Sewer and Foul Odor in the Historically Black Town in Amite, Louisiana.

Sewer Plant in Butler Town, Amite, Louisiana

Today William Schoderbek a freshman at Emory University and Alumi of Bellarmine College Preparatory School of San Jose, CA., and I drove around the Butler Town community talking with some of the people who live in the all black community. They've complained and cried out too their elected officials and council members about the foul odors that smells like sewer.  One man sitting on his steps said that it smells like human waste.

Bruce Winsey-Butler Town Resident

Most of them are untrusting that the elected officials are doing anything about it. They want someone to address their concerns. They feel that the  safety of their health and the health of families are at risk.  There has been several studies conducted on sewer in poor black neighborhoods. When I was a child growing up in Amite, "I can recall when there was a landfill right there in the community." I use to visit my friend's house and you can smell the foul odor coming from the landfill.  The Butler Town cemetery is right in front of the sewer plant. More than four decades later the land is still be used as a toxic waste site.  

People who live in the neighborhood like Bruce Winsey who is 61 years old can't open his windows due to the foul odor. He said he live outside of the city limits of Amite, but he is serviced by the Amite Police and garbage pick up. He invited us into his home to take photographs of the sewer plant right in his back yard. Another man said that it was a dump before it became the sewer plant where the city of Amite dump's it waste.

The Back View of Bruce Home

"How much public awareness has been brought to the attention of the citizens who lives in the Butler Town community?" There is a crucial need to increase public awareness and public hearing on this matter. "Where is the environmental activists?" Just what is being dumped back there? What does the Environmental Protection Agency say?

Most of the population in the historic Butler Town lives in poverty. Has there been any independent scientific examination on the soil and water? In 1987, the United Church of Christ, through its Commission for Racial Justice, prepared a report, "Toxic Waste and Race in the United States, which provide a very important study and evidence. The residents living in Butler Town may have to contact the EPA--United States Environmental Protection Agency-Region 6 at 214-665-6444. You can also visit their website at www.pa.gov/region6.

Fine out what laws has been written by Congress to  provide the authority for EPA to write regulations. Please contact the Environmental Justice Hotline at 800-962-6215-Toll Free or email them at EJHotline@epa.gov.

Investigative Journalist Trevon Cooper " Kentwood Through the Lens"

First let me start off by saying congratulations to Trevon Cooper an investigative journalist for  "Kentwood Through the Lens." Often times you will hear people talking about youth delinquency and the crimes committed by the youth.  "When we invest in our youth and provide the resources for their success we will combat the crimes committed by the youth." I'm proud to be his mentor and I will do whatever I can to  help him reach his success as a journalist.

Trevon is very outstanding young man,  he is a African American male who is determine to fight all odds. He picked up a camera and mic and started to investigate stories in his community. As a investigate journalist he deeply investigate his topic of interest, crimes, political corruptions or corporate wrongdoing.

He tell the stories that many prefer to  hide under the rug or not address it at all. His ground breaking investigative reports bringing to the forefront issues and matters that can affect a entire community. While some might think that he should cover the sport events, folk life events and stories, or the car wreck on the interstate. Trevon gets off the beating path and take the route less traveled. He bring issues to the forefront so they can be resolved.

If you have a story that you want him to investigate please contact him. Please follow him on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/kentwoodthroughthelens/?fref=ts

Tangi Commentary with Antoinette Harrell

This blog post is designed and created to give the citizens of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana a place where they can voice their opinions and views concerning the issues, politics and news events in the parish. If you have any news that you want to share with the readers of Tangi Commentary please contact Antoinette Harrell by email at antoinetteharrell14@gmail.com or you can contact me my phone at 504.858.4658.

Your views and opinions are important and I want to help you get your voice heard.  Often times the peoples voices aren't heard until its election time. "Well, Tangi Commentary will provide the venture to have your voice heard." It's important to remember that the people must be inclusive in the political process as well as have the issues in their community addresses by elected and appointed officials.

Through Tangi Commentary citizens and community members of the parish can find others who share the same ideas and thoughts on a particular subject. As well as form community groups to build and maintain the communities they live in.