In an attempt to finally address a longstanding backlog and fill the tens of thousands of potholes across the city, the New Orleans Department of Streets has announced it will allow residents to “adopt” a pothole free of charge and use it as a burial plot for their loved ones.
“Buying a burial plot today is extremely expensive — so is filling in a pothole,” Cecil “John” DeLuca, Department of Streets spokesman said. “But if you adopt a pothole, you don’t have to pay thousands for a plot and we don’t have to pay thousands for the equipment and crews to fill in the potholes. It’s a win-win for the citizens and the city.”
According to the city’s press release for the new Burial Plot Pothole Program, the deceased would have their name placed on the sidewalk at the closest street corner to wherever they are buried, displayed in the blue and white porcelain letters that are so iconic in older parts of New Orleans. There would be no charge to the surviving family members. Though, for a fee, the intersection may be honorarily named for the deceased.
Deluca said families would have to agree to cover their loved ones according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development roadbed standards and must agree to maintain the site in perpetuity or pay for a “Perpetual Care” agreement with the city.
Though preference for pothole locations will be given to family members whose relative has died as a result of violence in the city, generally the spots will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will have to be filled immediately.
“Don’t adopt a pothole for yourself thinking you can wait 30 years before using it,” DeLuca said. “If you, a friend, or a family member goes into the hospital unexpectedly and the doctor says it doesn’t look good, give us a call. The warmer the body the better it will form to the roadbed.”
Mayor LaToya Cantrell said she is excited for the program to get underway and will help showcase to the nation that the city is a problem solver.
“Traditional thinking, and I do not believe in that, is not going to answer our city’s challenges,” said the climate-fighting mayor. “We’ve been doing the work, showing up every day on behalf of the people, but needed fresh, out-of-the-box ideas. When we got down to it, the answer ended up being people who are usually in boxes. Jennifer [Avegno, Director, City of New Orleans Health Department] tells me bones are some of the hardest things in existence, especially when still connected to tendons allowing flexibility.”
The mayor, who plans to share the concept with colleagues later this year at the month-long Climate Con 2024 in Fiji, believes it will provide a blueprint for other governments to solve similar issues.
“As it relates to, and I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, fixing our streets, this will provide an innovative approach and also offer help to citizens facing increasingly unaffordable burial costs. New Orleans, and I believe it’s prevalent relative to other cities, provides an exciting time to live — and now die — in it. People can literally become a part of the city. I’m proud to lead this groundbreaking and ground-filling effort. I believe this will set a precedent for cities around the world, and shows I am committed to meeting and burying the people where they are, once the coroner says all-clear.”
Public records show three individuals – a Mr. Lee, a Mr. Beauregard, and a Mr. Davis – have already been signed up for the pilot program.