Posted on 09/12/2005 10:22:15 PM PDT by Revel
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee commandeers Sam's Wal-Mart stores Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee said he has "commandered" the Sam's and Wal-Mart stores in the parish and ordered them to open as soon as possible.
Lee said he took the action after he learned that a Wal-Mart store wanted to open recently but was told by FEMA officials that it could not.
"I am upset with FEMA and some of their regulations," Lee said.
After talking about the situation concerning the Wal-Mart on Thursday, Lee said he briefly talked to Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans on Friday. He asked her to check on the situation and find out if there was a legitimate reason to keep the store closed.
But because of communication difficulties, he did not hear back and took the situation in his own hands.
Lee said he gave handwritten notes to Wal-Mart stores in Harvey and Kenner saying they were ordered to open as soon as possible. Lee said Parish President Aaron Broussard agreed with the decision.
Lee said anyone from FEMA who tries to close either store will be arrested by deputies.
"We're encouraging the businesses to get up and going."
On other topics, Lee said he had 40 deputies who didn't report for duty for the storm. One who tried to return was told not to waste his time.
"As far as I am concerned (he) will never get a job in law enforcement again," Lee said.
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_11.html#078842
I would also like to give thanks to TB2k for posting this article- which is where I found it.(Public Area)
Armed and Dangerous: Private Police on the March
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1483299/posts
The only Chinese-American sheriff in America.
Good! Lee is a good man, I remember him being a no-nonsense cop that didnt mess around
"Lee said he took the action after he learned that a Wal-Mart store wanted to open recently but was told by FEMA officials that it could not."
I wish there was more clarification on this. There might be a good reason for FEMA not wanting the store open.
Could be an issue with traffic in and out of the WalMart causing issues with clean-up crews. Or maybe FEMA`s using the parking lot for some purpose. The media always seems to leave these little details out.
Then again, maybe the Sheriff is dead-on right to do what he is doing.
More info needed here.
how does one force a private enterprise to stay open for business - with a gun???
Wow this is getting more interesting everyday. First, who is going to shop there or be allowed to come in to work. Second, I thought they made everyone leave because it was unhealthy to be there???
This gets more interesting everyday.
LOL I need sleep... I'm repeating myself now.
It is probably nothing more than some arcane bureaucratic regulation that is typical of federal bureaucracies. I'm glad the Sheriff is sticking it to these guys. FEMA as well as the state homeland security agencies (such as the Louisiana one that blocked the Red Cross from going into NOLA) have committed some serious errors in judgement, likely promoted by their bureaucratic systems.
Jefferson Parish has been allowing people to come in during the day. Technically they're supposed to leave by nightfall, but I understand that's not being enforced. Some of Jefferson Parish flooded, but a lot, perhaps most, didn't. The dry areas will be liveable once essential services are restored.
Yep, most likely the fema big head syndrome.
The Sheriff is doing the right thing.
If fema has a "reason" then let's hear it but I'm probably right.
It doesn't say if it's the Federal FEMA or the State FEMA. After all, it was the state FEMA who turned back the Red Cross.
I would say that since Wal-mart wants to open that the Sheriff is just issuing the command as a formality so that the decision cannot be challenged except to the sherrif.(Wal-mart won't be harrashed by fema) The odd thing here is that the Sheriff and fema don't seem to be able to communicate. Who ever wrote the article probably knew if there was a just reason or not. My guess is that is the same reason why they want to keep all the relief organizations out. People are easier to herd around if they don't have the conforts of home.
This is SO Harry Lee!
He is Korean.
There was also a story about FEMA cutting the Jefferson Parish government's communication lines immediately after the storm, and Harry Lee having them restored and posting armed guards to keep them from being cut off again. I don't know how much, if any, truth there is to that, but it's one of the stories going around.
These idiots are going to rush in and then a year from now we're going to see stories where they are growing a third nut and babies with 12 toes etc. then they'll be blaming FEMA for not keeping them out !
I thought that NO was evacuated?
FEMA is really becoming the Boogie Man. I wonder if Sheriff Lee would be interested in arresting a squad of NG troops?
The "F" in FEMA does not stand for fouled-up.
What possible reason would FEMA have for disallowing a store to open?
Chinese, according to his official bio. Also a Democrat, but a conservative one.
http://www.jpso.com/lee.htm
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