Dear Claimant, Hey, how’s it going? Weather’s pretty warm for a January, huh? Yeah, I was able to leave all the really cold weather clothes back at the hotel and…okay, first, allow me to introduce myself. Well, kind of introduce myself… I work for a rather unpopular agency down in the Gulf Coast. Let’s call it an insurance company and yeah, turns out we’re about … Continue reading An Open Letter to Gulf Coast Residents…
You might think it would be fair for any denied claimant in the Gulf Coast to be able to take their denial letter to a real person at some GCCF office and talk about it, discuss the reasoning for the denial, figure out a way to improve their claim…in other words, have some kind of a negotiation to come up with a just solution. Nope, … Continue reading It’s good to be the king…
And now, a word from our sponsors: Down – Bury Me in Smoke (Live) The hidden subtext? Obviously: I’m heading down to New Orleans, spend some time with old friends and new, and a number of books. Much thanks to everyone who links to, and takes the time to read and comment on this blog…it’s all very appreciated, and I hope your weekend brings you … Continue reading And now, a word from our sponsors…Five Days Version
Several meetings over two days, 2-300 people a meeting and so many, overwhelmingly critical of the GCCF’s Kenneth Feinberg who stood in front of everyone and extended his empathy, said he was doing the best he could, repeatedly said he would check into it, look it up, see what he could do while at the same time emphasizing the people harmed by BP’s oil spill … Continue reading As problems persist in the Gulf, listening ain’t hearing…
So Feinberg comes down to the Gulf Coast to speak to residents and explain the three options available to people filing claims and is now halfway through his meetings, held in Moss Point, Bay St. Louis and Grand Isle…and what happens? Well, what did you think would happen? In Moss Point: John Fraleigh of Kiln, Miss said he is barely hanging on. He’s a month … Continue reading Nice Meeting, Feinberg…now what? How about a petition?
The Gulf Coast Claims Facility was created with the stated purpose of handling claims brought by the people so harmed when British Petroleum spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. It was supposed to be done fairly, and with haste and this was promised by its neutral arbitrator, Ken Feinberg. Neither appears to have happened. The claims process is not perceived … Continue reading The GCCF: Sowing the Seeds of Discord
Approaching nine months after the Deepwater Horizon exploded, spilling 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, sensitive marshes off the coast of Louisiana are still covered with oil. Friday, state and local representatives took the media on a tour of Barataria Bay, showing an area where the oil continues to destroy the marshes and also where protective boom is gone or has been eaten … Continue reading “It’s like you’re in bed with BP.”
Transparency. When it come to the GCCF, there is none. The Justice Department has called for transparency in how the claims process is being handled. Attorney Generals in the Gulf Coast have called for it. The residents with claims in the pipeline have demanded it. Feinberg has promised it. But still, there is no transparency. Instead we have a wall of secrecy erected around the … Continue reading Where there’s smoke…there’s Feinberg
Up at five, par usual and scanning the headlines, reading the articles and I don’t know where to begin, what to write about. Brain’s feeling foggy and there’s a whole lotta misery out there: We got birds falling out of the sky, massive fish kills on the rivers and coasts and the bees, the pollinators of a third of our food supply are dying off, 96% … Continue reading Feeling a bit overwhelmed today…
Hey all… A simple request for help: Yesterday, I received a message from a person in Louisiana regarding a claim with Ken Feinberg’s GCCF, which shows just a photograph of the frustration thousands are having with their oil spill claims. The person who wrote this letter states several different business owners with quick pay claims have received similar correspondence from the GCCF as shown below. … Continue reading What denial looks like…a request for help with the GCCF
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 