Hello again… Some of you out there are aware the moving days are upon me…just completed one move, literally down the street which helped pave the way for the big move, five weeks from today to New Orleans San Francisco. Originally, I wanted it to be New Orleans, but alas…you got yourself one fucked up governor down there and the only thing he likes better … Continue reading The winds of change…
“We all knew we were experiencing health problems, but if you don’t have money and access to health care, it’s a win for BP,” said Carol Farmer, 52, of Milton. “No one knows about us, and BP can brush it under the carpet.” Not knowing. The country remains largely unaware of health problems occurring to cleanup workers and others in the Gulf of Mexico and those … Continue reading The fear of not knowing…
This is how it’s supposed to work: A company, Transocean in this case, makes a bonehead move and gives bonuses to its executives for their “exemplary” safety record last year. Transocean, being an offshore drilling contractor at work on the Deepwater Horizon when it exploded and killed eleven people, is immediately barraged with criticism for awarding these bonuses. Steven Newman, CEO of Transocean, and four … Continue reading Okay, but will Hayward and Feinberg follow suit?
Late yesterday afternoon, US District Judge Barbier issued a ruling that bans the “neutral” arbitrator of oil spill claims from repeating his mantra that he is independent of British Petroleum. “After reviewing the facts and submissions by the parties, the court finds that BP has created a hybrid entity, rather than one that is fully independent of BP,” Barbier wrote in his ruling. “While BP … Continue reading Judge Barbier Rules! Feinberg is not independent…
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…
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
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?
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
So how was your New Year’s Eve? For Ken Feinberg it was a splendid night at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House where he rubbed shoulders with wealth and celebrity, including Natalie Portman, J Christopher Flowers, Donald Tober and Eric Bogosian. The opera, Verdi’s “La Traviata” was reportedly a tremendous success and enjoyed by all. Meanwhile… Dan Ford, owner of Gulf Coast Tire and Automotive received … Continue reading A Night at the Opera…
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 