WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsCouncil to hear proposal to name known drug area after MLK

Martin Luther King Drive - neighbors say the name has an influential ring to it. The street that could get that name in Denham Springs, residents say is heavily run by drugs. But a new name, some say, could mean a new beginning.

When it comes to living out Martin Luther King Junior's dream, Buck Scott and his wife Polly say, reality is a lot tougher.  Particularly in their neighborhood.

"You liable to be laying in your bed 2:30, 3 o'clock in the morning you hear gun shooting," said Buck Scott.  That, he says, is life on Rodeo Drive in Denham Springs.

Its a life that the Denham Springs Council hopes will change if they go forward with plans to change the street name to MLK Drive.

"I brought it to the council, but there was someone in the community who lives on the street that brought it to my attention," said Arthur Perkins, Mayor Pro-Tem on the council.  Perkins says in most cities there is a street named after King, but to date that is not the case in Denham.

Perkins says there's a lot of history on Rodeo Drive.  Not only does he live on the street, the old schoolhouse for black children from the west end of the parish is there as well.  He says there were also rodeos on there, hence where the name comes from.

But now, Scott says, drugs have taken over the street.  "Someone says where you from?  Denham Springs, I live on Rodeo Drive.  Everybody knows oh, don't go there."

The Scotts say the front of the street is crawling with questionable activity.  When a bullet landed in their home, they moved to the other end, where he says there's a notable difference.

"Two words - peace and quiet," he said.

Perkins says a petition to change the street name was taken up and down the street.  Councilwoman Annie Fugler says 90 percent of the people on the street are in favor of the change, hoping it will lead to residents taking more pride in their neighborhood.

"Its been Rodeo Drive for long as I know.  I'm 63 years old.  It's time for a change," said Scott.  And he's hoping Dr. King's name on the street will force people to live up to the dream.

The council will have a public hearing on changing the street name Monday, January 23 at 6 p.m.   Three of the five council members tell us, the change should pass.

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