A few days ago, I wrote a little something about British Petroleum having the power to make sure people filing claims in the Gulf – quick, interim or final – were treated fairly and generously by Ken Feinberg’s GCCF. Well, it would appear they have decided to exercise that power, for one lucky claimant, and that’s not all…apparently they’ve also given a healthy shove to … Continue reading It would appear BP’s still runnin’ this show…
I’ve been writing a lot over the past few months about Kenneth Feinberg and the failings of the GCCF. Some might even say I’ve become obsessed, but no, not really…it’s just that it’s become increasingly apparent that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility is the third tragedy in five years to hit the Gulf Coast, after Katrina and the Army Corps of Engineer’s levees and after … Continue reading The man behind the curtain…Lest we forget
So, Feinberg went to Capitol Hill yesterday and did the congressional version of his town hall tour where he promised to post the methodology of how the GCCF will determine interim and final payments to the GCCF website on Tuesday of next week, and then also promised to begin making interim payments on Feb 18th. For all the claimants disappointed by denials or low payment … Continue reading Promises and Dead Ends…Feinberg’s Congressional Theatre
After a less than successful southern swing through the Gulf States, today Ken Feinberg’s GCCF disaster tour will be on Capitol Hill to answer questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, chaired by Senator Mary Landrieu. The questions are expected to be aggressive, tough and the demands will be high. Rep Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish set a preemptive … Continue reading Today, Feinberg Comes to Congress…while Gulf Coast and BP attorneys go to court
Barack Obama gave his State of the Union speech last night and did his best George W Bush impression by not mentioning Louisiana and coastal restoration. He also did his best to avoid such a foreign concept as global warming, and when it came to Ken Feinberg’s GCCF and that oil spill, that whole British Petroleum thing that happened down there in the Gulf, well… … Continue reading Spill? What spill? Barack Obama already forgets…
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
When it comes to our government and its accompanying systems, people tend to fall primarily into two camps: believers and skeptics. The believer tends to take the government’s word for it, listen to what they have to say and nod accordingly, maybe occasionally troubled by its actions but ultimately believing they are working for the greater good. The skeptic is more inclined to questions, more … Continue reading Q and A on Gulf Narratives…the skeptic’s lament.
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…
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 