After Sandy, The Wait For Help Goes On ... And On
As Congress sits on the rest of its $60 billion payout for the Jersey Shore, residents and business people struggle to cope with what they have left
You can still find things here, at the Shore, that you can't find anywhere else, stuff even a "superstorm" couldn't tear away.
Stuff that's stuck together with splintered planks and rusty nails, the kind you see sticking up in those few sections of the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk that remain intact.
You can still find a boardwalk in Ocean City that's a throwback, with its old-time towny movie theater and church-carnival amusement rides so charming, so authentic that even Disney couldn't recreate it. You still have the sand of Long Beach Island and Cape May that's mattress-soft; soup at a Ship Bottom restaurant that's New England-thick.
You can still find things here, at the Shore; for sure. There just isn't a lot of it left, or looking like it used to, after Hurricane Sandy blew through here and knocked most of it down.
Now local officials say there's not a whole lot of money - if any money - to spend to patch it back up. Whatever action they've been promised has undergone delay after delay, keeping the thousands of flooded-out Bayville homeowners without a home; and the many abandoned businesses with red Xs tattooed on their windows - and with little more than water-logged inventory - without anything to sell.
"That kind of delay is not going to be devastating, but it sends a bad message," said Mayor Vincent Barrella, mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, whose boardwalk was ruined by Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy.
Barrella is looking at a $3 million-plus price tag to fix perhaps the borough's oldest and most important asset of its economy; and, not only that, its most enduring symbol as a Jersey Shore resort.
"The closer we push this to Memorial Day, the harder it makes to get things up and running," he said.
Those who live in homes with no floors or windows, who own businesses with no inventory or anything left, just keep waiting. And waiting. And waiting, every day, for more than 60 days now. Nearly three months, they've been waiting for some breakthrough, some word from local officials, news reporters, anybody, that Congress is going to step in, and protect them like they believe they should. Step in, and protect the people and their livelihoods, like President Obama says the government is obligated to do.
They're waiting for Congress to pass the rest of a $60 billion payout that could help bring them back up to speed, or at least get them on the road for getting there. Last week, Congress passed $9.7 billion of it. Next week, they promise to pass another $50 billion.
Only they've made these promises before, the residents, and the merchants, and the local officials all say. So the people who live and work in the Jersey Shore, who stand around, looking at their houses that fell like cards when 80 mph winds blew through in late October, just keep doing what they're used to doing:
Waiting.
"The ripple effect is going to impact all of us," said tax attorney Jeff J. Horn of Toms River. "That's the basics. It is going to cost all of us a couple of bucks."
In some towns, the boardwalks are still woodpiles, stacked like kindling at the Manasquan Inlet. The synthetic ones, like the Belmar boards, were supposed to last a long time, and weather the bad storms.
In Hurricane Sandy, the planks were pulled right from their pilings, and flung across Ocean Avenue in Belmar.
There are some spots that survived, or at least stayed the way they were, like many of the businesses that serve seafood near the Manasquan Inlet in Point Beach. Much of LBI seems to have weathered the worst after flooding rose to scary levels in Ship Bottom. Ocean City's boardwalk has retained its early 20th century charm.
Even a few sections of the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk seem tightly nailed-together. It's just that so much of what hasn't floated away has simply buckled under.
"We have a contractor (to fix it), and he has indicated he'll be done by Easter, but the boardwalk is pretty much gone," Barrella said.
The worst are the homes, the ones that look nothing like Tony Soprano's seaside resort home, or the Bob Brennan Brielle home that used to shine the Christmas lights every year, with yachts tied to the slips that float in their lagoons.
This could be the image that people have of the Shore, of a rich old place with old money, tainted by a group of MTV performers who, many believe, merely made their dough by going on T.V. and mocking Italian stereotypes. Why give them more, they could be asking.
But there are so many more who work in Ocean County Mall, hocking cheap jewelry at a hallway stand, or trying to get people to buy at a Ford that's sitting in the middle of the floor, with kids climbing through the seats.
Then there are the ones who work at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, working long hours there, or at the Wawas that go 24 hours straight. Many of them can't even go home, because their homes are missing floorboards, with mold spots peppering up the wall paneling, spreading higher than their arms can reach.
When people don't want the bill to pass, saying there's too much "pork" in it, the homeowners, the renters, the merchants who are suffering say this. They just want help, packaged in whatever way possible.
"I cry everyday," said Margaret Quinn, whose family lost their home when Hurricane Sandy flooded Silverton. "There's nothing there and there's nothing we can do about it."
Many live on the Barrier Island, in the small, two bedroom cottages that line Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach. They earn middle-class pay, at best. When they had their homes, they grew used to the sirens blaring outside their windows as cops rush to the Seaside Heights boardwalk on a busy summer night.
Since the storm, they've been biding their time in shelters, or at friends' houses, sending their kids to schools in other towns, if they're sending them at all.
FEMA struggles to help. But FEMA can't do much while it sits on the $60 billion egg that Congress hasn't fully cracked.
It's the kind of money that Congress approved just two or three weeks after Katrina in New Orleans, or Andrew in Florida. But at the Shore, it's been nearly three months of temporary shelters. Three months of people sleeping on somebody else's couch. Three months of promises made, they said. Three months of being told, "Not yet, but soon."
"I have to say I'm still very upset and I think it's deplorable that the Speaker (of the House) did not bring this ($60 billion) bill up and the whole package that addresses Hurricane Sandy relief in the lame duck session in the last days of Congress," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Monmouth and Middlesex.
"It would have been passed. We had the votes. It would have been on the president’s desk. He would have signed it, and we would have started to rebuild the shore."
And even once the money is doled out, they say, there's still a ways to go.
The people here will tell you: The Shore was never the land of stony palaces, the palatial landscape it's been made out to be.
Sure, you can see the sun rise from the water from a window in any house in Beach Haven West. But you can only feel its heat a few months a year. In the winter, you couldn't get a boat into a rock-hard, frozen-stiff lagoon in Beach Haven West if you had a jackhammer.
Many of these homes don't have walls that are made of marble and brick. They're more like the one I lived in, back in the 1990s, when you could feel the damp, chilly air seep through the cheap wall paneling we picked up from Home Depot. That wall paneling didn't stop the wind from seeping through the flimsy sheet rock.
In the winter, many of the bars are so empty, and the beaches so barren that some locals call it the "void," the time when the people, the money and the region's largest industry - tourism - disappears. Business people bide their time, coming up with Polar Bear Plunges and any kind of stunt, to get somebody patronizing the places until they all come back.
