THE NIGHTMARE'S NOT OVER!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

 

The nightmare that was Hurricane Sandy is not over for many east coast residents. Can I even call them residents? Scores of people are still homeless and living in shelters and some are actually living on the streets. It’s January 2013 and there are fellow Americans still without power, living in what’s left of their home with mold and refuse all around them.  Many Americans and organizations have been kind and generous in their response to the disaster, but what about our own government? As Sandy struck, politicians got up and promised quick response, relief and assistance. And then there was the House of Representatives!

     Tuesday night, House Speaker John Boehner, allowed the house to adjourn after 'fiscal cliff' talks, but, before taking up a much broader $51 billion aid package for Sandy victims.  It was "disappointing and disgusting to watch," said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, blaming "the toxic internal politics of the House majority."

"New Jersey deserves better than the duplicity we saw on display," he said, adding, "Shame on Congress."  Christie said he had tried to reach Boehner on Tuesday night after the latter canceled a vote on the aid bill, which had already been approved by the Senate. "He did not take my calls," said Christie.

     In a news conference, Christie said he joined people of his state in feeling "betrayed" and added that the move summarizes "why the American people hate Congress."

In a statement, Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote: "This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. "

     The plan being considered by the House Friday would send $9 billion in immediate assistance for floor insurance for Sandy victims. The other, broader, $51 billion aid package will be tackled by lawmakers on January 15.  My question is, why does it have to wait? These people are suffering and in immediate need. Take a look at how conditions in some of the affected areas look NOW!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of us come from these east coast areas and have family and friends still living in deplorable conditions. Members of our own DRL staff have suffered great damage and hardship due to Sandy. My sister still lives in Brooklyn. Luckily, she lives in what was Zone 2 and sustained little damage. She drove to our childhood home in Sheepshead Bay and called me almost in tears. The home we grew up in was gutted and had a bright orange paper taped to the front. Most of the houses were destroyed or so damaged they were uninhabitable. Our childhood friends’ homes in what we called “the courts” were demolished. The beautiful, historic Emmons Avenue, the heart of Sheepshead Bay had boats up on the street. The footbridge was under destroyed and large deposits of sludge formed on the sides.

The story is even worse in Long Island, Breezy Point, the Jersey Shore, parts of Connecticut, and other northeaster areas. And now they deal with dirt, filth, rubble, and on top of that – snow and cold. How can members of the House go home to their comfortable air conditioned or heated homes with their electricity, food, and family intact when they know so many are going without all these things?

 And what about FEMA? Don’t even get me started! An untold number of storm victims have been rejected for aid by FEMA for a host of reasons that range from the ridiculous to the confounding. One engaged couple happens to have the same last name and date of birth, though not related at all. FEMA denied them saying they must be related, even though they had proof that it was not true. It seems that FEMA started just sending our form rejections without even finding out what insurance was covering or not.

WHAT CAN WE DO? We need to keep reminding Washington that we want quick action and no excuses. Haven’t they had enough practice with the major hurricanes in Florida and New Orleans to have legislation in place to allow for quick and decisive action to provide emergency relief as well as long term assistance?????

Here is a link to help you find your representative.

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

 

Send them a message saying you want immediate action taken. When a vote is taken on January 15^th for a relief bill for the northeast,(as promised)  let’s tell them to make sure there is no red tape that will keep the money from being distributed immediately.

Also- keep all those affected by this storm in your thoughts and prayers, as well as these politicians that have the power to help them. Pray that our leaders will choose people over profit, Americans over avarice, and assistance over ambition.

Information for this post was taken from:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/boos-house-adjourns-hurricane-sandy-relief-18112801

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-yorkers-denied-aid-fema-bureaucracy-article-1.1211634#ixzz2GzOzmdFY

 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/in-congress-something-old-and-something-new-the-note/

 

 

WICKED HIGH TAXES

Dawn Boyle

A recent study has revealed that Nassau County, New York has the highest taxes in the nation. The study done by the Tax Foundation found that the median Nassau taxpayer shells out about $8,400 a year in property taxes. Suffolk County, New York is 12th on the list with the average taxpayer shelling out about $7,000. Officials say the amount is so high because the biggest factor is school taxes.

Are they trying to drive us off the Island?

My monthly mortgage payment is $3,200.00 for a 1,200 square foot 3 bedroom 2 bath split. I sit on a postage stamp of parcel at 80'x100'. It costs my family of four on average $170. a week in groceries, $160 a month for cable/internet, $200 for four cell phones, $200 a month for car insurance on our two vehicles, $100 for water every three months, $38 a month for garbage pick up, $360 a month for LIPA (Long Island Power Authority) and National Grid. Our extras are $135 for life insurance, $300 for a car lease, $170 a month for drama $200 for miscellaneous credit cards. That totals over $5,800 and we have not left the house yet.

