#170: Katrina Victims
This is my 170th post. When I get to 200 I'm having a party. :) An internet party. You're all invited.
So there's a story out of Memphis today that a "family" (I put it in quotes because the parties involved are no longer convinced that the man and woman were married) duped a Church into purchasing a $75,000 home for them. After the sale was final, the Katrina Victims turned around and flipped the house for $88,000, before ever setting foot inside or moving in a piece of furniture. When asked about the callous sale, the man, Joshua Thompson, told a TV reporter, "Take it up with God."
A picture at the above link shows the house. It appears to be in good repair. I do notice what looks like bars on the door. Perhaps it was in a bad neighborhood? Either way, in another article I read from the Chicago Trib, the "wife" of Mr. Thompson went with the realtor and selected this home herself. The money for the purchase was donated by church members and the sale was done in Mrs. Thompson's name. Without moving in, they flipped it for $13,000 in profit. Now, so far nothing in this scenario is illegal. But it is unethical as sin, and I feel terrible for the people of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in Memphis. They interviewed many families before deciding upon the Thompson's, who told them they were relocating to Memphis because their teenage children liked it and they desperately needed a new start.
The Thompson's have taken their "winnings" and moved back to New Orleans. Where no doubt they've filed refugee status and are awaiting FEMA checks. Not only have they robbed the people of Temple of Deliverance Church, but they are robbing the tax payers. They are swindlers. And I hope some day they get what they deserve. You reap what you sow.
The sad part here? The bad few ruin it for the many who are suffering and trying to get back on their feet after Katrina. Those who are trying to rebuild their lives honestly are put in the same bucket as these vagrants.
Like the Katrina Victim that beat this womans father near to death after he gave him a job. Her father is recovering, and she is thankful (it is the time of year for it) he is alive and that others still give to those that are in need.
But the Katrina evacuees living in Houston, the ones that run in the gangs that have changed the downtown landscape, again, after it was so near to being cleaned up ... well, they don't make me happy. A city and an entire state opened their arms to these people so they could have a place to fall. Church's opened their doors and laid out cots, gave supplies, were on hand to help displaced citizens find their way. And now Houston has a spike in crime and murder rates. Houston has battled crime and specifically murder rates for the past 30 years. In the 80s they were the murder capitol of the country. As of October 16th, according to the article, 316 people had been murdered. 65 were Katrina related. From this year to last, Houston has had a near 50% spike in murder rates.
These numbers can not be ignored. Houston does not have the police capacity to handle the influx of crime they have inherited. 150,000 evacuees now reside in Houston, and most of them are law abiding citizens. But the few that are not, are reaking havoc on a city that was just starting to clean up its downtown area.
It's just not fair. Temple Church in Memphis and the entire city of Houston, are attempting to give charity and aid to those in need ... and in a few painful instances, it's blowing up in their faces. We all need to be careful when watching the television and hearing accounts of "victims" who aren't being helped by FEMA or who are still suffering. They may not be victims of Katrina so much that they are victims of poor choices.
So there's a story out of Memphis today that a "family" (I put it in quotes because the parties involved are no longer convinced that the man and woman were married) duped a Church into purchasing a $75,000 home for them. After the sale was final, the Katrina Victims turned around and flipped the house for $88,000, before ever setting foot inside or moving in a piece of furniture. When asked about the callous sale, the man, Joshua Thompson, told a TV reporter, "Take it up with God."
A picture at the above link shows the house. It appears to be in good repair. I do notice what looks like bars on the door. Perhaps it was in a bad neighborhood? Either way, in another article I read from the Chicago Trib, the "wife" of Mr. Thompson went with the realtor and selected this home herself. The money for the purchase was donated by church members and the sale was done in Mrs. Thompson's name. Without moving in, they flipped it for $13,000 in profit. Now, so far nothing in this scenario is illegal. But it is unethical as sin, and I feel terrible for the people of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in Memphis. They interviewed many families before deciding upon the Thompson's, who told them they were relocating to Memphis because their teenage children liked it and they desperately needed a new start.
The Thompson's have taken their "winnings" and moved back to New Orleans. Where no doubt they've filed refugee status and are awaiting FEMA checks. Not only have they robbed the people of Temple of Deliverance Church, but they are robbing the tax payers. They are swindlers. And I hope some day they get what they deserve. You reap what you sow.
The sad part here? The bad few ruin it for the many who are suffering and trying to get back on their feet after Katrina. Those who are trying to rebuild their lives honestly are put in the same bucket as these vagrants.
Like the Katrina Victim that beat this womans father near to death after he gave him a job. Her father is recovering, and she is thankful (it is the time of year for it) he is alive and that others still give to those that are in need.
But the Katrina evacuees living in Houston, the ones that run in the gangs that have changed the downtown landscape, again, after it was so near to being cleaned up ... well, they don't make me happy. A city and an entire state opened their arms to these people so they could have a place to fall. Church's opened their doors and laid out cots, gave supplies, were on hand to help displaced citizens find their way. And now Houston has a spike in crime and murder rates. Houston has battled crime and specifically murder rates for the past 30 years. In the 80s they were the murder capitol of the country. As of October 16th, according to the article, 316 people had been murdered. 65 were Katrina related. From this year to last, Houston has had a near 50% spike in murder rates.
Between Sept. 1, 2004, and Oct. 16, 2005, there were 344 homicides in Houston. From Sept. 1, 2005, through Oct. 16, there were a total of 445 slayings, 83 involving Katrina evacuees, an increase of roughly 29 percent.
These numbers can not be ignored. Houston does not have the police capacity to handle the influx of crime they have inherited. 150,000 evacuees now reside in Houston, and most of them are law abiding citizens. But the few that are not, are reaking havoc on a city that was just starting to clean up its downtown area.
It's just not fair. Temple Church in Memphis and the entire city of Houston, are attempting to give charity and aid to those in need ... and in a few painful instances, it's blowing up in their faces. We all need to be careful when watching the television and hearing accounts of "victims" who aren't being helped by FEMA or who are still suffering. They may not be victims of Katrina so much that they are victims of poor choices.
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