Katrina Evacuee-fatigue in Houston, Texas

[Catherine Vincent]

Aug. 31, 2006, 2:04AM
Residents urge White to send evacuees home
Neighborhood holds meeting to discuss growing crime problem

By ANNE MARIE KILDAY
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Katrina fatigue erupted into anger and frustration Wednesday night, as more than 1,700 west Houston residents urged Mayor Bill White to send evacuees home to New Orleans. One year after the city of Houston welcomed at least 250,000 evacuees, more than 100,000 New Orleans natives still remain. West Houston residents who gathered Wednesday at Grace Presbyterian Church to address increases in violent crime over the past year in their community said evacuees are to blame. White and Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt had come to the church to discuss details of a new police division on the west side that will add 140 officers to the streets, increase investigative strength, bring gang activity under control and enforce traffic laws.

While residents welcomed the news, many who filled the sanctuary to overflowing Wednesday night wanted to know when the city planned to cut assistance to evacuees through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are about 3,000 Katrina evacuees who reside in the apartment complexes near Westheimer and the Beltway 8. John Kirkendahl, who identified himself as a 61-year old attorney, asked White bluntly: "Where do you stand on stopping the FEMA and the welfare money, in stopping the giveaways?" — to sustained applause and cheers. Throughout the meeting, White stressed that all Hurricane Katrina evacuees who are "able-bodied" should be working, or actively seeking employment.

The city's applications to FEMA for continued housing assistance for the estimated 110,000 to 120,000 hurricane survivors still in Houston have always stated that assistance would be provided to people who are working, or looking for work, White said. The funding will likely continue through February, White said. Lawbreakers will not be tolerated, White told the crowd.

"In Houston, if you intend to commit harm against your neighbor, we do have a special housing program for you: It is called jail," White said. While he said he appreciated the concerns raised by west Houston residents, White added that his job is to make sure that all areas of the city are protected. Barbara Miller, who lives in the Walnut Bend subdivision, told White that helping the Katrina evacuees after the deadly storm was "a heroic, Herculean and noble effort." But now it's time to take the city back, she said. "This is not Katrina fatigue," Miller said. "Crime is rampant in our area ... and has taken root in our area. Mayor White, we want crime stopped, now. And failure is not an option."

more....http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4153486.html

I agree. Send the criminal element back to NOLA and let the law abiding citizens remain. But how do we do that? :shrug:

[ceile]

1. And since they have nothing

to go back to.....What's the solution? The fed govt isn't doing it's job in rebuilding so Houston has to suffer. I'd like to see White try and recoup the money being spent on law enforcement. Sue the gov't.