Only this void we're in now is probably going to be longer, deeper than what we've ever been in. And we'll hopefully never again feel what some call "this bad dream" like we're feeling it now.
"We're going to get this (Point Beach boardwalk), repaired at, hopefully, no cost to the taxpayer," Barrella said. "But getting up-and-running is important. It's important for the town because it sends a message to the town."
Time will tell. At Barnacle Bill's in Ortley Beach, dozens of arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and crane games, all of them destroyed by flooding ocean water, were pulled out to the sidewalk creating a video game graveyard of sorts.
Will the place recreate it the way it was, and keep its old-fashioned charm?
Time will tell.
"We're trying to survive now," Bill's owner Bill Petruzel said "We're not just trying to make money, a profit. It's all about surviving."
THE MAD HELVETIAN
6:51 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Funny enogh- the insurance companies didn't take 90 days to cash the checks when we paid them.
James
2:28 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
No Lie, Just ask Boner or is it boehner.
Skitch
10:55 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
The insurance companies are only servicing carriers for the NFIP. They write the policy at the request of your agent. They collect the premiums for the NFIP and they handle the claims for the NFIP when they come in. However the carriers are required to send your claims out to NFIP certified adjusters for handling. They are not authorized to pay your claims until the NFIP adjuster gives them the authorization to do so. The carrier pays the claim when authorized to do so. Without that authorization they can't. The carriers then go to the NFIP for reimbursement of it's payments. If the NFIP is out of money you don't get paid. Wise up people. This is why Christy is in Washington lobbying so hard for the funds. The insurance carriers are not paying your claims because the NFIP has no money!!! When will people start to understand that the insurance carriers have nothing to do with this. It's the federal govt. The FEMA claims and the NFIP claims are all paid out of the same pot of money. The funds that were approved last week are to pay the claims of those who have flood insurance thru the NFIP. They are obligated to pay those claims because those people paid premiums to have flood insurance. However trust me, even those people who had flood insurance are getting screwed. Even they are not guaranteed payment for their damage.
Joseph Bricktown
7:04 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Who Was that Guy that walked around with Christie Just before the election to see first hand the devistation ?
You know that Guy from Washington that PROMISED to " CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE" for storm relief ?
I think he came around in October, then continued to campaign after that?
Who was that & where did he go?? What happened to the RED TAPE CUTTING ??
You don't think he LIED ?
Martin
7:52 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Stop blaming Obama for the obstructionism of extremists in the House of Reps who block everything America needs, including the money to Restore the Shore!
Dennis
9:11 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Far be it for the media to put the blame squarely where it belongs. On Obama for his total lack of leadreship and caring. He should be wrapped up in the red tape he promised to cut through.
outofthebeach4now
10:19 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
He not only lied, he got our Governor to believe he really cared about doing something to help given it was before the election. Wonder what he would have done if the storm happened after election day, and he lost? It is an absolute disgrace that NJ/NY has had to wait almost 12 weeks to get the funding from the Feds that was promised by the president days after Sandy hit. I bet if the demographics of area was predominately low income and minorities, the aid would have come quicker like it did for Katrina. Shame on you Washington for being so prejudicial.
lifelonginbrick
10:47 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Last time I checked the purse strings are controlled by congress and senate. They are the ones that have to approve spending or were you out that day in civics 101?
OBeach
10:52 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
sadly it wouldn't be the first time.
Beach_N8iv
4:51 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
MY GOD!!! Can you people honestly be this stupid??? President Obama can do NOTHING as long as Speaker Boner and the obstructionist ReTHUGlicans in the House of Representatives refuse to act. Do you honestly believe that the President can just pull a checkbook out of his desk? You have NO IDEA how the government works and you seem comfortable in your ignorance. Turn off Fox "News" and take a class or two. MORONS!
Marc
7:27 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Here's a guy who recently voted against the Hurricane Sandy relief effort after recently asking more money for Katrina. I encourage you to visit his Facebook page as I did. In the last 24 minutes he tried to make amends (lame BS). https://www.facebook.com/stevenpalazzo
It isn't Obama...it was the republicans...only!
outofthebeach4now
11:51 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
@Beach_NitWit, when a president stands at a disaster site and says he will help, ususally the idiots in congress listen. Obama was more worried about getting re elected and putting on a show, then giving relief $$$$ to rich white people. He never pushed the aid package wiith congress and thats why they have taken their sweet time. PERIOD!!!!! You are a liberal idiot and moron.
lifelonginbrick
12:02 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
@outofthebeach... Sooo let me get this straight... "usually the idiots in congress listen" - have you met the craven GOP phuck-tards that make up our current, least productive most unpopular congress in history??? Just so I understand our GOP CONGRESS needs to be PUSHED to help our people after a disaster and the fact that they just decided to drag their feet is the fault of the one person in Washington who does want to help? Do you have any idea how idiotic your argument sounds? Put the blame where is belongs ON CONGRESS and stop the moronic "the President hates rich people" meme that is 100% totally baseless drivel.
James
2:32 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
No Lie, Just ask Boner or is it boehner.
James
2:35 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
No Lie, Just ask Boner or is it boehner - Both names apply.
susan
2:40 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Hey, Joseph, that would be Mr. President to you. He is the one trying to help us. It is the Republican Congress who is denying us. When is the last time you read a newspaper or watched a non-Fox news station? Aren't you ashamed that you don't even have the courage to stand up like a man and admit you hate him because you are prejudiced?
Rick Ricky
7:26 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
They all lie including Christie. Christie can talk all he wants. Let's see what he does and the show he puts on. Just because he says something does not mean he is really going to help anyone in need. He talks, talks, talks mean and loud does not mean anything. He talked mean and loud against the teachers, unions, police, lower taxes etc... All hot air, Did anything change? No If anything my taxes went up and continue to.
john
4:48 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Y ou need to pay attention more and do less crying..Christie has changed things with teachers,unions and so on. maybe not enough to your liking...and i am sure if you were in his shoes you wouldnt even come close to doing what he has done so far...
trackerbelle
7:36 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mr. Davis- your report left out an important fact about the bill that was sent to the House for a vote.
You know, the part where more than half of the 60 billion is pork and not for Sandy relief. Is this an excellent of your "fine" reporting skills or blatant partisanship?
Dennis
9:14 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
This "news outlet" is becoming as bad as the Star Ledger as far as partisanship goes.
butch cassidy
12:59 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
i dont get it...why cant the bill be made up of sandy relief only!
