NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — With Governor Jeff Landry launching a task force to investigate what he calls repeated “failures” of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, residents are hoping he starts with the turbines.
“Every time it rains, and we flood, they talk about one or two went out. Why? That’s what we want to know, why? We are paying out taxpayers’ money. They have money to fix them. So, why can’t they fix them?” said one New Orleans resident.
“Any little rain, any little flash flood watch. All that needs to be upgraded. There is money here, they just need to do what they got to do,” said one New Orleans resident.
However, Councilman JP Morrell says that none of the appointed members of the task force are from communities directly affected by flooding or ongoing billing problems.
“There was no effort made to reach out to anyone in the community, any of the elected officials. This is not a legitimate group looking for reform. It’s a group probably that has an agenda and is looking for a task force to rubber stamp the agenda,” said Morrell.
One resident agrees.
“Perhaps they should include the city’s engineering staff or a member of the staff on this task force. For them to work together, previous engineering reports might even have that information,” said one New Orleans resident.
Morrell is now calling for a fair and open debate on the Sewerage and Water Board’s future. He adds that 30 days is not enough time to address years’ worth of problems.
“Sewerage and Water Board to date will not admit they have a billing problem. People paying for sewerage and water board is not the state of Louisiana, it’s residential ratepayers. The idea that they are going to produce a work product that protects them is 0.0%,” said Morrell.
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