FEMA jumps the gun, Landrieu says

[funkybutt]

Source: Times Picayune, New Orleans

"WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said the Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to begin releasing $281.3 million to Mississippi for an alternative housing program Monday, despite her request that the distribution be delayed pending a hearing on whether the distribution discriminated against Louisiana.

Mississippi's award was nearly four times as much as the $74.5 million awarded Louisiana -- even though Louisiana lost more than 205,000 homes during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, compared with 61,000 in Mississippi."

"FEMA's announcement today demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the oversight authority of the United States Congress," Landrieu said Friday. "Rather than answer legitimate questions as to whether its decision-making reflects what Congress intended, FEMA has turned its back on the system of checks and balances."

It was on a Friday, three days before Christmas, that FEMA announced Mississippi would get the bulk of the alternative housing money. At the time, some Louisiana officials, including Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, said the distribution appeared to be a gift from the Republican Bush administration to Mississippi and its two GOP senators and Republican governor.This announcement to the Senate Appropriations Committee came on Good Friday, a day when Louisiana state offices and many congressional offices were closed.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1175923993305880.xml&coll=1

[annabanana]

1. Which committee should we notify and pester?

I'm SURE there have to be some ongoing investigations about the FEMA disaster.

[w4rma]

4. In the Senate, the one that LIEberman is chairman of. I'm not sure which one in the House.

Obviously any investigations into this will originate in the House since LIEberman has gone back on his word and has said that he won't be doing any in depth investigations into Katrina.

[salin]

5. I think I read that Kucinich is in charge of the House efforts while Lieberman

indicated early in the session that he had little interest in investigations per Katrina funds. Quite a contrast, eh.

[w4rma]

6. There couldn't be a wider difference.

But, if Kucinich is running for President, will he have time to head a proper investigation?

And if he's heading a proper investigation will Kucinich have time to run for President properly?

[salin]

7. I believe he is very responsible and committed to both

probably more so to his duties in the House, as his WH run is a long shot. But even if on the road for the campaign, the Committee (and thus subcommitte) has dedicated staffers that do much of the work in prepping for hearings as standard operating procedure.

[w4rma]

10. That's what I assumed, but I haven't heard anything out of his committee.

But Waxman's committee has been on the ball as well as many other committees. And you see Waxman right there doing the work himself. I wonder how Kucinich would be able to do what Waxman has been doing. I'm really beginning to wonder if he shouldn't quit the committee and allow someone with more time to handle things.

I really don't see how it is possible to travel the entire country running a campaign for President *and* chair that committee during such an important investigation.

I want this investigation done, thoroughly. And it won't happen in LIEberman's committee in the Senate. That leaves *only* Kucinich's committee in the House.

[aquart]

2. Well, at least they're consistent scum.

They have yet to do one honest, decent thing.

[orleans]

3. well, you all know bush was looking forward to sitting on trent lott's front porch

so mississippi needs that extra money!

[Solo_in_MD]

8. There have been writeups for some time about how NOLA got much more than fair share and that the

other areas were ignored. Before we jump all over this one, shouldn't some looking be done at overall equity and the detials of the program in question. Is NOLA ever ready to accept and work with the Katrina Cottages etc at this time.

Just because NO is the choclate city doesn't mean they get all the easter eggs. (could not avoid the easter candy reference)

[funkybutt]

9. I take offense to your post

I'm a citizen of NOLA, and I'm sorry if you're tired of hearing about our struggle, but please don't suggest that we've received "our fair share". I work every day to help my struggling neighbors come back, we fight with insurance companies, fight with FEMA, fight, fight fight. Come down here! I encourage that. Otherwise you have no right to say that the suffering people here have gotten much of anything.

Your easter chocolate city reference is out of line.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. Umbrage is free, take all you want

- I never said I was tired of hearing about NOLA difficulties
- I never said the overall funding was adequate.
- I did say that there is a growing opinion that NOLA has indeed gotten disproportionate share of what recovery funding has been provided to date.

