FEMA is still a 4-letter word here.

Campaigning in Franklinton, LA Thursday, I talked at length with Mayor Earle Brown.  The leaders of this proud town hit hard by Katrina, did not wait for non-existent help from FEMA or anyone else.  They pulled themselves up by their collective bootstraps and toiled to remove debris.  A contractor with working machinery in place nearby was hired at a fair price.  Now, FEMA refuses to pay promised reimbursements citing no evidence of bids.  Give me a break!  No one could have done the work for less, nor were there any other contractors ready or willing.  FEMA is being irrational and low-balling all charges to prevent paying.  It continues to send a tortuous amount of senseless questions delaying what should have been paid long ago.  

Franklinton is hanging on. It has additional population strain from displaced Katrina citizens.  Old sewer pipes are crumbling and need repair.  The major highway through town, LA 25, is only 2 lanes wide discouraging commerce and impeding the northern evacuation route from New Orleans.  So many needs and FEMA remains oblivious.  The extent of Katrina’s swath of damage is unfathomable to those who have not visited.  Every community pleads for much needed assistance to claw its way back to normalcy.  Somehow, Washington Parish keeps getting shoved to the back of the line despite the valiant efforts of Mayor Brown and Police Chief Donald Folse.  

All Americans need to rally together and force elected officials and agencies to do their jobs.  State and Federal Representatives and Senators have not focused enough attention on Washington Parish, neglecting them for places with larger populations and more money. This will not happen on my watch.  One of the first projects I plan to push once elected is a 4-lane highway out of LA 25 from Covington, through Franklinton and to the LA/MS state line.  

•  How can this great country just abandon

  its own people while fighting a senseless war elsewhere? Are we so full of our own daily lives that we have ceased to care? If Louisiana and Mississippi can be abandoned, so can the rest of the country. Do you hear me Trent Lott? Joe Lieberman? Bbbush?

  by whenwego on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 06:37:08 PM PDT

  •  whenwego

    There has to be answers!  

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:57:59 PM PDT

    •  That is the answer

      I hate to say it Gilda but I think what Whenwego said IS the answer.  Ameica is so full with their own lives that they simply don't care.  In fact, they don't even want to be reminded that things are still not right in the Gulf South.  It is not their problem.  It breaks my heart to say this, but it is the only answer that fits.  We will continue to rebuild our lives in the Gulf South gladly forgotten by the rest of America.  I hated paying taxes before Katrina,  but now I REALLY hate it because I  know now it is a waste of my resources.

      by doctorj2u on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 08:28:09 AM PDT

      •  Breaks my heart ...

        ... to read your comment, but I can't deny what you have said.

        I won't accept that it has to be this way, though.  If you folks can fight as hard as you are doing, then the least the rest of us can do is keep talking about this, writing about this, and making sure we stay informed about what's going on in the region.

        And yes, that is the least we can do.

        by Nightprowlkitty on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 10:58:27 AM PDT

  •  The problem is...

    ...people just don't know it's going on. Ergo, YELL LOUDER.

    by Transplanted Texan on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 10:39:14 AM PDT

    •  Indeed. We need pictures, a permanent diary

      that keeps track of progress as well as the lack thereof. We cannot abandon our fellow citizens. I was personally disappointed that YearlyKos could not be held in New Orleans, coz we have to work this at the grassroots. Government help and investment just isn't going to happen. Perhaps the Vittier scandal could bring a new senator from LA who would play the Dem/Rep balance in the Senate to get some real funding into the Gulf Coast, But I am not holding my breath. For me, personally, it hurts every day, but I feel powerless to do something about it. Jeez.

      by whenwego on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 11:26:22 AM PDT

      •  Diaries...

        I crosspost my blog somewhat regularly, and newcomer Ana Marie's been doing a lately. That's as close to permanent as there's been yet. And I've only had pictures in a diary once.

        by Transplanted Texan on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 12:04:58 PM PDT

•  Reminder:

  You can donate to Gilda's Congressional campaign here.  We need more representatives of her caliber in Louisiana and in our Congress.

