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09/19/2005 01:30:23 PM · #1 |
Agency paid out hundreds of millions to people who were untouched by disaster
This ran in our local paper today - it comes from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
It makes me angry, although it doesn't surprise me.
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09/19/2005 02:12:12 PM · #2 |
| I recently read a similar article about 9/11 related federal loans going to businesses in no way affected. The loans were supposed to be for world trade center businesses and others effected by terrorism (i.e. the travel industry), but wound up going to things like nail salons or something. Unfortunately I can't remember which paper I saw it in as I've been travelling... |
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09/19/2005 02:55:24 PM · #3 |
As a resident of New York State, I can confidently say that the 9-11 disaster as it took out the World Trade center twin towers affected everyone and every business in our State. We are, and will be, paying for this disaster from our own pockets with insufficient aid from the Federal coffers.
I think the media are too quick to draw lines of who exactly were affected. In NY's case the entire economy of the State was sent into a tail-spin. On the day of the attack, and in the days immediately following, our entire computer network was compromised at my workplace because our network ran through facilities at the towers. It is not hard to imagine the local businesses in the affected zone immediately adjacent to the towers being endangered--not only were they forced to shut down, but much of their clientel were killed in the event.
How hard is it to imagine wildfires affecting a water supply within 20 to 50 miles? Or jobs in other states being lost, as one member here posted, because their company (or a division) primarily served businesses and individuals in New Orleans? Or yet others who can no longer get the supplies they need to keep their businesses running because companies in Louisiana and Mississippi hold their contracts?
These events are not just about those directly affected--they affect us all in far-reaching and sometimes invisible ways. |
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09/19/2005 03:00:28 PM · #4 |
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 15:27:29. |
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09/19/2005 03:02:47 PM · #5 |
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 15:27:51. |
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09/19/2005 03:27:07 PM · #6 |
(Loading problems caused my post to appear several times.)
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 15:28:27. |
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09/19/2005 04:04:03 PM · #7 |
KaDi - I agree with what you are saying, but if you look at the article you will see some pretty outrageous claims that have been paid to MANY that were not impacted in ANY way whatsoever. In my mind it's a big tsk-tsk to those that made the payments (at FEMA) and those filing false claims.
I'm not trying to diminish what you are saying about 9-11 in New York, and Katrina had monstrous impact that impacted hundreds of thousands of people. That's real, and I support the effort that needs to be made in a big way.
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09/19/2005 04:08:31 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by kearock:
I recently read a similar article about 9/11 related federal loans going to businesses in no way affected. The loans were supposed to be for world trade center businesses and others effected by terrorism (i.e. the travel industry), but wound up going to things like nail salons or something. Unfortunately I can't remember which paper I saw it in as I've been travelling... |
There was a report on this on CBS out of KIRO Radio in Seattle.
I think one of those SBA loans went to a bowling alley out there. Most of the applicants were not aware that their loans were coming out of emergency-related funds -- these loans were being pushed by SBA personnel under the budgetary imperitive that one must "use it or lose it" in the next funding cycle.
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 16:11:30. |
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09/19/2005 04:19:10 PM · #9 |
I'm telling you...it's a very interesting, eye-opening read. It's three pages long via website (and for me was easier to read in our local paper).
A couple of snippets from the article:
$168.5 million to Detroit residents for a 2000 rainstorm that the then-mayor doesn't even remember.
$21.6 million in clothing losses alone to Cleveland-area residents for a 2003 storm that brought less than an inch and a half of rain.
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 16:19:36.
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09/19/2005 04:25:43 PM · #10 |
On the other hand, there are the residents of Garber, Iowa, whose homes were wiped out in a flood about a year ago, and are still waiting for FEMA to make good on the promised relief funds.
Edit: Sorry -- I misremembered the name of the town.
Message edited by author 2005-09-19 20:34:06. |
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09/19/2005 04:28:47 PM · #11 |
the really sad thing is that this doesn't surprise me one bit. There will always be people trying to get what they don't deserve and screwin the people that really do deserve it...same with medical insurance fraud, auto insurance, heck you name it I'm sure someone is scamming it. Sad sad world we live in.
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09/19/2005 07:06:35 PM · #12 |
G2B,
I understand what you're saying...and am in no way trying to defend FEMA. I'm sure that as the media brings these things to light that agency practices and mis-practices will be investigated. However....
...I think we, as members of the public, are not often in the best position to judge these things based soley on the information presented by the media. Forget statistics (which the media more often than not screws up)for a moment, but without knowing all (or even most of) the circumstances behind these sensational reports how can we condemn anyone? Individuals are often directed to apply for available aid--I doubt they often sit down in their time of need and evaluate the source. Agencies and sub-agencies are often directed to disperse the funds or loose the ability to disperse funds in the future. Other agencies and organizations need to "prove" that they are helping people....and so on.
Yes, there are greedy people.
Yes, the systems in place are often imperfect and unfair.
BUT! I don't want to jump into the ranks of those who conclude that all people are greedy and all organizations/government offices are flawed and unfair.
AND, I think that we do need to step back sometimes and consider that nail salons (mentioned by kearock) are small businesses that just may deserve some help that will aid in the re-building of a community.
Thank you for bringing the article up for discussion.
I'll admit my reaction was emotional. I just don't want to see another political witch-hunt without the multiple positions that can help us develop our views. (That said, Down With FEMA!...maybe) |
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