Welcome to Lagniappe, ninth in a series aimed to keep the spotlight on post-Katrina recovery, with special emphasis on New Orleans. You can link to all eight previous diaries here.
One of the most difficult aspects of wrapping one's mind around what happened on the Gulf Coast is shedding all the wrong information that has been disseminated on the story, from the traditional media to our own preconceptions on this complicated issue.
I've read some comments here at Daily Kos by folks who feel so dispirited by what happened that they feel nothing can be done. And I can understand that perception, as it is a meme that has been spread far and wide since the storm hit. Join me below for some antidotes to this state of mind.
Before I get to the real substance of this diary, which is the weekly roundup of all Katrina-related diaries written here at Daily Kos, let's talk ... about talking points!
Shortly after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, ThinkProgress came out with a very good list of points debunking the right-wing's confusion over what had happened. Since this list was posted in September of 2005, we know much more about the real story of the failure of the levees, as well as so much else. So that's a start in gaining a real understanding of what happened, though only a start.
This week, I'd like to focus on the one thing that has folks very riled up and due to some outstanding local blogging by da po' blog the real picture is finally emerging.
Everyone is asking, "where did the money go?" After all, Mister Bush has said over and over again that he has allocated $110 billion to Katrina recovery.
But as with everything Bush, that is a very misleading piece of information. As da po' blog states:
I am not writing the same post over and over again about the $110 billion number to say that we aren’t getting enough federal funding. I keep mentioning the $110 billion number because it is WRONG. $110 billion is NOT how much money that has been dedicated, appropriated, allocated, sent, or given to the Gulf Coast to rebuild.
So one would think, wouldn't one, that saying "I'm giving $110 billion to the region" would mean something like writing out a check and giving it to the region, no? No. According to the GAO:
About $88 billion has been appropriated to 23 different federal agencies through four emergency supplemental appropriations acts.
Okey dokey. Now we have 23 federal agencies handling this money, agencies, by the way, that are for the most part headed by Bush political republicronies. So we can just guess how well those agencies (HUD anyone?) are administering those funds.
And Mister Bush is even adding another $20 or so billion! But from where?
As I have stated before, the President is adding $20.8 billion – the borrowing limit for the National Flood Insurance Program, which pays flood claims to those who have "paid for" flood insurance. And of that money, the whole $20.8 billion has not been paid out.
The NFIP must borrow the money from the U.S. Treasury because it was poorly managed. This is the federal government bailing "itself" out, not the people of the Gulf Coast who paid for flood insurance. (emphasis mine)
So this is not new money, just more Bushite shifting around, with the taxpayer holding the bag, as usual. And this bears repeating -- the people of the Gulf Coast already paid for flood insurance.
So when we hear the $110 billion figure, we should realize that once again Mister Bush is not helping the Gulf Coast region with that money. It's once again a shell game.
The second issue I'd like to address is the fact that, finally, some hearings are being held on how the insurance industry has not only robbed folks in the region, they are robbing the taxpayers of the United States as well. I strongly urge everyone to watch the videos in The Gavel, Nancy Pelosi's website. On Wednesday, February 28:
Rep. Mel Watt, Chairman of the Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, presided over a hearing today: Insurance Claims Payment Processes in the Gulf Coast after the 2005 Hurricanes.
The testimony at this hearing is astonishing and clears up a lot of the confusion over what the insurance industry has been doing in the region. And once again, the taxpayer is holding the bag due to the creative way the insurance companies are looking at the claims. In the video of Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi, he comments on the fact that around 50% of the population of the US live in coastal areas. If the insurance companies are allowed to get away with refusing policies in these areas, well what's the use of insurance companies, then? Again, I highly urge everyone to watch all three videos in this post, especially the short one where Maxine Waters grills a witness from the insurance companies who boasts a 95% success rate in claims (neglecting, of course, to count the thousands of folks who got nothing from their claims in this figure).
What is refreshing about watching these hearings is that finally the truth is coming out without the Rubberstamp Republicans being able to obstruct.
Well, I hope I haven't made things even more confusing by this ramble! But if you do nothing else on this issue, I believe that just knowing the story, the real story rather than what we are being fed by the media, will be of great help, and when talking to your friends, family and neighbors, you can set them straight.
I originally came to Daily Kos because I knew I wasn't getting the real story on what was going on in my country. The same thing is happening now in the Gulf Coast and thanks to the local bloggers in NOLA and our own diarists here, we are finally getting that real story.
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And without further ado ... THE ROUNDUP!
There were 21 diaries this week on the subject of post-Katrina recovery, the most since I started this series nine weeks ago. There's a great deal of solid information, and I urge you all to read these gems!
On Losing Louisiana by The Angry Rakkasan – Rescued diary with great analysis on why Louisiana should not fall to the GOP, focusing on Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District. If the GOP wins, it won’t be on their merits but rather because the Democratic Party has neglected to help in the area.