How are people going to survive with tax increases, the price of gas sky rocketing and job layoffs? The amount of taxes we pay each year for the school is insane, but for some reason our teachers have to request classroom necessities 3 times a year for both my children. Programs are getting cut left and right but there is some idiot we all voted into office working three days a month and getting paid $100,000 a year.

It's time to wake up! We need to do something and do it fast! Stop helping foreign countries and help our own NOW! I have at least two friends who's homes are in foreclosure, they are hard working families who can not catch a break. Oh and by the way...my taxes are higher then $8,400 by about $2,000. If you think about how many people are paying $10,000 a year in property taxes it is mind blowing!  I should be living in a ocean front mansion...not the closet I call home.

Check out today's blog wherein our tax paying dollars were hard at work!
http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/04/lunch-time-poll_27.html

Random Rants

Tony Walker

I have nothing to rant about today so I will instead share a funny story.

In October of 1989 my Grandmother died.... no that is not the funny part. I'm strange but I am not that bad.

She was laid to rest at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY. 

The whole family was at the cemetery for the final part of the funeral. 

One town over from Westbury is Hicksville which is where I grew up. Since we lived so close to the cemetery, and since I lived with my Grandmother until a few years before she passed, I used to go to the cemetery often to visit my Grandfather. My Grandmother was getting buried on top of him.

So when the funeral was over a cousin of mine, who didn't live nearby so has hardly ever been to the cemetery, said he couldn't see the headstone from where we were standing due to the casket, dirt pile, etc. So I led the way, knowing exactly where Grandpa's name was on the headstone.

The dirt pile was covered with a tarp. The tarp was huge so it covered the dirt and also was on the ground. In order to get to the headstone I walk right next to the dirt, stepping on the tarp.

Turns out under the tarp was no dirt, no ground, no nothing. I fell into the grave!!

Luckily Grandpa was there so I only fell 6 feet. If he wasn't there I would've went 18 feet! So Grandpa saved my ass.

I landed on my feet... I had 2 feet then.... but the impact was so hard that everything fell out of my pockets... keys, wallet, etc. Being only 6 feet down should be no problem for a 5 foot 10 man to climb out. But I couldn't find my keys so I had to dig around to find them. My mother freaked out because she didn't know how deep I fell so before I found the keys I had to put my hand up and wave to let her know I was ok but I had to find my keys!

This funeral turned out to be the most hilarious afternoon. The whole family couldn't stop laughing. The limo drivers who took us home were wondering why this family that just left a funeral was laughing so hard!

I guess Grandma was trying to take me with her but it wasn't meant to be.

New Hampshire As Per Tony

Tony Walker

I'm back baby!!! What a crazy time last week. Wakes, funerals, school plays, & a business trip all in one week!!!

I tried to keep up on my Lounge duties but I don't think I came through. Sorry about that Barbara & Dawn. Thanks for your support & patience. But now I am back & ready to rock.... and I am horny as ever!!!
I am proud to report that I can be trusted on a business trip. Not once did I make any moves on the women I was with. I hardly made any perverted comments! I can't believe it either. But if Boyle was with my I probably would be having reattachment surgery right now.

Anyway.... the trip went real well. Drop Dead Comedy totally kicked New Hampshire's ass. We received a standing ovation from our audience & had a great time.
However, I do have one complaint.... THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!!
Are there any New Hampshirians reading this? If there are, I need you to explain what there is to do there!!
After our show we went back to the hotel to clean up. We decided to go out, have some drinks, eats, & party it up. We got to "T Bones" on Perkins Road in Derry at 1215AM. The place closes at 1230!!! This was a Saturday night!! It was the only place around open past midnight!!!

When I got home I voiced my complaints to a friend of mine who grew up in New Hampshire. He told me he once went to watch a Monday Night Football game at a bar. Right after kickoff the bar announced that it was last call! What is wrong with you people????

Boy are we spoiled in NY!!

UNCLE BILL

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I met Uncle Bill for the first time twenty years ago. My husband and I married in
Florida and most of his family lived in upstate New York. The first opportunity we had
to go and visit was the following year, right after our daughter was born. I was very
nervous about meeting the “in-laws” Fortunately; the first person I met was Uncle Bill.
He’s a tall, broad shouldered man with a ready smile and a kind heart. He welcomed and
indoctrinated me into the family by regaling me with stories of my husband’s youth. I
learned about camping trips gone wrong, pig farming, hunting trips and even a few Navy
stories. His big bear hug made me feel like I’d known him all my life.