Alexandria, La. (5/19/2026) – Residents gathered inside New Scott Olly Baptist Church Monday night for a community meeting that turned into a concerned discussion about accountability, neighborhood investment, and city engagement after attendees noted the absence of city officials, Alexandria Police representatives, SafeAlex team members, and political leaders at the Samtown/Woodside meeting.
The meeting came one day after Samtown/Woodside residents publicly questioned why more than $80 million is being directed toward major development projects while older neighborhoods continue dealing with drainage problems, poor lighting, abandoned properties, high utility bills, and infrastructure concerns.
“$80 Million for major projects… but our neighborhoods still live with open ditches, poor lighting, high utility bills, and abandoned properties,” the community post stated. “We’re not against progress. We’re asking why progress never reaches us.”
The post, accompanied by a flyer promoting the monthly neighborhood meeting, also challenged the continued use of the term “slum and blighted” to describe neighborhoods such as Samtown/Woodside.
Throughout the meeting, residents voiced concerns about what they described as neglect, lack of accountability, and unequal investment throughout Alexandria.
Several attendees stated they believed the absence of city officials and public safety representatives came after residents publicly criticized city spending priorities and neighborhood conditions.
Residents noted that Alexandria Police representatives and SafeAlex personnel have historically attended the monthly meetings to provide crime statistics, public safety updates, and answer questions from the community.
“This is what they do when they get in their feelings,” one resident said during the meeting while discussing the absence of officials.
Councilwoman Cynthia Perry
As the discussion continued, criticism increasingly focused on District 3 Councilwoman Cynthia Perry, who also serves as President of the Alexandria City Council.
Multiple residents criticized Perry over neighborhood conditions, abandoned homes, drainage concerns, and what they described as a lack of responsiveness to long-standing issues raised by the community.
One resident specifically referenced repeatedly contacting Perry about a deteriorating property near children waiting on school buses, saying little action had occurred despite years of complaints.
The discussion eventually led to residents openly talking about the possibility of a recall effort targeting Perry.
“How long is it gonna take us to get a petition together to get Cynthia out of there?” one attendee asked during the meeting.
Others in attendance began discussing recall procedures, signature requirements, and organizing efforts while encouraging residents to become more politically engaged.
Concerns over political representation intensified when one resident recalled a past conversation with longtime Alexandria City Councilman At-Large Jim Villard.
According to the resident, Villard appeared unfamiliar with Samtown/Woodside’s location within the city limits during a discussion about economic development opportunities in the area.
“He didn’t even know Samtown was in the city,” the resident claimed during the meeting, drawing reactions from attendees who argued the comment reflected broader concerns about political disconnect and neglect toward older neighborhoods.
Boarder Conversations
The meeting also included broader conversations about:
- High utility bills
- Open drainage ditches
- Street conditions
- Lack of recreational opportunities
- Economic development disparities
- Abandoned properties
- Voter participation
- Political accountability
Speakers repeatedly emphasized they are not against development projects elsewhere in Alexandria, but said residents are demanding equitable investment in historically underserved neighborhoods.
“We’re not slums,” several residents echoed throughout the meeting while discussing the city’s classification of portions of the community as “slum and blighted.”
Residents also stressed the importance of increasing voter turnout, organizing neighborhood participation, and attending city council meetings.
By the end of the meeting, attendees encouraged one another to bring more residents to future gatherings and continue pushing for accountability from local leadership.
The Samtown/Woodside Neighborhood Group’s next meeting is scheduled for next month at New Scott Olly Baptist Church.
