I've been thinking about the incredible assortment of Katrina-related issues that need to be addressed in Texas and the rest of the country, in both the short term and the long term. For the most part, those of us who have been involved in hurricane relief efforts are having to come up with ideas as we go, because our state and our nation are not prepared for dealing with a relief effort on this scale. Adding more layers of difficulty is the fact that our country is already stretched to (or perhaps beyond) the breaking point when it comes to the economy, health care, defense, and social services at every level. With a near-complete breakdown of FEMA to top it all off, concerned citizens are starting to think outside the box. The scale of the situation is so huge--with so many facets--that there is no single solution. Many solutions are needed.

In the past couple of days, I've started hearing some Texans complain that hurricane survivors are creating unfair competition for jobs and for attention to our homeless and poverty-stricken population. Well, what are some solutions? Let's hear 'em! So far, I have mostly seen relief organizations, local governments, and individuals having to "think on their feet" to solve immediate problems--all are still mostly in putting-out-fires mode. I've also heard tons and tons of criticism, but I've only heard a few ideas for planning for the future. The NAACP's very recent proposal is another, and Radnofsky's proposal is one. From what I've seen of Radnofsky, she is open to ideas. So instead of just throwing out a vague criticism ("This is just embarrassing"), perhaps you could consider offering some constructive input.

Yesterday I posted the following comment at Burnt Orange Report, and I think it's relevant to post here as well:

Before jumping to a lot of conclusions about the flaws you perceive in Barbara Radnofsky's proposal, I respectfully suggest that you get involved with some of the hurricane survivors and get to know them on a personal level. Like Radnofsky herself, some of us in Austin Kos have been doing that, and we know that quite a few of the survivors have already decided that they want to live in Austin and other Texas cities permanently and not return to New Orleans. Their reasons for this are as varied as the individuals themselves. So, given that, BAR's proposal could create jobs for many of the Katrina survivors in Texas, who of course have a host of skills and are extremely eager to be employed again. Here in Austin, many of the people from New Orleans have commented on the similarity between Austin's Sixth Street and the French Quarter, something that they were very pleased to discover and that makes them feel more at home here. So why not expand on that? If they would love to set up N.O.-style establishments here and the rest of us would love to support those establishments, I don't see what's wrong with facilitating that.

Friday night, we had a gumbo & jambalaya party here in Austin. A New Orleans chef here wanted to make gumbo and jambalaya for some of the other survivors and for us, so a group effort made that happen. Having some of the authentic food that the survivors were craving meant so much to them, and I certainly have never tasted better gumbo & jambalaya. Why not help create jobs for the people who have such skills and are longing to put them to use again?

Yes, some survivors will be returning to relatively undamaged parts of New Orleans as soon as possible; others who want to return may not be able to do so for quite some time. Many already want to stay in Texas, and it's likely that after living here for a while, others will decide to stay too.

What are your ideas for creating new jobs for the Katrina survivors in Texas? Or do you think they should just keep living by the thousands on cots in conventions centers and sports arenas?
 

I knew I would be criticized for this post.

This was the immediate raction I and the politician who sent the link to me had of this idea.

Maybe I just need more time for the idea and other possible solutions to sink in.

As for what experience I have with the Katrina victims - My best friend is very active as a Red Cross volunteer. I have spend the last two weekends playing boardgames with an evacuee. I am sure unless this was carefully explained to them and the benefits shown as opposed to possible other plans they would not be that supportive.

Meanwhile, I am concerned about your use of "our country is already stretched to (or perhaps beyond) the breaking point when it comes to the economy, health care, defense, and social services at every level." That is a GOP talking point when every year they cut social services. Every year they cut taxes on corporations. Every year they cut taxes on the very rich. Every year they shift more of the burden on to working famalies. Every year they spend billions on farm subsidies that goes to large agri-business, they spend more on military boondoogles, they spend more on Iraq (total cost - latest GAO estimate $1.5 trillion), they give away more on tax breaks to corporations. If they were not in the pocket of the rich and in league with powerful rich corporations our social services wouldn't be breaking.

The "gumbo zones" idea is also on a par with other corporate tax break redevelopment schemes of which Houston has seen its share of boondoogles.
 

