Hopkins Improvement

By Ted
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 11:39 AM CST

I recently drove by the Hopkins Street improvements near the RR tracks. Looks good , but , did anyone notice the pretty trees were planted directly under the power lines? Also , between six and eight trees were left in pots on private property. The property owner has since decided the trees are his, and , has started to plant them on his land! Couldn't these trees have been put to use somewhere else in town? Who exactly was in charge of this "project'?

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Comments

    To Taxpayer wrote on Mar 20, 2009 4:42 PM:

    " Well said! Welfare recipients SHOULD be drug-screened. People in the Hopkins St. area should keep their own property clean. "

    taxpayer wrote on Mar 19, 2009 10:40 AM:

    " It all boils down to one thing, yes, I do have a nicer home, ect. But, I do what I have to do to provide for my family, period. I am not waiting on a goverment handout, and never will! I am sick and tired of you "havenots" telling me I have to pay more for you people! If you want a better life, WORK for it! I had to take a drug screen to get my job......Did you have to do the same to get that Welfare Check???? Of Course not! "

    To MeMeG wrote on Mar 19, 2009 10:00 AM:

    " you said..."So what if you pay more taxes? You also live in a nicer home..."

    Because they probably can't afford it, make more money???? How do you suppose they'll do that??? That's not reality hunny. "

    Tsmith wrote on Mar 19, 2009 8:55 AM:

    " March 19, 2009 A British family is suing the government for MORE WELFARE MONEY. Apparently they claim they’re too fat to work – and need the government to pay for all their food.
    The family Philip Chawner, 53, and his 57-year-old wife Audrey weigh 336 lbs. Their daughter Emma, 19, weighs 238 lbs, while her older sister Samantha, 21, weighs 252 lbs. Here’s how London’s Daily Mail is reporting things:The family from Blackburn, England claim $31,940 a year in benefits, equivalent to the take-home pay from a $42,570 salary. The Chawners, haven't worked in 11 years..Leaches in all races!!! "

    JeanLafitte wrote on Mar 17, 2009 9:36 PM:

    " The Hopkin's area is a lower income bracket neighborhood where houses are usually appraised at or below $75,000. Many are arguing that the people living there simply do not pay enough in taxes and therefore shouldn't be receiving redevelopment monies from the city. This logic is ridiculous. How many people with high incomes are going to move into an area where the homes were obviously built for the lower middle class and conversely how many people in the Hopkin's area who increase their status enough to pay substantially higher taxes are going to stay in the Hopkin's neighborhood? "

    MeMeG wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:36 PM:

    " Why-not-improve-Hopkins? Any town can deteriorate. No funding for this part of town is what made it this way. As neighborhoods age, they get run down, it happens with time...

    So what if you pay more taxes? You also live in a nicer home, make more money, and most likely have a better life. Sometimes its "just the way things go" that cause people to live in poverty. Its not like I see a lot of good paying jobs in New Iberia. And the ridiculous prices of rental property here makes it impossible for people to get into better neighborhoods/homes. "

    iberia taxpayer wrote on Mar 16, 2009 9:57 PM:

    " to westside resident : who do you think is paying for all the foodstamps and social security checks in your area, the working people so who cares, i do .dont talk about people beeing ignorant if you can't define the meaning "

    Westside resident wrote on Mar 16, 2009 4:39 PM:

    " U.S. Taxpayer, I think it's stupid for you to feel the way you feel. Just because you don't want to do nothing to clean up Hopkin Street, their are others who feel cleaning it up will make a difference in that whole westside area. Who is you to know what's on their minds. So what if they're on foodstamps or social security, everybody don't have it like that. "

    To Willie wrote on Mar 16, 2009 9:46 AM:

    " Who do you think is supplying them? "

    Willie wrote on Mar 16, 2009 8:54 AM:

    " To Westside resident.... What did you mean by "All da so-said Bigshots making pick-ups" ? If you mean drugs or prostitution , shame on you for not calling the law. "

    new iberia taxpayer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 12:29 PM:

    " only about 5% of people pay taxes in that area .no car lots, restaurants, banks, shopping stores,hospitals will move in that area . so no more taxes will come from that side of town. why spend such a crazy amount of taxes their. crime is way to bad there fix the crime and clean out the trash first, then the rest will fall into place "

    Right ON wrote on Mar 15, 2009 11:15 AM:

    " Westside resident Hopkins Street is a state highway and I say let the state fix it with some of Obama's stimulus money. The rest of the West Side is beautiful just the way it be. "

    U.S taxpayer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 11:14 AM:

    " I think it's stupid to waste money in an area where people try to avoid, due to all the useless people hanging out in the streets day & night doing "God knows what". Changing the apperance of the street will not change the inside of the residence there. They have to want it 4 themselves & thats the furthest thing from there minds. They are only worried about there selling drugs & how much they can get in foodstamps & social security checks for all there kids or just on themselves each month. "

