a private parking lot providing access to the canal.
The people hope the retail giant can be convinced of the need after a retaining wall atop the canal supporting an apartment complex was carried away by yet more flooding in March, but it may take more of a struggle.
Also in March, the sewer system was so overwhelmed by flooding that manhole covers were lifted up by the pressure of excess water, creating fountains of wastewater.
With peoples’ homes threatened, sewers spewing wastewater into the streets, and yet another round of flooding this past week, the people of Shreveport need a government that puts people’s right to live above water before the right of the private sector to profit from infrastructure development.