Glad to read your response, Gary. I too am trying to keep an open mind about different proposals.

I am way at the other end of the spectrum from GOP trolls and should have made it clear that I hold Republicans and their corporate "sponsors" absolutely and totally responsible for the mess I described in my first post. And that mess is the reason why there should the wealthy should be taxed more heavily, not given tax cuts. I am in total agreement with you on the absurd taxation policies and the absurd war they've gotten us into, whose main purpose, I believe, is simply to enrich themselves and the corporations they are in bed with. I totally fault Bush, his administration, and the Republican-controlled Congress for the sorry state of our nation--for, in essence, "breaking" our country. They have severely damaged the economy, saddled future generations of Americans with unprecedented levels of government debt, wreaked havoc as they systematically dismantle long-standing social programs, and sent our soldiers into an illegal, ill-conceived, and immoral invasion and occupation of another country. Their antics have disgraced the United States throughout the world and made me ashamed of my country, not to mention all of the human suffering they have caused. I am outraged by the tax cuts to the rich and corporations. I am outraged by the steady flow of trillions of dollars to the Iraq war, with little or no accountability as to how that money is spent--it's certainly not being used for decent supplies and protection for our troops, veterans benefits, or even basic health care needs of soldiers and vets injured in service to their country. This morning I was sinking (again) into a resentment about how much I owe in taxes as a self-employed person who doesn't make a lot of money and can't get decent health insurance coverage--while affluent and wealthy people who owe large amounts of taxes just hire a lawyer and settle with the IRS for pennies on the dollar (yet another form of "tax cut" for the rich). < /rant>

I believe that large-scale, New Deal-style government works programs are essential for the nation's recovery from the effects of Katrina. But I don't hold much hope for that happening when Republicans control all three branches of our government. No, their solution is to put high-paid mercenaries and their pals like Halliburton to "work" in New Orleans and other damaged areas, while removing even the standard minimum wage requirement (in itself providing only a poverty-level income) for the workers who will no doubt do the bulk of the actual work of clearing and rebuilding. (Oops, I'm ranting again--it's hard not to.)

Amid the vast leadership vacuum that is the Bush administration, it's looking like we may all be left to fend for ourselves when it comes to rebuilding the areas and lives affected by Katrina. I have a feeling that local and state programs, charities, philanthropists, and ordinary citizens are going to be the main sources of relief efforts--as they have been so far.

I'm not saying Radnofsky's plan is perfect, but I know she and her staff have been working directly with Katrina survivors, and I'm pretty sure that her proposal grew out of that interaction. I don't believe that she wants to perpetrate a boondoggle, and I certainly wouldn't support boondoggles either. (Austin has had its share of development boondoggles too.)

It's sure looking like Texas is going to be home--whether temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent--to most of the people who left areas affected by Katrina, and they need and want jobs ASAP. From almost the minute they arrived here in Austin, most have been saying they want to find jobs and get into a place of their own to live. It's kind of scary to me that the convention centers and sports arenas have cleared their schedule through the end of the year so that hurricane survivors can stay there that long. It would be yet another tragedy if ways can't be found to assist them in becoming self-sufficient very, very soon. The current shelters are just no way for anyone to live for any length of time. In an ideal world, they would already be in more suitable housing.

I'm very interested in seeing how the NAACP's proposal progresses, and I hear that John Edwards is calling for WPA-style program. So there are a lot of ideas to look at, and I think that Radnofsky's proposal is a worthwhile addition to the mix.
 

I certainly didn't think you were a troll from the GOP but the first look at the phrase "gumbo zones" and the phrase I quoted above did get me to thinking of at least the DLC.

I agree with you about the deep need for good plans on how to deal with the housing and employment problems.

Right now it is beginning to look like that is going to be taken care of by Bush throwing garbage trucks full of money to GOP contributers. I saw a report that they plan to build housing for 300,000 within six months. Of course, these so far have been no-bid cost-plus contracts with FEMA in charge. FEMA! which has become a dumping ground for the political operatives of the GOP. Talk about not so good plans.

(I am beginning to like the comment ability I recently added to this blog but blogger and blogspot have messed up the links back to the home page. There is no way I can change that template)