Katrina: when a Bush and a Clinton team up, follow the money

[ProSense]

A reminder:

One Year Later: The Real State Of New Orleans

Standing in Jackson Square on Sept. 15, President Bush stated, “This government will learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina” and promised to “get the work done quickly.” But on the eve of Katrina’s one year anniversary, here’s a look at the current state of New Orleans:

– Less than half of the city’s pre-storm population of 460,000 has returned, putting the population at roughly what it was in 1880.

– Nearly a third of the trash has yet to be picked up.

– Sixty percent of homes still lack electricity.

– Seventeen percent of the buses are operational.

– Half of the physicians have left, and there is a shortage of 1,000 nurses.

– Six of the nine hospitals remain closed.

– Sixty-six percent of public schools have reopened.

– A 40 percent hike in rental rates, disproportionately affecting black and low-income families.

– A 300 percent increase in the suicide rate.

Eighty-four percent of New Orleans residents rate the government’s recovery efforts negatively, while 66 percent believe the recovery money has been “mostly wasted.”

A tragedy:

Slide show (link posted in comments): 9th Ward, New Orleans 8/06

A reality:

Religious leaders quit Katrina Fund panel

By Rukmini Callimachi, Associated Press Writer | July 13, 2006

NEW ORLEANS --Nearly all the religious leaders serving on a committee created by the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to disburse money to churches destroyed by Hurricane Katrina have quit their posts, claiming their advice was ignored.

Four out of nine board members confirmed their resignations on Thursday. Last week, two others -- Bishop T.D. Jakes, the prominent Dallas megachurch pastor, and the Rev. William H. Gray III, former president of the United Negro College Fund -- resigned as co-chairs.

And Gray and Jakes say they have received the resignation letter of a seventh board member, the Rev. William Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA. He did not immediately return a phone call Thursday night.

Departing members of the interfaith advisory committee say the fund's Washington staff disregarded their advice, cutting checks for Gulf Coast churches without properly investigating the institutions.

"I've learned in life that if people say they want your advice and then they change it, ignore it, or undermine it, then they really don't want it," said Gray, also a former congressman.

The fund's co-chairs, former Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans and former Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman, issued a statement thanking Jakes and Gray for their leadership. A fund spokesman declined to comment on the resignations of the others or discuss their allegations.

The fund, created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, has so far raised more than $125 million, of which approximately $20 million was earmarked for rebuilding faith-based organizations along the Gulf Coast. The interfaith advisory committee was charged with determining which churches, synagogues and mosques were in greatest need.

more

A disgrace:

Finally, according to USA Today, former Clinton aides helped secure a multi-million dollar federal contract for a Georgia-based company in which Yucaipa had 20% ownership. AmeriCold, one of the nation's largest cold-storage companies, was paid up to $85 million, to help with Katrina recovery efforts after James Lee Witt, who headed Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Clinton administration, lobbied on the company's behalf.

AmeriCold's job performance became the subject of controversy and bad publicity. As USA Today wrote: "truckers who were paid $800 a day (to help Katrina victims) hauled ice from state to state without unloading, then delivered their cargoes to AmeriCold and other storage facilities as far away from the Gulf Coast as Maine."

link

What's up with the $18 million the Clintons received from InfoUSA and Ron Burkle?

Hillary "has always had a good personal relationship with the president"



Edited title for relevance.

[Scurrilous]

1. Great post ProSense.

K & R :thumbsup:

[ProSense]

3. Thanks. n/t

[Stephanie]

2. Yucaipa=Ron Burkle. Bill has received $15 Million from him so far

And there is a $20M payment in the works, as Burkle buys Clinton out of the business for propriety's sake.

[catgirl]

4. k & R

[bigbrother05]

5. K&R

[ProSense]

6. Hillary believes Washington lobbyists are looking out for the interests of real people

Finally, according to USA Today, former Clinton aides helped secure a multi-million dollar federal contract for a Georgia-based company in which Yucaipa had 20% ownership.

Real people like Mark Penn and Ron Burkle.