Jim
7:36 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
The reason Congress is delaying the Relief for Sandy Bill is because the bill is a farce. Out of the $60 billion 40% of the money does not goes to anyone affected by Super Storm Sandy. It goes to Alaskan Fishiers, railroad subsidies, etc. Out of the $60 billion 24 billion dollars goes to pork. The House Speaker recognize this and delayed the vote out of discuss. We need to vote everybody out and start over.
Tom Davis
7:45 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I added a line about that. Thanks. You make a good point.
jerseyswamps
8:21 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mr. Davis,
It took someone pointing it out for you to "add a line"? One line? I saw your piece very early and started to respond but then thought why waste my time. You go on and on about all this misery caused by Republicans. Do a story about all the stuff that has nothing to do with us or Sandy damage.
I have a home that was flooded. I'm waiting, too. But I resent being used as a pawn by liberal Dems and liberal news reporters. Those who want pork are using my loss to get something for themselves or their districts back home. My kids have enough debt to pay off. I welcome the scrutiny by Rebublicans. I hope they are successful in separating the real relief from Democrat pork. I don't care how long it takes.
A Resident
8:29 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
People really need to look at what is in this bill. The amounts designated for individual relief is extremely small. Most of the "relief" aid in the package is for infrastructure repairs and "prevention" for future storms.
bayboat
8:51 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If it doesnt go to rebuilding, it shouldnt be in there.
Jay Gee
12:51 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
THANK YOU @ JIM OUT. ALL OF THEM, OUT. IT WON'T HAPPEN THOUGH
lifelonginbrick
1:08 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I tried to find a breakdown of the bill and what legislater proposed which project but could not. Usually, if they really cared about a bill, they would still vote on it after asking the legislaters who added the unwanted projects to withdraw those projects from the bill. I don't think any attempt was made by congress to do that because they are too busy finger popping each others a-holes.
Shawn
1:21 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
He didn't delay the vote because of that. What you really think Republicans don't add pork to bills? Please... The same Republicans who forget they are the reason we are in so much debt. Since WWII the average % increase of national debt by party in presidential power is 4.2% for the D and 8.8% for the R's
Neil Snyder
3:27 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1/text
where is the pork?
Peter Weldon
3:40 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Reading "Where's the pork" ...
See: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/01/09/sandy-relief-bill-house-vote/1566182/
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/nyregion/expenditures-for-a-hurricane-and-beyond.html?ref=nyregion&_r=1&;;
See: online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324581504578231992515350884.html
lifelonginbrick
3:53 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
After reading the NYT article that Pete refenced
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/nyregion/expenditures-for-a-hurricane-and-beyond.html?ref=nyregion&_r=2&&;
I think maybe the problem was calling the bill the Sandy hurricane relief bill and they should have just called it the "general infrastructure and crap we need to pay for and fix eventually" bill. I disagree with call it all "pork" as the media has dubbed it since most of it looks like stuff that needs to be taken care of.
Peter Weldon
4:20 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
"Pork" needs to be defined. You note: "since most of it looks like stuff that needs to be taken care of."
Well, there is a lot of stuff that "needs to be taken care of" throughout the country. The legislative process is supposed iron out those priorities (given that we don't have unlimited money, but I digress) in the normal budgeting process, not pile on billions not directly related to emergency aid that is nothing to do with emergency aid, merely exploiting a politically emotional moment. After the YES vote on the $9.7 FEMA funding the emergency aid is well addressed for the next year at least. The rest of the $60 billion is "pork" by definition because it is politically favored dollars we don't have budgeted that is only there because of politicians exploiting the emergency funding process.
Recognizing this, the House Republicans responsibly served the best long term interest of New Jersey, New York, and the rest of the country while making sure disaster aid is there to meet the disaster need.
lifelonginbrick
4:43 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Sorry Pete but you need to look at the NYT list again. Most of it is disaster related maybe not just Sandy as in the case of wildfires in CO and tsunami debris (of which a ton is floating in every day from Japan) but most still seems related to the effects of storm (such as replacement of gov vehicles & equipment) or for prevention and future mitigation. We are taking about the least productive congress in HISTORY. They could meet and haggle for every damn disaster but then they would be even LESS productive (if thats even possible). As for stuff like railroad subsidies I'm curious if it's to help repair railroads damaged by disaster? Seems like they wrapped up open stuff from numerous disasters in this bill and hey thats fine - then just pass the damn bill and if they have a problem with a specific item on the bill then ask the legislater who added it to withdraw it but they need to stop dicking around and just making a political game out of it for sound bites on Fox.
Martin
7:55 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
NJ's share, $37 billion, doesn't include anything for Alaska. NY's doesn't either. Congress added stuff to get selfish Alaskan reps to vote for it. Otherwise, they'd only approve what goes to their home state.
clam digger
7:57 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
So why has Belmar already started rebuilding their boardwalk while the Beach has done nothing. It took the town close to a year to fix the 100ft section after Irene when they had money in hand from FEMA. Can't wait to see how this plays out...
Maybe the powers at be need to pick up the phone and ask Belmar how they're already rebuilding while this town is still talking. Mayor of Belmar put a plan together, cleared the beach and started the project that will be ready for summer...
Doesn't the town already have 500K in hand from the last repair they never started, use that to get engineers to work today...not labor day!!
Gimmie Shelter
8:30 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Seems like Belmar has real leadership. Not somone standing around waiting for a free baloney sandwich.
proud
8:35 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
@clam digger, Belmar has begun work on their boardwalk, because they bonded to do so. They are hoping for a 75% reimbursement from FEMA . As for the actions or inactions by the officials in Point, I couldn't imagine what they are doing and it doesnt directly concern me. Perhaps you should ask them as it sounds like you are directly affe Ted.
clam digger
8:38 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Exactly....they managed to get everything cleared, planned, and started before the Beach even got it's collection basket out...
Smart too, because the monies not going to last forever they'll be at the font of the line for payment too!
