Neighborhood in Darkness
Concordia Place is a gated community nestled in an urban neighborhood of Stoner Hill, blocks away from the Stoner Vista Apartments where Karter Martin, 1, was killed weeks ago. This neighborhood’s streetlights do not come on at night and neighbors say the lack of light poses a significant safety risk. But they’re having trouble finding who will turn the lights back on.
Residents’ Concerns
Jamie Cooper has been a resident of the subdivision since it was built. She says when the lights go out, she’s unsure who will help them, the city or SWEPCO. “It’s just been back and forth with the city and SWEPCO and they’re not saying anything to us. We’re just sitting in the dark,” Cooper said.
Seeking Answers
She called the mayor, Shreveport Community Development, and finally spoke with Traffic and Engineering Superintendent Allen Pierce. Cooper said Pierce contacted SWEPCO and they told him the lights did not belong to SWEPCO. He said no one at the city knows who the lights belong to.
Advocating for Action
While the city debates who owns the lights, Cooper says she will continue to advocate for her neighborhood and says those squeaky wheels who speak up in their community will eventually get the grease. “Continue speaking out about your issues,” Cooper said, “If that involves making phone calls, contacting the mayor’s office, contacting the various departments do it.
No Immediate Response
KTBS reached out to SWEPCO but did not get an immediate response. Residents in the Stoner Hill neighborhood are left in the dark as they wait for a resolution to the ongoing street light outage, raising concerns about safety and security in the community.
