Main Building
Shreveport, LA – According to the officials, Mayor Tom Arceneaux has declared a Public Health and Safety Emergency concerning three Shreveport apartment complexes — The Jolie, Pines, and Villa Norte — where active ownership has ceased. The Declaration is effective immediately and will last until July 3, 2024, unless extended.
This action was deemed necessary due to the abandonment of these complexes by their owners, leaving them as significant hazards to public safety and health. Squatters, scavengers, and vandals have begun to occupy and damage these properties.
Without the emergency Declaration, the Police Department lacks the legal authority to remove these individuals from the premises.
Mayor Arceneaux highlighted several critical issues prompting the Declaration:
1. **Unsafe Living Conditions**: The properties are unfit for habitation due to the absence of running water and functioning toilets.
2. **Health Hazards**: Trash generated by squatters, along with debris left by former residents, poses a significant public health risk.
3. **Fire Hazards**: The properties are at high risk of fires caused by squatters and scavengers. Two fires have already occurred at The Jolie, one of which injured three firefighters. Further incidents are likely if no action is taken.
The emergency Declaration aims to address these immediate dangers and restore safety and order to the affected areas.