Quaghogdigger
10:10 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
hey digger, you been to the beachfront lately?.....There is plenty of boardwalk work happening....First you gotta remove it, before you can rebuild it....Everything between Trenton and Arnold has been removed, boards, structure & piles....The old 'new' section between Forman & NJ has been removed down to the pile bents...ready for stringers & decking...I'd call this progress.....Jenks to the Inlet...no progress yet, but is probably out to bid now.
clam digger
12:27 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Quahog, from the article above..."Barrella is looking at a $3 million-plus price tag to fix perhaps the borough's oldest and most important asset of its economy...;"The closer we push this to Memorial Day, the harder it makes to get things up and running," he said."
that doesn't sound the same as Belmar, 100K bonus to have it finished by Memorial day with Christy on the beach kicking it off. I have been up and I think what you're seeing is the clean-up of what sandy destroyed not the repair starting...hope I'm wrong
A Resident
12:35 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If you happened to be at the meeting 1/5 in Pt Beach you would have heard whats going on with the boardwalk. Repairs are under way. Been bonded, bids in, contractor has even put in a change order already.
Pt Beach just doesn't care to give Christie get "face time".
Jay Gee
12:53 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
@gimmie shelter.............THIS IS VERY TRUE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE FREE BALONEY SANDWICH. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN SOME OF THE TOWNS, WORKING FOR THE TOWNS, LIVING IN THEM WHEN OTHERS CAN'T. THEY GET FED AND THEY HAVE WORK. WE PAY TAXES FOR THIS.
J
8:45 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Belmar has a Mayor with genuine financial acumen (and not a little ambition), as opposed to most mayors--of shore towns and elsewhere--whose talents lie largely in drinking beer at the local VFW Hall or equivalent.
foggyworld
1:08 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
When this is all over, we should be able to take a look at the various skill levels running the shows in our various towns. Some seem to have better planners on board than others and we should remember that when we next get to vote.
Chief Wahoo
8:03 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If you people still think you will see any part of that money after this broke state with broke county and broke towns fill their budget holes , you really are brainwashed sheep.
Michael Capo
8:22 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If you have a mortgage(s) and you do get some insurance money, the mortgage companies add on another delay. In these cases the checks are made out to the homeowner AND any mortgage holders. Even though this is YOUR money from premiums YOU paid, the mortgage companies control it. The checks have to be endorsed by all parties before the homeowner finally gets the money. There are no stories telling about these unnecessary delays, so the mortgage companies will continue business as usual, delaying your payment while they collect the "float" (interest) on your money. Hold back a few mortgage payments and see what they do. They can't take the insurance money to cover the mortgage (its illegal).
ellen
1:50 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Reply to Michael. I understand your frustration with the mortgage companies and insurance companies, as we had to go through this also. We have discovered at least through our bank, that they are actually protecting our interests to make sure the contractor is not doing shoddy work and undermining their investment. Once they know this, the check was quickly released so we could provide to the contractor so he could move forward wirth repairs. it didn't hurt that my husband had a meltdown in the lobby when they told him they would not endorse the check, so remember the louder you shout, the more you may get. A sad fact but true so to evryone out there, accept what they give you and then fight for more until you exhaust all avenues. You paid into the plan, you deserve to get what you put into it
Kim E
7:31 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Boy are you right! I have a 1st mortgage at BoA and second with Wells Fargo. It took 2 trips and 4 hours to get the first check endorsed at Wells Fargo. when I asked the manager why he was giving me a hard time ,He replied, "When I got up this morning I thought I'd give you are hard time". Can you believe he said this to me, a flood victim!! Believe me that's what he said I wrote it down before I left the bank and he said it front of an employee. She was shocked and said she was sorry for what he said. I was ready to pull all my accounts out of this bank. And almost did, except my broker talked me out of it.
BoA was better. I'm still going to write Wells Fargo about this manager when I finished with everything else I have to do because of this storm.
A Resident
8:27 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
"the Bob Brennan Brielle home that used to shine the Christmas lights every year" - that house has been gone for about a decade. It was replaced with something a little bigger that still has Christmas lights and yachts.
lifelonginbrick
8:32 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If you want to feel real warm and fuzzy about our current congress then conside this:
"According to estimates by the Joint Committee on Taxation, the so-called NASCAR loophole will cost taxpayers $46 million this year and an additional $95 million through 2017."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/fiscal-cliff-wall-street_n_2397933.html
Yup this GOP congress who is just soooo fiscally conserned with the deficit really have their priorities. Too bad all you smucks at the shore can't afford your own lobbyist like the NASCAR industry.
Joseph Woolston Brick
5:35 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
We do have our own lobbyists in Washington, they are called "US" you have to scream louder than the corporations do and band together to do it. People have to call, email and snail mail these politicians and out scream and yell the corporations lobbyists, BUT people are either to lazy to do it or don't know how to do it. So guess who wins in the end? You have to be determined and make your voice count, just calling or writing once doesn't do it. Stick to it, sooner or later Mr. Politician will get IT just like the FIOS people do.
Michelle Blamble
8:38 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
You need to get your facts straight. That provision is in the fiscal cliff bill and was added by the White House (under cover of insisting it was about wind energy).
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/corporate-tax-breaks-fiscal-cliff_n_2430580.html
Wallace C Smith Jr.
9:02 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Our 18 page reports has been in a month, no word yet on the money and no one to talk to. To all you younger people out there......IF YOU THINK THE GOV'T WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU IN BAD TIMES, GROW UP AND BE WISER. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR TURF. Sandy is another example of that. Do any of you think the 'Katrina people' had to document everything they lost with sales slips, pictures and serial numbers? I don't think so!!!
A Resident
12:37 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Actually, after the fraud and waste found with Katrina, FEMA is taking a better more fiscal approach by getting proof the money was used for what it is supposed to be used on. That did not happen with Katrina.
WMS826
9:05 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Too bad this did not happen before you people voted him back in...
Item one..you are not black and the president is not a white republican. There will be no hue and cry for you. You made it on your own this far, you will have to make it on your own after this.
You are not a special interest group. No one cares about somewhat wealthy white people.
Item 2..the other people have bankrupt-ed your goverment. there is nothing left to give you. You should have thought about this before you took your cash for clunker check or thought ethanol gas was a good idea that costs you more money but makes the politicans richer. They bought all those stocks before they passed it.
Michael Capo
9:18 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Respectfully....I think the storm hit before election day. Just sayin.....
WMS826
9:47 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thanks Michael..If you have half a brain you would know the comment acknowledged hat already...
THE MAD HELVETIAN
9:24 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I canot wait fo the TOWN HALL MTGS this weekend -- more FEMA banter ---
brokeninbayville
9:34 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Good comments jerserswamps and Wallace Smith Jr.
Trying to get the "pork" out of the bill has cost our Rep house leader a black eye for doing his job and keeping to his promise of smaller government. We do need the money now, but it's going to cost us royally in the end.