The entire gulf coast got hit, not just NOLA. It was just as bad elsewhere, including Mississippi. However, most of the people there stayed. It looks like a large percentage of former NOLA residents are settling elsewhere and will not be coming back. The housing money could well be better used on the gulf. Moreover, it would appear that NOLA is not ready to try the Katrina Cabins yet and Mississippi is.

What happened to NOLA was horrible, but it was not the only place similarly damaged. I won't apologize for taking a larger view.

[Chomskyite]

12. Care to furnish us with some sources for your assertions?

Or just one?

[Maddy McCall]

13. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Totally uninformed.

[jody]

17. Mayor Ray Nagin emphasized rebuilding New Orleans as a chocolate city. n/t

[Maddy McCall]

14. Links?

The only thing I know of is that NOLA got more publicity than the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

But I'd like to see where more money was spent on Louisiana than Mississippi, per capita. I'd like to see links on that.

Mississippi has a Republican governor. Louisiana has a Democratic governor. Haley Barbour and George Bush are tight. Recovery sucks EVERYWHERE, but, from what I saw, Mississippi was given more recovery assistance by the feds than New Orleans for one reason--to make Barbour look like a hero and Blanco look like a fool.

But I'd really like to see your sources that demonstrate that NOLA has received more funding than the MS Gulf Coast.

I'd be really interested in that.

[Vodid]

15. Katrina Cottages are tied to MD

Since the poster seems to have no idea of how extensive the devastation is down here, and that progress is stalled, I figured it might be useful to point out that the Katrina Cottage project he is touting seems to be rooted in MD, where he is from. Perhaps that is at the root of his misguided complaints. That said, I agree that I much prefer a thoughtfully designed manufactured building system to the insanely expensive cheap-ass trailers. But the truth is, everything that has taken place looks to be a scam, but it doesn't seem to "trickle down" to any of the locals. And they call New Orleans corrupt...jeez, we've seen corruption on a scale we've never imagined down here. You know...sorta like the private contracters in Iraq, but right here in our own little city, in America. Nobody understands the expansive scale of the destruction down here unless they've visited, driven around for many many miles to see it all, and stayed for a coupla weeks to understand the people.

[Ecumenist]

16. AMEN, Vodid!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: I live in California but I have relatives and friends in NoLA and Louisiana at large, in addition to having a great aunt who's been missing since August 31 2005, presumed dead the last I heard and the conditions are still unbelievably unchanged in VERY real ways since the storm and we cannot believe that people are still bickering over what has and hasn't been done. It's there for anyone to see... and it's heartless, cruel and humilating to hear fellow
Americans denigrate the conditions the survivors are STILL dealing with. The Tsumani regions have been better restored than mouch of the Gulf Coast, especially NOLA, has been.

Keep Fighing, Vodid and Welcome to DU, BTW. Right glad to have you here:hi: :applause:

[Solo_in_MD]

19. Actually I do...I have been in NOLA and the rest of the Gulf Coast several times since Katrina

I'm a Californian, my time in purgatory err MD is limited (see my profile), and I bear no real love or connection to MD other than taxes.

The article in the original post was about funding for Katrina Cottages and how the Mississippi is getting more funding for them than NOLA and getting it before NOLA. I am not pushing them, its the basis of the thread.

I am not arguing that anywhere near adequate funds have been spent, but pointing out a growing body of opinion that NOLA is getting preferred treatment over the the other areas that were hit.

[funkybutt]

21. This growing "BODY"

Is completely misinformed. But thanks for making us aware that it exists, as if we weren't already aware of that. :shrug:

[MasonJar]

18. That is outrageous. These people are so blatant.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

20. Why would they give Louisiana more money?!

They haven't even finished handing out 1/2 of the money they already gave them for relief!! (Mississippi is almost finished). They have taken their sweet time getting out the grant money the feds gave them over a YEAR ago. The people I talk to EVERY DAY would like to know where the money they have already been given is before they get anymore. The LA government, but most especially Blanco, the governor, pisses me off. There are still people living in tents on their property, and she's bitching because they aren't being given even MORE money? Hand out the shit you've already got. When you stop acting like you've already got plenty, then maybe you'll deserve some more! :grr:
Duckie

[Solo_in_MD]

22. Damn, and I thought I was pushing the envelope