'Somebody is going to get killed,' police chief says
Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson says that day workers who congregate under the West Bank Expressway at Stumpf Boulevard endanger themselves when they sprint across the street to the Home Depot parking lot when contractors arrive.Citing increased safety concerns for motorists and growing unease among nearby residents, the city of Gretna is looking to corral the scores of day workers who gather beneath the West Bank Expressway at Stumpf Boulevard.
The Gretna City Council passed a resolution Wednesday seeking to work with Home Depot to devise a plan for dealing with day workers who congregate beneath the expressway with the hope of being hired by contractors who visit the store. Police Chief Arthur Lawson raised concerns that the workers were becoming a safety hazard because of their habit of sprinting across the road to reach the store's parking lot whenever a contractor arrives. Lawson said that it is not uncommon to see 100 to 150 workers dodging traffic, and he's concerned that a serious injury is unavoidable.
"Somebody is going to get killed," Lawson said. "I don't know what the solution is, but we certainly need to do something."
Lawson suggested that the city immediately erect reinforced barricades along the expressway that would force workers to cross the street at the crosswalk. He also suggested that the city meet with Home Depot officials to develop a more permanent solution.
Lawson and several council members noted that they have received numerous complaints from residents worried about their safety, and about trash and debris left by the workers. Councilman Vincent Cox even suggested he city consider a law to prevent contractors from hiring workers while on public property.
"No matter what we do, they're going to be there," Cox said. "If the people weren't hiring them they wouldn't be there."
City Attorney Mark Morgan said that cities in Texas and on the West Coast have entered into cooperative endeavor agreements with Home Depot to provide a "holding area" where workers can wait for contractors. The area typically would be shaded and have access to a restroom.
Craig Fishel, a spokesman for Home Depot, acknowledged that the company has such agreements, but they are rare. He said it is the company's belief that ultimately the issue of congregating day workers is a "community" problem, not a problem solely confined to the store.
Fishel said the store has a strict no-solicitation policy that makes it difficult for the company to agree to allowing the holding areas. He added that Home Depot does not staff or operate the holding areas.
"We're happy to work with local municipalities and communities to develop viable solutions," Fishel said. "Our preference is that those facilities are not on our property and are not operated by Home Depot."
The day workers have been a constant presence near the store since Hurricane Katrina created a boom in the local construction industry. Initially the workers would gather in the store's parking lot, but they migrated underneath the expressway and into the neighborhoods after complaints to police.
Lawson said his department is not opposed to the idea of holding areas, as long as they improve safety.
"At least it may be organized confusion instead of disorganized confusion," Lawson said.
Allen Powell II can be reached at apowell@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3793.