Ally Catz
10:01 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Why has there never been a contingency plan in place in the event of a catastrophe like this? Hurricanes are not new to our region. Building a dune does not solve all problems. Now billions of dollars will be wasted on prevention. After the 1992 storm when towns were flooded why wasn't something done then? Little Egg Harbor claims 40% of the town has been displaced so what does it's government decide to do? Buy new police cars, yup a whole new fleet. The cars bought 4 years ago weren't washed away but I guess if the money be rolling in soon why not start spending it. You have people with no homes but yet that's where the concern of this town is. The cost of this Bill is going to astronomical because of the fat and waste. I feel for the families that think they are waiting on help for them. It won't be, it will be for infrastructure and prevention which is a waste of time.
A Resident
12:39 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Many areas that never flooded in 1992 were flooded during Sandy. A lot of newer locations that have not had to deal with flooding are dealing with it now. The area has changed.
Living in Reality
10:05 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
If your Town Hall Meeting is anything like the Town Hall Meeting held in Little Egg Harbor, I would't waste my time.... Absolutely "No Value" came out of that Meeting... With over 25 FEMA Reps as well as Borough Council, many questions could not be answered...
While the State Department of Codes & Standards, provided Guidelines (http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/) , for Repairs due to Hurricane Sandy,
LEH "refuses" to stand by them... Charging Residents for Insulation & Sheetrock Permits. Then you have their Administrator Garret Loesch interview for the local paper and he is "crying" as LEH lost $200,000 in Revenue.... Revenue from a Natural Disaster ????? Let's not for get, the Govenor addressing the fact that there will be no increases on Property Taxes while an article comes out only yesterday stating that Shore Towns Taxes will Increase due to Hurricane Sandy.....
As for AID ..... What happened to all the Aid from the Concert with Bon Jovi and the rest of the AID Scammers..... The Average Person will not see a DIME !!!!
TR Voice of Reason
9:39 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
You are so right about the AID. The 12/12/12 Concert and also the almost never mentioned Carrie Underwood concert at Boardwalk Hall. She donated ALL the profits too. I haven't heard of anyone who can say that they got any substantial money, so where is it going? Who is in control of these funds? The only people who have been transparent about where the money is going that they have raised is Blue Wave Printing and their Restore the Shore apparel. They actually have a link that states where the money has been donated. I think that maybe the Attorney General's Office or at the very least, the Dept of Consumer Affairs should get an answer to the money trail.
Ally Catz
7:51 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
The "aid" raised is being distributed to non profit charities, ie: Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. It is highly unlikely that any of these raised funds will actually reach the hands of the people that need them. You have to find out which charity actually sponsored the event and how they are distributing the proceeds. From there you would need to request money from the receiving charity. It's total bs, and yes, the average person won't see a dime. I still feel the State and Local governments have failed the people of the State by not being prepared for an event like this. I don't care if all areas didn't flood in '92; any shore area is a potential hazard. Now even more money will be wasted. Praise Christie all you want, he is no better than any of the other Governor's this state has seen. This isn't a republican/democrat thing; it's a right or wrong thing and since ALL politicians lie through their teeth this State will never revive. It has a grim outlook for it's resident's. Tourism comes first. Tourism generates money for the State first. More money that can be spent on nothing but waste. If you received help from neighbors, thank them and try to return the favor because it will probably be the only help you receive.
Living in Reality
10:23 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
In regard to the LEH Constructions Dept. and their Pemiting, this Issue has been brought to the Attn of John Maher of the Department of Codes & Standards. Last I heard, while John "Agreed" that this was "Wrong" on the part of LEH, it appears that the State is not going to Stand By their on Guidlines... Which is disheartening to the Residents.....
Peter Weldon
10:13 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
The first sentence in this story is untrue, misleading, and a journalistic liberty destructive to the credibility of The Patch. To wit: "As Congress sits on the rest of its $60 billion payout for the Jersey Shore...." Is your purpose to inform your readers or inflame passions through outright lies?
The truth would be better served by noting that the House of Representatives promptly approved $9.7 billion in direct FEMA funding that addresses immediate needs of New Jerseyians impacted by Sandy (of which I am one), while protecting all US taxpayers from the immediate commitment of $50 billion in political pork specifically NOT for "payout for the Jersey Shore" that if approved would do nothing directly nor immiedately for those impacted by Sandy and would further expand our $16+ tillion in Federal Debt for which there is no prospect of repayment.
See: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/01/09/sandy-relief-bill-house-vote/1566182/
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/nyregion/expenditures-for-a-hurricane-and-beyond.html?ref=nyregion&_r=1&;
A formal correction is in order.
Peter Weldon
10:19 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
A suitable correction by The Patch would consist of republishing this piece from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324581504578231992515350884.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop.
barbara
10:44 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Where is all this money going to? My home in toms river is a mess,yes, i did get ins money from flood ins in timely manner, but not enough. FEMA wont give me a penny cause "secondary home" my son rents the home. i was not covered for contents, so all he asked from FEMA was a few thousand for furniture, washer and dryer and was denied. said he needs to take small business loan. Why? not right!! We busting are butts to make house habital again.......but scared cause when is the next flood coming? sucks.
lifelonginbrick
10:51 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I'm confused why do you think it's the tax payers responsibility to buy a new washer/dryer and furniture for your secondary home that you have insurance on??? Sorry but the fault is yours for not buying enough insurance to cover your losses. I'm all for helping people in need but your taking it to an unrealistic level.
barbara
11:03 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
don't think it is the taxpayers responsibility. my flood ins premium is 1,400 a year and i dont even live on the water. house ins wont pay a dime. my son works hard, 10-12 hrs a day and not asking much from FEMA. My house is destroyed. Been flood twice since Sandy. Twp. wont fix problem with bay. stinks. We are hard working people and dont ask for anything. I have 2 families i had to take in cause they can't get help or get a break. very frustraiting, i help all i can and i am by no means rich. just saying.
Jay Gee
1:03 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
IT WAS GOOD OF YOU TO TAKE THE FAMILIES IN. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE THAT. THAT IS VERY UNSELFISH AND PEOPLE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT BEFORE THEY WRITE NEGATIVELY. JUST THAT, EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH THIS, AND THERE AREN'T ANY ANSWERS. IT'S TOO SAD. THE ARTICLE ITSELF MADE ME WEEP. I WISH YOU THE BEST, AND PRAY THAT YOU'LL BE REWARDED....NOW PLEASE GO GET A MEGA MILLIONS TICKET. .............I DON'T THINK FEMA IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER. MAYBE SMALL LOW INTEREST LOANS IS THE WAY EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO GO.
