Complaint Review: Louisiana Government Officials - Baton Rouge Louisiana

Yeah, this is an old report, but as a CITIZEN of St. Bernard I find this complaint disgusting. 1. Your husband is a tow truck driver who was not here working for free, he, like thousands of others, made his way down here to make money from this disaster. He wasn't here for favors, but to make money. If he doesn't like the working conditions, the laws, or the rules set forth then please by all means go back home and tow cars for pennies on the dollar that he earned here. 2. The curfew was for us, the citizens who were living in the Parish at that time; not out of town tow truck drivers who stay elsewhere. Perhaps you husband failed to mention that in order for him to get into this parish you either had to have proof of residency or a certified reason to be here. We had more out of town looters sitting in our jail than any locals, and the sheriff's dept was reduced to a force of approx. 100 in total (down from 500 pre-K). In order to protect the victims of Katrina from looters and carpet baggers the sheriff's dept. placed limits on non-residents so that they could set up to check on paperwork etc. for the EPA. Again, if your husband can't operate under the special circumstances due to disaster conditions, he should have gone home and towed cars there for pennies on the dollar that he made here. 3. No one said that operating here at that time was going to be easy that's why it's called a disaster zone. The EPA set up the rules and the sheriff's department followed them. Why? Because the EPA was overseeing the project funded by FEMA, because it was to protect the American public from unscrupulous car sales of flooded and contaminated (oil spill in St. Bernard on top of flooding) vehicles towed by unauthorized drivers, and finally because it was the law and the right thing to do. Frankly, it sounds like you and your husband have issues with authority, following the rules, and telling the whole story. The people of St. Bernard are very appreciative of the assistance given to us out of the goodness of the hearts of others. We do not appreciate the fact that so many people who have come here thumping their chests touting "Disaster Relief" signs while getting paid outlandish amounts of money are complaining that they have to follow our rules and our laws. If your husband can't follow the rules and laws of Louisiana, especially at a time of disaster, perhaps he should stay in OK with you.

There was a story in my local paper a few weeks ago that a small group of Phoenix firefighters were sent to help with the post-Katrina rescues. They were accompanied by a couple of police officers and the entire group was deputized as federal officers. The need for the police escort became apparent once they arrived because they were told by two different local cops in two different places "get out or get shot." The Phoenix group returned home because FEMA objected to the fact that the Phoenix police officers (who were there as federal agents) were armed.

sheriff stevens has taken it upon himself to remove 400+ vehicles from St. Bernard Parish and have them crushed before the insurance companies can come out and look at them. I guess this marshall law thing has really gone to his head!! He is in big trouble with the insurance companies, and Co-Parts. They are going to have him charged with 400+ counts of auto theft. If he would pull his head out of his butt and let the wreckers do their jobs maybe the vehicles would get cleaned up faster!!

Do these people want this mess cleaned up or not?? I just don't understand this. I guess they don't want the people, you know the ones that pay their wages, to be able to move back in. Of course, they have already proven that they don't care about the people down there. 400 school buses were distroyed by the flooding. Why didn't they use those school buses to evacuate the areas where the people are poorer and don't have anyway to leave??? 400 buses lost and countless lives. Also, it was the government that blew the levees, they didn't break. They blew them so they could save bourbon street!!!! It shows you where their priorities lie.

Hi Lori!! What a great name!!! In answer to your question no, he can't haul the cars to one area outside the curfew zone. The idiot police down there call this staging and if you do this then they will impound the cars. Makes sense doesn't it? You were smart to tell your husband not to go down there. Mine didn't have a choice. You are so right, if more women were in office, maybe our country would be run how it should!!! The good old boy network down there is going to be the end of Louisiana!!!

Can your husband bypass some of the nonsense by hauling one vehicle to a common area (outside of the curfew zone), return for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, parking them in the common area as well, and after all four vehicles are there, haul them out to the yard? This would give him more hours to work, since he wouldn't be within the zone that they're giving him fits about, and allow him to meet quota each day. Can't give you much help with the government officials in the area, since I'm not too fond of the way most municipalities work. Maybe they should get a few women in there to help them get it together *wink* Good luck to your husband (and I'm thanking my lucky stars that when my hubby asked to go down to help, I told him NO, since he'd just gotten back from a 6 month stint out of town!!)