Katrina: The Forgotten and Katrina: Another Comment or Two by webranding – Diarist cites a September 2005 editorial from the Times-Picayune and asks why more attention has not been paid here at Daily Kos to post-Katrina recovery. In the follow-up diary, even more rage at not having this story on the FRONT PAGE! And although in the comments I chide webranding, seems I shouldn't have, for kos put up a diary on John Breaux's chances in LA this week. Heh. Rant on!
AllState screws Katrina Survivors AGAIN!! --Action diary by commonscribe – Great action diary on how to respond to AllState’s new policy: "The news out of New Orleans this morning is that AllState has begun dropping homeowners policies under a rule that allows cancellations if storm damage hasn't been repaired."
Oscar Edition, Al Gore rescued Katrina victims Sep 2005 by Joan Reports – Recommended diary poignantly reminding us of Al Gore’s heroic actions during the aftermath of Katrina, when he airlifted hundreds of patients from Charity Hospital to safety. President Gore. Sigh. This story makes for gripping reading.
The first 2007 Democratic casualty of Louisiana happened by UpstateDem – Disturbing stats on the election to replace recently deceased Dem State Rep Roy Hopkins, with Repub Michael Page Boyter winning the seat.
I Want YOU to Keep LA Blue by Crashing Vor – In response to UpstateDem’s diary on the GOP hopes of turning Louisiana red, the diarist introduces us to Deborah Langhoff, a great Dem candidate running for District 94 State House rep, hoping to turn a red seat blue. Links to Langhoff’s website – c’mon, let’s give her some love! We only have until March 10 to help a great progressive candidate.
LA-Gov, Sen: The Breaux Factor by kos – Front page story on the chances of former Senator John Breaux taking the Governor’s seat in Louisiana, with the added wrinkle he could be disqualified due to residency requirements.
NEW REPORT: What can Congress (and we) do about Katrina? by ProgressiveSouth – Excellent proposal linked by diarist (and author of the proposal) including press release, of comprehensive national solutions to post-Katrina recovery. Give this one a second look!
Can We All Get Along? by BlueTide – Worth it just for the pootie and puppy pics – diarist reports on rescued pets post-Katrina with a humanitarian message for all of us.
Anita Spell for Councilwoman by Acebass – Annie Spell is running for Covington City Council and the diarist, who’s known her for over 2 years, gives a great profile of this activist Democrat.
Sen. Joe Biden on New Orleans by Transplanted Texan – Another in this excellent series rating our 2008 Democratic Presidential contenders on their stands on the issue of post-Katrina recovery – this time the report card goes to Joe Biden.
The Shame of America: Over Three Quarters of a Million Homeless, Half of Whom are Black Men by blksista – In this wrenching diary about the growing problem of homelessness in America, the diarist places Katrina homeless in the picture, and it isn’t pretty.
aah Crap, Bush is back in my town today by Billy Bova – Bush is revisiting the Gulf Coast, and it seems his welcome is ... well ... not.
Frameshop: Bush to Tout "No Child Left Behind" in New Orleans by Jeffrey Feldman -- As Mister Bush comes to New Orleans to tout his education program at a local charter school, citizens of the area plan a "rebuke" protest, in this diary highlighting the paradox of calling for citizen responsibility while failing to provide education for our children.
Buying Up the Coast for Fun and Profit--LOTS of Profit. by PolitiCalypso -- Well researched diary shows the profiteering going on in the Gulf Coast area as developers are getting away with murder while regular folks are unable to get a break when it comes to housing. This is a must read, and I'm glad this diary was rescued by the indefatigable Rescue Rangers.
GAO: Katrina Contractors Cheated Small Businesses by Crashing Vor -- Another great diary by a Kossak who has spent a lot of time covering this subject. Furthering the analysis begun by PoliCalypso in the above referenced diary "Buying Up the Coast for Fun and Profit--LOTS of Profit," this diary shows how although there was money allocated for local, disadvantaged and small businesses, the large companies found a way around that requirement by simply not filing reports showing to whom they subcontracted their work. Great citizen journalism here!
Bush again vows he cares, promises speedy recovery after Katrina! How does he get away with it? by jmsjoin -- Righteous rant on Mister Bush's recent trip to New Orleans, asking how he can even speak of caring about the region without being struck by a liightning bolt!
President Bush, Katrina Aftermath; Tornado in Alabama by Bcgntn -- Diarist points out the urgency of facing facts about Mother Nature, that what happened on the Gulf Coast could happen anywhere, and that Mister Bush just doesn't get it, as evidenced by his bizarre appearance recently in New Orleans. Includes video of damage done in recent storms in the Midwest.
There is Still No Justice in NOLA by proudprogressiveCA -- Due to the exodus of justice department workers in New Orleans, there are people languishing in prisons in the aftermath of Katrina, unable to get their day in court. This is an important and informative diary about a phenomenon that is not covered enough.
On Recovery, Or, A Tale of Two Louisianas by fake consultant -- Interesting diary showing how Houma, Louisiana, which luckily was on the "right side" of Hurricane Katrina, is turning into a boomtown, in this analysis of the uneven effects of the storm on the region.