TR Voice of Reason
9:51 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Barbara I don't want to add to your misery but you need to know that if you do not raise your home to the new flood elevations then your insurance company will either drop you when your annual premium is up or they will raise your insurance to a ridiculous rate, like $10,000 per year. If you have been flooded in those small storms since Sandy then you are well below the new elevation levels. On a positive note, the Township is not responsible to dredge the bay, the State is and they are doing it according to Governor Christie's speech yesterday, the bay will start be to cleaned up this week, however it will probably take at least a year.
Taylor Monaco
11:46 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Barbara, my boss is working with several clients in Toms River, Lavallette, Sea Side, and Ocean City. The Public Adjuster for my company (I am his assistant) is actually certified as a FEMA adjuster, but now works with homeowners to pursue payment for damages. If you, or anyone you know would like more information, feel free to check us out on facebook, Resolve Adjustment LLC. or our website, www.resolveadjustment.com. Even if you are not sure about hiring someone to help, we can lend advice as to where to go, what to do. -Taylor Monaco
WMS826
11:03 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
You libs have started this goverment pays mentality and now it is epedemic. Big daddy FEMA did their job in Katrina. It was the liberal feel good Dems that wrote the checks that started this mentality.
Michelle Blamble
12:00 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I don't see what the big rush is to get the $60billion. What projects exactly are being held up by the delay (which I think is good if they manage to clean out some of the pork from the bill)? Unless I've missed something, there isn't any money in there for homeowners. All you are getting is the $33k from FEMA you already got.
Mary Ann
2:39 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Really? 33k from FEMA that I already got? We haven't received anything yet. We're not waiting for a handout - just the insurance coverage that we have been paying for for 20 years. Why is this tied up in a bill bogged-down with millions for special interests?
butch cassidy
12:57 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
alot of people from the government were here and saw this devastation..including the president of the united states! they promised to help i hope they havent forgotten us but it sure feels like that
barbara
4:29 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
for sure jenny, but hey, they got the photo op!
barbara
3:16 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thank you Jay, this has been so tough on all of us. 3 homes devestated, 4 cars gone, not to mention the mental anguish. But family is family and we gotta do what we gotta do. alot of paper work, no answers, getting the run around. just not right!
Kurt
3:29 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
All this Obama administration has to do is drop the 30 odd billion in pork (waste) that has nothing to do with Sandy and the money for Sandy is out the door to where it is detain for. Now Mr. Obama and dems is that too much to ask to drop the leftwing pork and get to work at the shore. Stop holding the taxpayers and the Republicans hostage and drop the pork. Christie get a freaking life you idiot rhino.
lifelonginbrick
4:03 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Really you know which legislater has added what project to the bill? Can you publish the link to that list? Also you do understand that congress holds the pursestrings and spending has to be approved and passed by them not the President. I mean if your calling it leftwing pork then you must know which senators and congressmen have added to the bill. Please let us know.
Kurt
3:42 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
REMEMBER, if you didn't buy federal flood insurance and Hurricane riders on you Homeowners insurance the don't expect any rebuild money. The Government and U.S. taxpayers are only responsible for the public domain such as streets utilities and such.
They are to help the state and local governments get back on their feet with the rebuilding of Public structure not private. The Government is not meant to be a private white knight.
Chief Wahoo
3:49 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
We are just one natural disaster or one more stock market crash away from game over.......
lifelonginbrick
4:06 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Maybe I'm just looking at the glass half full but I think it will take more than that to destroy this country. Rather I think it will just be a long slow down hill drag starting with something like the peoples voice being drowned out by just a handful of wealthy individuals and corporations....ooops!
Jay Gee
9:23 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
IT'S TRUE CHIEF, SADLY, IT'S SO TRUE. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, EVERYONE WILL BE CHANTING, GEE, WHAT'S HAPPENED. HOW DID THE COUNTRY GET THIS WAY SO FAST. BUT, NO, NO ONE SEES THE HEAVY DUTY NEGATIVE CHANGES THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH UPON US, AS THEY SIT BACK AND NAY SAY THE DOOMSDAY CRYER'S.
Kurt
4:06 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Chief Wahoo
You would be correct. One little bump and that would really give the government final kick to run over us. Watch this hand while the other is screwing you. So move on folks nothing to see here. We will take care of everything. Really? How is that working out for the masses? Even the 48% is being screwed when there is no more reelection.
Ann
8:18 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I don't want to hear about the summer homes and vacation rentals. I don't want to hear about those who live in a flood zone but had no flood insurance.
What about the folks who paid their flood insurance and have not seen any money yet?
Taylor Monaco
11:21 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Ann, my boss is working with several clients in Toms River, Lavallette, Sea Side, and Ocean City. The Public Adjuster for my company (I am his assistant) is actually certified as a FEMA adjuster, but now works with homeowners to pursue payment for damages (We are especially trying to help those for which their beach home IS their primary residence). If you, or anyone you know would like more information, feel free to check us out on facebook, Resolve Adjustment LLC. or our website, www.resolveadjustment.com. Even if you are not sure about hiring someone to help, we can lend advice as to where to go, what to do. -Taylor Monaco
Rick Ricky
10:18 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I read some of these comments and can't help but laugh. All these tough republicans all of sudden has turned in to a democrat. All of sudden when they need the help or money from the government it is all ok.
Rick Ricky
10:21 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Really all those who chose to buy on or near the water was your choice. It should also be your problems. Why should it be everyones' problems in NJ. Other areas have been flooded over and over again. They never had everyone helping and bailing them out. Suck it up and do what you have to.
Michael Capo
8:31 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Pompton Plains New Jersey has flooded at least 3 times in the last 5 years. Each time, they got FEMA assistance. Just some facts.
Robert McKenna, MIKE
2:20 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Only in Ocean City would you read comments that somehow, this is President Obama's fault. Unhampered by facts, such as the Speaker of the House walked out on the first vote, and made sure that just a small portion of the FEMA funds were allocated on the second go around, and then only after he took tremendous heat from his on party. Gov Christie said it best when he said situations like Hurricane Sandy are not Democrat or Republican. They are emergencies that the whole country willingly joins together in order to support fellow Americans in time of need. There is no better reason, other than the defense of our country, to have a central government than to aid and support fellow Americans. Sometimes people need help. The people of this country are darn lucky to live in a wealthy giving Nation that can help quickly. At one time that was how it worked, now it is all about politics. The audacity of the Speaker of the House of Representatives not to represent Americans in their time of need is unprecedented. How can such a person be allowed to continue in a job that wields decision-making power second only to the President?
