Christmas spirit returns to homeless man, community under Pontchartrain Expressway
UPDATED 6:25 PM CST Dec 12, 2015
A day after city workers removed his Christmas tree, a homeless man and his friends living under the Pontchartrain Expressway have their holiday spirit once more.
Decorated with ornaments, a star and complete with a skirt, the Christmas tree can be seen next to a blue tent in the area under the expressway between St. Charles Avenue and Carondelet Street.
But it was a different story for John, the homeless man, Friday afternoon. For the last three weeks, he has been living under the expressway and sought to bring some Christmas spirit to the area the city's homeless often call home.
John said a driver gave him $100 and he decided to use part of the money to buy a Christmas tree and decorations for his extended family living on the streets.
Related: Homeless community in CBD loses holiday spirit after city workers destroy, remove Christmas tree
Then the city conducted one of its regular sweeps Friday morning underneath the expressway. City crews perform the sweeps to clean up the area that separates the Central Business District from parts of Central City and the Lower Garden District.
“It's a Christmas tree, fully decorated. It ain't past the 25th. Anybody with common sense would know it's not trash,” John said on Friday. “My purpose was to bring hope, restore hope and smiles.”
John and others living under the expressway told WDSU that the city trucks came rolling through the area and the workers took the Christmas tree. But that wasn't the end of it.
“First time they threw it in the back of the dumpster,” John said. “One of the guys I let sleep in my tent, he went over and grabbed it.”
A man living under the highway said he tried to save it.
“I saved it once, but then I went to the store to get a soda and they got it,” Dave said.
John said he attempted to chase the truck to get his Christmas tree, but it was too late. He said he managed to hold onto the holiday evergreen until the truck proceeded to crush it.
WDSU contacted city officials Friday morning, inquiring about the Christmas tree that was taken from underneath the expressway. A representative said the tree was a code violation and was removed.
All that was left was a single ball ornament.
John's story was posted to WDSU's website and Facebook page, garnering the attention of thousands who called the act shameful and heartless.
"The city that stole Christmas from the homeless. #CityoNOLA," Sharon Johnson said on Facebook.
"That sucks. Put the tree back up. Pretty sad that the homeless can't have a Christmas tree. What's wrong with the city, it's Christmas. It only comes once a year," Barbara Connors said on Facebook.
"Shame on the city of New Orleans. The city needs to be more concerned about all of the crime in the city, but instead, they remove a Christmas tree from homeless people?" Margaret Moore said on Facebook.
John's story was shared over 1,300 times with several people from the city and beyond calling for some justice. Hours later, one of those people, Butch Nutter, drove down from Hammond to donate a Christmas tree.
"It just touched me. He spent his last little (bit of) money for a little Christmas tree for everybody, him and his little family," Nutter said. "I just wanted to show him that there is good in this world."
A few hours later, John's tent was surrounded by Christmas trees small and large. He said some of them he donated, while one of them stands fully decorated.
Kelly Caruso was one of those people who came by Saturday morning to donate a Christmas tree and ornaments. She said John's story shouldn't be about a code violation, but about celebrating the Christmas spirit no matter where you are in life.
"We need to be New Orleanians and band together. With the city taking the tree, was a word I don't use often -- shameful," Caruso said. "I don't care what code violation it is, it's the holidays. These people need everything that can uplift them as much as we can."
Now John has his Christmas tree once more, including some backups if needed. The city has not issued a response since Friday.
Decorated with ornaments, a star and complete with a skirt, the Christmas tree can be seen next to a blue tent in the area under the expressway between St. Charles Avenue and Carondelet Street.
But it was a different story for John, the homeless man, Friday afternoon. For the last three weeks, he has been living under the expressway and sought to bring some Christmas spirit to the area the city's homeless often call home.
John said a driver gave him $100 and he decided to use part of the money to buy a Christmas tree and decorations for his extended family living on the streets.
Related: Homeless community in CBD loses holiday spirit after city workers destroy, remove Christmas tree
Then the city conducted one of its regular sweeps Friday morning underneath the expressway. City crews perform the sweeps to clean up the area that separates the Central Business District from parts of Central City and the Lower Garden District.
“It's a Christmas tree, fully decorated. It ain't past the 25th. Anybody with common sense would know it's not trash,” John said on Friday. “My purpose was to bring hope, restore hope and smiles.”
John and others living under the expressway told WDSU that the city trucks came rolling through the area and the workers took the Christmas tree. But that wasn't the end of it.
“First time they threw it in the back of the dumpster,” John said. “One of the guys I let sleep in my tent, he went over and grabbed it.”
A man living under the highway said he tried to save it.
“I saved it once, but then I went to the store to get a soda and they got it,” Dave said.
John said he attempted to chase the truck to get his Christmas tree, but it was too late. He said he managed to hold onto the holiday evergreen until the truck proceeded to crush it.
WDSU contacted city officials Friday morning, inquiring about the Christmas tree that was taken from underneath the expressway. A representative said the tree was a code violation and was removed.
All that was left was a single ball ornament.
John's story was posted to WDSU's website and Facebook page, garnering the attention of thousands who called the act shameful and heartless.
"The city that stole Christmas from the homeless. #CityoNOLA," Sharon Johnson said on Facebook.
"That sucks. Put the tree back up. Pretty sad that the homeless can't have a Christmas tree. What's wrong with the city, it's Christmas. It only comes once a year," Barbara Connors said on Facebook.
"Shame on the city of New Orleans. The city needs to be more concerned about all of the crime in the city, but instead, they remove a Christmas tree from homeless people?" Margaret Moore said on Facebook.
John's story was shared over 1,300 times with several people from the city and beyond calling for some justice. Hours later, one of those people, Butch Nutter, drove down from Hammond to donate a Christmas tree.
"It just touched me. He spent his last little (bit of) money for a little Christmas tree for everybody, him and his little family," Nutter said. "I just wanted to show him that there is good in this world."
A few hours later, John's tent was surrounded by Christmas trees small and large. He said some of them he donated, while one of them stands fully decorated.
Kelly Caruso was one of those people who came by Saturday morning to donate a Christmas tree and ornaments. She said John's story shouldn't be about a code violation, but about celebrating the Christmas spirit no matter where you are in life.
"We need to be New Orleanians and band together. With the city taking the tree, was a word I don't use often -- shameful," Caruso said. "I don't care what code violation it is, it's the holidays. These people need everything that can uplift them as much as we can."
Now John has his Christmas tree once more, including some backups if needed. The city has not issued a response since Friday.
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