NEW ORLEANS - The 8400 block of Stroelitz is one street to avoid, if this block long collection of potholes can even be called a street anymore. The craters of varying sizes and depths have turned what should be a smooth surface into a lunar landscape.
"You'd have to be insane to drive down this street at this point. It's like an obstacle course driving in this particular area," said Errol Williams.
A brand new complex just completing construction on this block looks like the picture of civic progress, but the street in front of it looks like a medieval cartpath.
"Luckily I drive a truck, so I mean it was bouncing, and stuff like that. But if you drive a small car on this street, you're bottoming out on three or four different holes," said Ben Barron.
"It's discouraging. It's absolutely discouraging. For ten years I've watched this street off and on, repaired, and the potholes reappear. They get bigger and bigger, and we get less and less attention," said Evelyn Turner.
A crowd of neighbors came by to explain the ruined street is a hassle, and dangerous.
"I'm sometimes walking down this street with little kids, and when cars are driving by thye drive on the sidewalk sometimes. You've got to really be careful, and so it's really dangerous down on this street, " said Matt Woodard, a day Care Operator.
Garbage trucks have been stuck in the middle of the street, and nothing has happened. Can you believe it, that you've been treated this way? I hate to say yeah, I can believe it," said Jarvain Bingmon.
Some even tried their own repairs, dumping bricks into some of the holes. What has turned frustration into aggravation is that they have been begging the city to repair Stroelitz for half a year.
"I actually started in Sep[rtember, making calls. I've made so many calls, they told me we've got that report, there's no need to call anymore," said Bingmon.
There are water leaks below the surface as well as the craters, so I'm contacting both the Sewerage and Water Board, and the Department of Public Works, asking them to join forces to get this mess repaired, so that Stroelitz becomes a street again."))
The neighbors asked me whether it will take the next administration to get something done here.
"I think it is just an example of abject failure of city government. I mean this is an abomination," said Williams.