Kurt
4:05 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
In Florida we are very venerable to hurricanes that cause million in damage and displace folks. The large majority of us have government flood insurance. WHY? We live on the coast like many New Jersey and New Yorkers. So why are you all looking for so much help? Why is all our tax money so involved and so many expect the government to fix it all for them? That is not what the government is for. Here we store tarps so we can tarp our own roofs. We moved ourselves to relatives and to motels while our insurance companies made their estimates and hired contractors to replace and repair. Sandy was predicted for nine days to hit hard on the NE coast and most ran out to buy beer and pizza for the hurricane party. FEMA should have been hard pressed by all to get their act together as they failed miserably while you fools listened to your Obama, Como and Christy making reckless promises they where not about to keep. We work hard for our emergency supplies. We save for our back up generators and for stored rations of food, water and fuels needed incase of Storms. Most Floridians are ready to best of our abilities for an emergency and we do not wait to see what will happen and who is going to ride in from Washington on a Whitehorse. As far as that $60 billion dollar bill that is stuffed with $30 billion leftwing pork, forget it! Christies, Como and Obama you should had demanded and received FEMA HELP long ago and held their feet to the fire.
butch cassidy
3:19 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
you also have alot more hotels motels etc in florida that we have here in our area..lol most are in seaside and gone....the other 3 or 4 were full in minutes so not so easy to get a room or rental here kurt
SaltyJoe
6:17 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Obama has the bully pulpit. How do you think he got the healthcare reform bill through. If he wanted he could push Congress to get the proper funding to the devastated areas. As to the republicans blocking funding they blocked it because of all of the pork for other states and things that had nothing to do with Sandy. Fisheries in Alaska? New roof for the Smithonian? When the bill got split and only contained funding for the affected areas the republicans jumped on board. You need to read and listen to other sources besides the liberal media.
butch cassidy
6:49 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
someone said obama hates rich people i dont think thats the case but he certainly doesnt care for hard working white people, seems if you do nothing in this country you are now being rewarded..whats with this entitlement stuff come on now
Jon W
7:57 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
you who Jenny
turn off fox news
Mitt doesnt like ppl like 47% ers
Mittens said Fema is immoral dressed in his magic underwear before he flip flopped on wanting to be President
why dont you call the office of the orange weeper of the house and ask about the vote
do you think invading Iraq based on lies was good for the economy
barbara
7:07 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Thanks TR Voice of Reason, sure you are right. But, what is one more thing? Yes, we had flood ins and can repair with what they gave us, but mtg. co. holding it. Released another 1/3 yesterday. Funny, never put a claim in on my house ins, which house i rent to my son, and i was sent a notice 4 days after Sandy that they would not renew me on 1/22 cause i did not have "storm shutters" on home. mind you, no wind damage, just flood damage. being i rent, hard to get a decent policy. well find out today my "ins guy" found me one, yep, double than what i was paying and that is only for structure. the liability end of insuring that home is on my primary homes premium. oh well, whats on more thing? just wish we could catch a break. i know i am not the only one out there going thru this, but live in retirement village and had to take in many family members. wish i could hit the lottery and get the hell out of NJ. but i hear ya.....thanks.
barbara
8:46 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
well, alley, thanks for your comment. only help we got was from my door bell ringing one night and a woman and man from "shore angels" had a car load of stuff for us. clothes, food, pet food, etc.(took in 3 additional cats and my own) we are proud people and not looking for handouts, but wow, it really helped. now, still having family members who are displaced living with us in "seniorville" and it is hard.....so hard......but we are family and will get thru it. trying to rebuild our toms river house, which we rent to my son and his girlfriend, they here with us, alot of work, daughter from seaside and granddaughter still not able to get back cause of bullsit with twp. mom and pop in law, proud portugese people who would not leave their home and living in attic till gas was turned off, all here. luckily mom and pop were able to rent home of my neighbor who is so kind and snow bird. she is fla till may. just so hard.......then dealing with banks, ins companies, and more. seems like it will never end. my food and electric bill have never been this high. kids trying to help out, but hard on them. they still getting billed for their utilities, rent, etc. ugh. just so disgusted....will it ever end? plus not to mention my hubby working his butt off all week and my son then spending hrs. trying to get the house back together. then if FEMA says we have to raise 6 feet. omg..........
butch cassidy
3:23 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
take a breath barb and try and think of those kind people and other kindness of strangers as blessings..i pray you get many more...this too shall pass...eventually...but yea its sooooo hard to remain strong i get ya.
barbara
4:02 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
thanks jenny, chilling out today, had to make a few calls this a.m. but am trying. just so frustrating.
Kurt
1:39 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
JENNY JONES
I understand motels at the shore I lived up there 28 years before moving to FL 33 years ago. We don't find rooms on the coast, that would be suicide. When a CAT-3 storm is on its way we leave days in advance for in land and even western Georgia. Some fly to other states to relatives. It has is a routine in FL on what to do for the type and strength of storm predicted. We save our money to be very ready as best we can. We store tarps, have generators, have stored food and many other supplies because we know we are on our own maybe for weeks at a time. We insure to the hilt with homeowners hurricane storm riders and Government flood insurance. I realize it is expensive and I’m not rich but it is what we know we need to prepare for. It was forty years since our area was hit by a hurricane but we where ready as most Floridians are. 2004 we where hit by three hurricanes. Two where CAT-1 and one was a CAT-2. For us it was wind damage. For you deadly storm surge. For us we have to prepare for either as both can hit us at ounce or separate. Storms come in many different forms, you have to be ready no mater what comes. I’m just saying because we have been there. It helps to listen and learn because you all have you know that it is a roll of the dice and it may never happen again in your lifetime but then again it could happen two years in a row. Nature could care less what and where you build or how you do or do not prepare. Best of luck and God bless. Stay Strong.
butch cassidy
2:02 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
kurt i just meant that florida is a much larger state with alot more options for displaced citizens to go..new jersey is densely populated and a small state ...when we have to evacuate i guess its to pennsylvania idk just mentioned that we do not have alot of motels thru out the state..in florida every exit off 95 you have lodging
Robert McKenna, MIKE
8:22 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Kurt, what is wrong with your comments is your selective memory. Remember hurricane Andrew in 1992? That cost the USA $30 BILLION dollars in aid to somewhat put the southern part of your state (Florida) back in working and living order. Of course due to changing weather (Climate Change) the entire East Coast of the US has to start re-engineering for larger more severe storms. Most of the people in the US live on or near the East Coast, and as a Nation the whole country must come together and help defray the costs to rebuild and to prepare for future storms of even greater magnitude. Disasters have always been received with a united response, and that is how great countries work. Cost is secondary to helping displaced Americans due to disaster. You give good information on the need to be personally prepared, and you seem to know what living through a hurricane is like. The aforementioned reasons are why you should be more understanding, in the whole country helping NJ and NY out of this seemingly endless ongoing struggle to get money from a Republican Congress. Giving aid in drips and drabs means recovery will too be in small measures.
