Cold Spaghetti

One of the unique architectural pieces of New Orleans are street tiles that line city corners. Entergy has been tearing up these corners during maintenance of city services and in many places, is destroying or paving over these tiles. In April, the Vice President of Gas Operations for Entergy wrote to the local paper to say that they were being replaced, but nothing has happened. Please write to Entergy — even those who aren’t in New Orleans! — and ask them to repair or replace the historic street tiles they destroy and/or damage through careless street work. This is my letter, mailed to the corporate headquarters in New Orleans (I’d have sent via email, too, but can’t find contact email addresses.) Please help protect and preserve New Orleans’ heritage!

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Entergy Corporation
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113

ATTN: Mr. Rusty Burroughs
Vice President
Gas Operations
Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Dear Mr. Burroughs,

I was so thrilled to read your April 25th, 2008 response to the Times-Picayune editorial written by Chris Rose addressing the destruction of historic tile letters that uniquely mark the streets of New Orleans. In your letter, you specifically addressed the destroyed tiles at the corner of Pine and Birch and wrote that, “those tiles will be replaced, and were in the process of being replaced before the article was written by Mr. Rose.”

As you know, more than a month has passed since that editorial and your published response. To date, there has been no change to this corner. I am writing you to implore you to keep to your word and see that those tiles are restored or if given no other option, replaced. It is a shame that your subcontractors left you with the responsibility of fixing their mistakes, but your letter gave me confidence that you had the leadership and character required to make it right.

Now, more than ever, it is the responsibility of the citizens and businesses of New Orleans to work together to keep the heritage and history of our city alive. This letter is fulfilling my duty as a citizen to see that our unique legacies are protected. I look forward to seeing your obligations to our city and citizens carried out and your word fulfilled.

Respectfully,

H

CC: Rod West, President & CEO, Entergy New Orleans, Inc.
E. Renae Conley – President & CEO, Entergy Louisiana, LLC
J. Wayne Leonard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Corporation
Mark T. Savoff, Executive Vice President, Operations