Environmental justice expert, residents grateful for federal leaders visit to Shiloh community

ELBA, Ala. (WDHN) — The six-year cry for help from residents in the Shiloh Community paid off this week as federal transportation leaders like Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the federal highway administration came out to see with their own eyes and hear how flooding from the highway has exacerbated the community.

“It was what we wanted back in September we did a video of getting him hear and now it has come to pass,” Timothy Williams said.

“It meant a lot for the community voices and cries for help to be validated by someone and people who have the power to fix that with real dollars,” Dr. Robert Bullard said.

Federal transportation leaders walked the grounds in the community as residents demonstrated how water from the highway floods and damages their property due to pipes aimed at their community and residents informed them about other infrastructure needs that they say have been neglected.

Dr. Bullard said who was instrumental in getting federal leaders to Shiloh says it was good to see federal leaders listening and determined to work towards a solution for a community that has been resilient for six years.

“The residents here are not alone this is not their fault that is why they need to know they are seen and have support and we track this at the highest level,” USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg

“The bipartisan infrastructure of 1.2 billion for infrastructure that has been neglected over a decade they just want a fair shot,” Dr. Bullard said

Dr. Bullard said while there is possibility and potential for a solution from the state level, he says the state has yet to make the community whole again. Although there’s an investigation underway for a Title Six discrimination complaint, they recently gave residents two options to either sell their property to ALDOT or they can implement a project to retain water.

He says the state has not informed residents about those options and views it as a slap in the face.

“Giving them the option to be bought out but didn’t even have the detail of what being bought out but didn’t give an inappropriate amount offer of saying take it or leave it and then a project to retain water that’s admitting water is coming into the community and we’ll fix it if you move,” He said.

Dr. Bullard believes transportation leaders will get to work immediately for a solution this year and he hopes all parties can step up and work together.

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