    GaGa wrote on Mar 14, 2009 4:10 PM:

    " I can recall several times Main street have went under because of all the partying that goes on, but our taxpayers money is used to pick it right back up again. Let me rephrase that; only the good side of Main Street gets beautified. "

    Westside resident wrote on Mar 14, 2009 4:01 PM:

    " westside resident

    It's time you people get off of being ignorant and except the fact that the time for a change have come. Being a resident of New Iberia and a taxpayer you should look at the City as a whole and stop trying to divide it. If the westside needs some improving, fix it, that's what we pay taxes for. Hopkins is also a MAIN STREET. A lot of you so call big shots don't thing that way about Hopkins when you're on the Westside late at night making your pick-ups. "

    neworleanscajun wrote on Mar 14, 2009 10:36 AM:

    " DHertz:
    I've been in the "intervention" business in various capacities my whole adult life. Many of these people don't want to help themselves, preferring to live off of the hard work of others. Many of their children go to school to socialize and to cut up, not to learn.
    This is a multigenerational way of life with no end in sight. I've worked with both kids and parents, and I know what I'm talking about. My observations are not racial. Anyone with this attitude is helping to destroy our country.. "

    D. Hertz wrote on Mar 13, 2009 9:59 PM:

    " To Really Now: You raise a good point. The improvements on Hopkins are a good first step though.

    Maybe intervention is needed but some people need to learn how to help themselves. "

    Really Now wrote on Mar 12, 2009 11:21 PM:

    " There are politicians in New Iberia that have to try and show they really do care about the minority community. Fix a sidewalk, plant a tree, hey look what I did for those people I'm a good politician. The truth is they all know what everyone else knows, even the people they are trying to impress. Don't try to BS us it will take a lot more to get the community straight. Not just a tree or some cement. Try serious intervention and we're not talking about Rev. Brown either. "

    D. Hertz wrote on Mar 12, 2009 10:06 PM:

    " Wow! There is a lot of suttle hatred in these posts. With all of the wasted money spent on the downtown and the other uppity neighborhoods around this city, what's wrong with a little encouragement for the brothers? Who knows this may encourage a few people to improve themselves in their neighborhood. "

    Laf. wrote on Mar 12, 2009 8:13 AM:

    " I've seen and heard of plenty of stupid things in my lifetime, but this one takes the cake. You really think you are going to improve the situation on Hopkins Street in New Iberia, La. by planting a few trees. You people are delusional! It don't work like that. All the trees in the world is not going to change the attitudes of the people on Hopkins Street in New Iberia, LA. No way, no how! "

    beau wrote on Mar 11, 2009 8:46 AM:

    " This is similar to putting make-up on a monkey in a futile attempt to make it look more appealing. Why bother trying to beautify Hopkins Street when anyone that lives in South Louisiana knows that this is the biggest drug and crime infested area in all of New Iberia. I don't think any of the drug pushers and thugs and thieves care one bit about how many trees you plant. It won't stop all of this illicit activity! New Iberia - plueeezeee! "

    JuJu wrote on Mar 10, 2009 10:35 PM:

    " Guess what? Want to be equal and equal? Then get off your rear ends, get the education that is afforded anyone that has a desire, get a job, support your family, and become a productive human being. It might rub off on people. "

    To threadprotector wrote on Mar 6, 2009 10:25 AM:

    " They don't pay much in the way of property taxes and of course they have the right to vote, but did you know that the majority of residents in that area have some of the lowest voting percentages in this city? I would LOVE to see the Hopkins street area cleaned up from the properties, to the litter, to the crime. Years ago, when people started the west end trash bashes, I thought it was a great idea, but more people from that area need to do the cleaning up. It also has to come from within. "

    Quit Whinning Taxpayer wrote on Mar 6, 2009 9:48 AM:

    " Blame the people in power (please include yourself) Your kind of thinking is the reason Louisiana is ranked lowest in many categories from education, health, childcare, corruption to name a few. No one is interested in investing in our city because the slave mentality is still alive and flourishing. "Equal but Separate". They are not doing studies on the poor and their influence. Its the wealthy and their influence that's got us ranked so low. No re-investment. Guess what I'm one of you too just learned my lessons sooner. "

    To Taxpayer wrote on Mar 6, 2009 9:37 AM:

    " I'm a taxpayer too that lives on the other side of Iberia Street. I don't want your money I have my own. Hopkins St is a main highway and should be presented as such be improvements by way of landscaping or lighting. Ignorance is a shameful. Bet if they were on your side of town you'd be singing a happy jim crow tune. "

    threadprotector wrote on Mar 5, 2009 1:41 PM:

    " By the looks of the surrounding area, I would say that at least 95 percent of the homes fall below the 75,000 tax exemption and pay no Parish property tax. They do pay city taxes, which are based on value, and from my standpoint looks to be minimal. The people in this area are voters and do carry as much weight with our government as anyone else in the city. "

    taxpayer wrote on Mar 5, 2009 1:40 PM:

    " Look, the only point that I am making is that I am sick and tired of our taxmoney being spent on things that are wastful! This money should be spent to fix roads, which will benifit all, not just a few! That's the problem with this country today, redistribution of weath! And I, am sick and tired of it! Don't worry guys, just sit on your pourches on Hopkins Street and wait, as I am sure Obama will be there shortly with more of MY money to give you guys! "

    To N.I. Mother wrote on Mar 5, 2009 1:27 PM:

    " If your 3 bedroom house is assessed at at value of $75,000 and there is a parish homestead exemption of up to $75,000, then you would pay no parish property taxes, but you would pay city property taxes based on the assessed value of your house. If my 3 bedroom house is assessed at a value of $150,000 then I would pay parish property taxes above the $75,000 homestead exemption plus city property taxes on the assessed value of my house. Who pays more tax dollars? I pay a lot more property taxes than you do. "

    Teach self respect wrote on Mar 5, 2009 1:08 PM:

    " Does anyone know how many tons of trash have been collected from each city district with all of the trash bashes held to clean up each district? Does anyone know in which districts they picked up the most trash and in which districts they picked up the least trash. My district has was said to be the cleanest district. When people respect themselves and their neighbors, they don't throw trash all over the place for others to pick up over and over. Children learn from their parents and they should be taught not to litter. "

    To Taxpayer wrote on Mar 5, 2009 10:24 AM:

    " Moronic coward attitudes? Everyone pays taxes no matter what side of town they live on. We create problems when people who think like you feel that they are the only ones to receive city and parish services. Wonder if you were in the hospital and needed blood would you ask who it's from and turn it down if it was from a minority? "

    taxpayer wrote on Mar 5, 2009 9:27 AM:

    " To N.I.Mother.....
    No dear, You need to face reality! Look at the percentage of property tax being paid by the residents of that street, and compair that to other parts of town, I promiss you, I am paying for your neighboorhood "beautification" and don't like it one bit! Put the money where it belongs, on the Roads! I give it 3 years tops, it will right back the way it was before, all run down. You guys can't help yourselves! "

    N.I. Mother wrote on Mar 4, 2009 10:50 PM:

    " RE: Taxpayer

    This is in reference to the comment made by the person signed "Taxpayer".
    I am not sure what part of the world you live in, but undoubtly you are a very mis-informed person, or just down right ignorant to the facts. I live in That part of the town that you are speaking of. My family have lived and contributed to not just our community but yours too. People pay taxes no matter where they shop, or bills they pay. So please educate yourself and look in the mirror and see yourself. "

    taxpayer wrote on Mar 4, 2009 4:26 PM:

    " At a time when we are all tearing up our vehicles with the great shape the roads are in, having to pay sky high property tax, they decide to spend money where lets face it, the part of town that does "NOT" pay taxes......anyone see this as a problem??? "

    Kim B wrote on Mar 4, 2009 1:53 PM:

    " To threadprotector: hahaha "

    To do do wrote on Mar 4, 2009 11:39 AM:

    " I see you have no faith in man kind and hope you never volunteer or are elected to go to a third world country to help out with that attitude. You have implied quite a bit without saying it. "

    threadprotector wrote on Mar 4, 2009 10:39 AM:

    " I gotta question.

    When these trees mature to a point that they make contact with the power lines, will anyone getting electrocuted be able to sue the city?

    Answer; Not if your dead. "

    do do wrote on Mar 4, 2009 9:46 AM:

    " i was just wondering why the city is improving a section of town that the people will only destroy in time to come. there are much more places that need improvement. have you traveled down any main road coming into New Iberia. Great way to waste money "

    Amazed wrote on Mar 3, 2009 4:46 PM:

    " This is from an article in the Daily Iberian, dated March 2, concerning the stimulas:

    The council also is to hear a presentation from Hopkins Street District Coordinator and Sheriff’s Community Outreach Center employee Sylvia Davis and to pay $5,000 for one year of her “contracted services to coordinate efforts for the Hopkins Street Project.”


    So check with Ms Sylvia Davis also... "

    Noticed that wrote on Mar 3, 2009 2:22 PM:

    " I noticed that in the picture in the paper when it ran. I am also wondering what those beautiful trees will do to the sidewalk when the roots grow under them like I have seen in many places. "

    Art wrote on Mar 3, 2009 1:37 PM:

    " DOTD was in charge, call them at 262-6101 "

    Kim B wrote on Mar 3, 2009 1:23 PM:

    " I have been wondering the same thing. "

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