Ann Powers
9:09 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
EXACTLY.
So much of the coverage about Sandy aid is slanted. Instead of criticizing legislators -- no matter D or R -- for taking advantage of "a good crisis," the media does stories on people who blast their insurance companies or FEMA when often, these complaints are invalid. One story aired on CBS had a couple telling of how a neighbor saw their home blown over by the wind just before the flood came. Right. My guess - they had homeowners insurance but not flood. Another guy was complaining that FEMA would only cover 2 of his 3 cars. Why is FEMA covering ANY car? Where's the auto insurance?
Yes, there are legitimate needs, and I am among those who suffer flood damage, but: 1) The Sandy relief bill is a joke. If we don't get serious about fiscal responsibility in this country, there truly will be no $$ when the next disaster hits; 2) We need to address the frauds involved, including the phony legislators; people claiming flood-damaged homes as primary residences when they ARE NOT; floated and fraudelent claims in general... The list seems endless.
The tragedy is that the loss is so great and government assistance will not cover half of what some people need.
How come no one is asking about all the charitable donations? Where's that $$?
butch cassidy
2:09 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
seriously where is all that money? millions were raised
Joey Bagdano
9:46 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Anyone of you hgere that thinks that this second Relief Bill is some kind of panacea are seriously mistaken. Most of the moeny is going either to pork projects (yeah Christie lied...there's still pork) or to upgarding infrastructiure for next big storm. Folks like us...well were on our own. Don't believe me, call your local congressman. Either he'll lie, which I suggest you send him a confirming letter, or he'll tell the truth, which I suggest you vote against him.
Kurt
2:56 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Robert McKenna, MIKE
Storms today are no worse then storms in long ago history before so-called official records. Florida up into new England witnessed major magnitude storms during the era of the 1700s and 1800s to finally when official record keeping. We just happen to breed like rabbits and decided it would be trendy to live directly on the beach in harms way. Just like folks who build on rivers edges. In CA, stupid fools build massive homes on the side of mountains how is that working? We should pay too for that stupidly to build there again. Now we have million who are complaining that just didn’t exist. Andrew was miss calculated by the government agencies like the NWS who had no idea where it was going to land. Andrew for all intent was a monster tornado. No real water at all just a massive funnel cloud hurricane. The damage was all wind over 200MPH. These have happen since dirt it just now people are in the way and massive midia voice to complain too all the way to Washington. As far as money, it was an absolute horrible insult to load that RELIEF bill with over thirty billion on non-Sandy pork. Typical Federal and state government way of doing business and we just aren’t putting up with it any longer starting with this bill. ENOUGH! What to help the folks from Sandy stop dicking around and do real fiscal accountability and get the job done instead of loading this bill blatantly in our faces. Hell they are so brash they don’t even try to hide it anymore.
Robert McKenna, MIKE
1:35 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
Well Kurt, it seems I both agree and disagree with your comments again. Politicians and PORK have been around since the first Bills ever came out of the House of Representatives. I don't have an answer for their shameful behavior at the expense of actual victim's needs. However, I have never seen before anything like the audacity of Speaker of the House (Boner) and his indifference to the real suffering in Jersey and New York. Finally, maybe your sense of reality stopped in back in the sixties when there were many, albeit wrong scientists who believed there was no such thing as Global Warming (Most of those scientists did their research funded by coal and oil companies). Today you would be hard-pressed to find any reputable scientist who does not believe in Climate Change. Our climate is under siege, exacerbated by 6 billion people on the planet, deforestation, and third-world nations like India and China experiencing their industrial revolution; putting a new coal fired electrical generating plant online every week of the year. The storms are getting much more severe. People talk about leaving a huge financial debt our children and grandchildren will have to pay. Nobody wants to talk about leaving a country, and a world destroyed by Global Warming. Mr. Romney made a wisecrack about global warming about a week before Sandy hit. He lost my vote.
Kurt
3:36 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
Robert McKenna, MIKE
The Dems lost total accountability and structure are the cost of our nation. Sure the Repubs. have also screwed up badly but the dems are hell bent on total financial destruction with no way out and they just don’t gibe a dam. Please check weather stats from farmers records that where kept to the best of their abilities dating back to the early 1700s at least for the United Sates and much further back in other countries. Weather was just as radical as they are today. It is recurring and it has not changed. Like I said the more people the more problems since we issue what is a problem. The tree in the forest makes no sound if you are not there to hear it fall. Now fifty people around the tree and if no one is hit they complain about the noise only. Add fifty more people and some one is hit by the falling tree and we have a disaster to complain about.
Joey Bagdano
9:43 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
McKenna-Even if Repubs sign off on Sandy Bill so what. 99%of that money never gets to you or me. As far as golbal warming, I believe there is a document with 31000 signatures of scientists who deny global warming (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/2053842/Scientists-sign-petition-denying-man-made-global-warming.html). So, yeah, just a few deny it. BTW, seems that the person with most to gain from Globl wrmng is fat Al Gore. He just cashed another check for 100 million...hmmmm.
Evil Roy Slade
10:08 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
BEWARE of ABFE....'cause it's coming....
barbara
7:07 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thanks Taylor, wrote down the site. But in my situation, i rent our toms river home to my children. FEMA wont give me a dime because considered my "secondary home". I did have flood insurance and they paid claim quickly, however, bank is holding some of the money. This is just a mess....called FEMA several times, but i am not "qualified" for assistance. My son, who rents the home, lost all his furniture, which i was not covered for. He applied to FEMA and was told to take out a SBL. Just so sick of this crap.....now we have to elevate the house? As far as I am concerned, the bank can have it. Done! we have already started renovating to try to get them back home. I have 3 homeless families with me. All in the same situation. FEMA sucks as far as I am concerned.