  FEMA is too busy giving away no-bid contracts to Halliburton to help anyone in the region who is actually doing the tough job of reconstruction.

  Thanks for this update, Gilda.

  by Nightprowlkitty on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 06:38:09 PM PDT

  •  Nightprowlkitty

    And thanks so much for the plug for funds!  Running for political office has become a rich man's game, gravely limiting our supply of worthy candidates.

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:01:49 PM PDT

•  After you're

  elected, how about looking into FEMA's mismanagement, and those no-bid contracts handed out to Haliburton, et al?

  Good luck in your new position.

  by RustyBrown on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 07:01:45 PM PDT

  •  RustyBrown

    I cannot think of anything I would rather do, unless it would be to end the Iraq War, fund health care for all, and impeach the team that got us into our frightful position.

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:04:50 PM PDT

•  Jindal

  Do any of the local politicians wonder why Jindal or Vitter have not done anything about their plight for the past 2 years (1 1/2) of which their party was in power?  The local Fox station has Vitter's house staked out and Vitter supporters are sneaking to pick up mail, newspaper and packages in the rain.  It is surreal, like the Sopranos going to the mattresses.  Clancy Dubois (Gambit) was on and stated that Vitter's only possible salvation is to have a news conference and answer every single question from reporters and then town halls with the constutients until all of their conerns are addressed.  Ain't going to happen, Vitter has too much pride to grovel and lacks courage.  WDSU had Elliot Stonecifer on and he gulped, swallowed with deer in the head light look when even talking about Vitter.  He came around in a short amount of time and somehow tried to factor Mary Landrieu into Vitter's situaiton.  Very pathetic performance.

  by chigh on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 07:30:54 PM PDT

  •  chigh

    For the life of me, I do not understand the blind allegiance people have for Jindal and Vitter.  Their voting records leave so much to be desired!  People have swallowed the images bought and paid for by the Republicans with millions in PR and commercials.  And they have so much in the coffers to swiftboat opponents who cannot retaliate due to lack of funds.  

    My turn is coming once the Republicans realize that I am a threat and that I am not going away.  They will  manufacture baloney.

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:28:14 PM PDT

•  Gee...maybe David Vitter can help....

  ...or maybe not. He is pretty much all about personal ambition

  by Bensdad on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 07:35:53 PM PDT

  •  Bensdad

    Vitter is in politics for himself, not the people.  

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:33:02 PM PDT

•  Vitter News

  WDSU just reported that Dave Treen is going to lead an effort to convince Bush to pardon Edwin Edwards. I guess Libby's commutation really got to some people.   How can this be coincidence?  I just hope that Blanco does not sell out the country by cutting this deal when we have a chance to neuter LIEberman.

  by chigh on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:02:26 PM PDT

  •  chigh

    I don't get it.

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:40:01 PM PDT

•  Thanks, Gilda

  You are right - the road from Covington to Franklinton still looks like the hurricane was two months ago instead of two years.

  People from elsewhere look at the billions that have been spent since Katrina/Rita and blame the locals for not doing their share. But the money never got to the locals. Thank you for doing what you can to keep this in the public eye.

  I hope you got in touch with Clancy DuBos at Gambit to discuss your candidacy. Did the Times-Picayune ever contact you at all after you complained?

  by Gutterboy on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:02:00 PM PDT

  •  Gutterboy

    Not a word.  Thank goodness I was not holding my breath.  I have not forgotten Clancy DuBos at Gambit.  Have just been swamped with the rigors of campaigning. I guess eventually we will have enough funds to hire some of this out to trusted folks.  

    by gildareed on Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 09:39:15 PM PDT

    •  Gilda

      Email me if you want me to hound the powers that be via email or phone.

      by chigh on Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 01:47:15 PM PDT