BOSTON AREA KATRINA MEETING 10/26/05

UPDATE ON KATRINA CITIZENS
During this meeting we got a report from the community leaders and politicians who went out to Otis Airforce base during the last days of the Katrina evacuees' stay. All of the people are off the Otis Airforce Base now and most are living in private homes, rooms, SROs and hotels in Eastern Massachusetts. There was several heart-wrenching accounts of the conditions on the base: Families separated, no privacy, no continuity of care, untreated depression and high stress, filth, open disrespect from the Base and State police. Additionally, Evacuees were only allowed to take two bags off the base and forced to leave items behind. Some were sent to Taunton during the time that the Whittendon Dam was about the break. Some have been offered jobs on the Cape at lower than the normal going rate; many of the women have been steered into Domestic work. But the most heartbreaking stories were about the evacuees who asked, "What took you (the Black community) so long?" and "Where were you?" People in attendance at the meeting on Wednesday were literally crying. Some evacuees have gone to Alabama to live closer to home. Some have returned home temporarily to locate family members or meet with insurance adjusters. They need all of our prayers and good wishes. Below is information on how to continue to help. Please share accordingly:

HOW TO HELP: UPDATED
Salvation Army-has funds for Katrina Evacuees to travel back to the Gulf Area-one way. If they need to return, they can apply for funds in the Gulf for the return ticket. I called the Boston Salvation Army on 11/5/05. They are no longer giving travellers aid, (they ended that program in October). However, they are sending food to the Gulf Region and they are buying furniture for Katrina families here in Eastern Massachusetts.
ABCD-is still the contact for housing for both Katrina families and for people who have extra housing/rooms to rent.
Children's Services of Roxbury (in Dudley Square)-is a clearinghouse of information for Eastern Massachusetts Katrina victims. If you have a service to provide, contact Children Services to be added to their database of resources at 617-989-2650/1. Katrina Victims can also call or walk in. They are now taking monetary donations, as well.
Pam Ogletree will be taking over as Director (replacing Rev. Richardson) beginning January 1st, 2006.
Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights-is organizing a group of professionals to research the insurance, legal, FEMA and credit issues of Katrina Evacuees. Their new President is Chuck Walker.
Children's Defense Fund-has organized detectives and law enforcement to find lost Katrina children. They are accepting monetary donations.
Ms. Mildred Hailey of Bromley Heath-is organizing an open-house/forum for the Katrina issues, which will include the evacuees and those who want to help, scheduled for the end of November (tentatively November 21st). I will let you know the details as they become available.
Winter Coat Drive-Senator Wilkerson's Regional Office (951 Tremont across from Slades) is taking winter coat donations.
Neighbors for Neighbors JP-are having their first anniversary celebration at the Milky Way on Tuesday November 1st, 7-9pm, FREE. Their organizer, Joe Porcelli has invited us to their event and to join their Yahoo Group.

WHERE WE GOT STUCK
A BMA representative stood up and took about thirty minutes to explain to us (again) why the BMA had no intention of providing direct services to the Katrina Evacuees neither during the last eight week nor in the future. It was suggested that Rev. Brown who was on the base, was paid by the State and so BMA was not responsible for his actions (or inaction). Even though the press and the Governor repeatedly named the BMA as the lead organization on Otis Airforce base, the BMA neither felt responsible to correct the public's perception, nor did they feel responsible to step in and provide the direct services that the Evacuees needed. Several of the community leaders and politicians spoke to the moral, political and practical manner in which we failed the Katrina victims. This part of the meeting took about forty-five minutes.

Rev. Richardson gave a report updating the ongoing work at the Children's Services of Roxbury (see above). Ms. Hailey started to gather a group to discuss plans for a Katrina forum or job fair, but by that time, my sister and I had to leave. What happened next was just left of bizarre.

FOLK WHO HAVE LOST THEIR EVER LOVING MINDS
When I was deciding whether or not to start this blog, a friend encouraged me, saying something like, "you could build a cult following." Apparently two of the current followers are Senator Wilkerson and her chief of staff, Barrett Oshar Berry. After Wednesday's meeting, Mr. Berry took it upon himself to approach my sister in the elevator and ask her, "Are you the one who writes all those letters?...The one who writes that blog and sings on the choir at Peoples Baptist Church who is an attorney and failed the Bar six times?" (!?!?!)
I stepped in front of him and told him that I was the one with the blog. He proceeded to tell to me that I was "reporting" the events of the meetings incorrectly in my blog and that he liked my letters but my blog was full of incorrect information...that it wasn't "factual" (as if I needed his approval)
I spoke to him in a civil matter, though. I wanted to let him talk and get more information on the true source of his interest. I asked him if he had a blog or if he knew about blogging. He told me he managed a website (www.blackandchristian.com ). I told him that my blog, just like every other blog, expressed the opinion of the author. I reminded him that two people witnessing the same event can have different opinions/reports based on their own point of view and past experiences. I tried to bring the conversation back to the Katrina meeting, several times. However, every one of his follow up sentences started with, "But in your blog..."
My sister and I had to get back to work. But I had to ask the gentleman, "You said I 'failed the bar six times?' Where did that come from?" He replied, "Well you know I had to do my background check on you"
(on the taxpayers dime? or does he go home and get in people's business?).
He tried to perform a grand finale by saying, "In the meeting we talked about being accountable. You have to be accountable for what you write" (Aw H*LL to the Naw!) By this time we had walked outside.
I told him that I stand by everything I write and what I say and that I'm not afraid of anyone. While he tried to open the locked door and re-enter Elder Services, he told me to, "Be well" (What?!?!?!) I turned around and left. The Senator had slipped out of the building while we were talking and was already in her car.

MACARACACHIMBA, MA!
...or TAKING THE HIGH ROAD 101
Words cannot express how enraged I was after that conversation. I would have to write a whole new blog of "what Jesus told me not to tell you" to cover all the the things I did not say to Mr. Berry. I sincerely hope that attempted intimidation and/or humiliation of taxpaying voters is not the focus of Senator Wilkerson's work. Especially when her constituents need so much assistance with their basic livelihood. As a Blackwoman representative of an socio-economically depressed constituency, her sole purpose should be empowering people to improve their lives. The people of Back Bay Beacon Hill Chinatown Dorchester Fenway Jamaica Plain Mattapan Mission Hill Roxbury South End need to hold her accountable, or vote her out of office.