Ministers Want Funeral Cap Removed

www.rnews.com ^ | Apr 14, 2006 | Anthony Pascale

[PissAndVinegar]

Several Rochester ministers are calling on County Executive Maggie Brooks to reconsider a reduction in funding for funerals for the poor.

Monroe County once picked up most of the bill for those who could not afford a funeral for their loved one. In March, the county started capping its funeral assistance at $1,250.

Local ministers said that they are now being forced to help bury the poor.

"It also smells like a little bit of racism because we know, now I don't think it was intended, but we know that most of those at the bottom of the economic scale are African Americans," said Rev. Raymond Graves.

County spokesman Larry Staub called Graves comment offensive. The change in funding is expected to save the county roughly $500,000 a year.

Staub said the change is final and that it came in response to residents’ calls for the county to do something about a rise in human services and social services costs.

[PissAndVinegar]

Ok so, for those of you not following: Bush doesn't care about black people and Maggie Brooks doesn't care about dead, black people.

The Race Card - is there any situation it can't be used?

[PissAndVinegar]

sorry:
http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=36859&rnews_story_type=18

[Paloma_55]

Headlines - Meteor Hits Brooklyn - Blacks and Poor Hit Hardest!

[mtbopfuyn]

If the coffin don't fit...

[Sax]

Man, I don't want any of my loved ones money spent on my carcass and I'm serious about that. I'd be happy to know they planned on burying me in a cardboard box, or burning me on a pyre - then go have a potluck lunch or something. Let 'em spend their money on important things, not my carcass. They can rest assured I'd be very happy to know they did it that way. The funeral business seems like a racket to me.

[Rodney King]

Much of the problem with funeral costs is that the funeral homes have made it a crime in many states to buy a casket by mail order. So the funeral home directors make a killing on the caskets. The churches ought to get together and start a funeral home so that they can buy the caskets and sell them at just enought to cover their overhead.

[zipp_city]

When the tithe system was set up the people paid 10% to the priests who in turn paid 10% to the poor fund. So if the grovenment is going to have to take care of the churches poor maybe they should be taxed.

[trebb]

"It also smells like a little bit of racism because we know, now I don't think it was intended, but we know that most of those at the bottom of the economic scale are African Americans," said Rev. Raymond Graves.

Of course, intended or not, the guy really wants folks to pick up on the insinuation. besides, if he didn't want to opine it was intended, then he should have left the word "racism" out of it.

I'm so glad that I left Monroe County/Rochester/NY over 30 years ago...

[peggybac]

One thing my family has not done is purchase caskets from the funeral home. The homes have done everything else, thank God, but we've always purchased our caskets from wholesale places - just as nice and so much cheaper.

[makoman]

Ok so, for those of you not following: Bush doesn't care about black people and Maggie Brooks doesn't care about dead, black people. The Race Card - is there any situation it can't be used?

You would not say that if you were AFRICAN-AMERICAN ! :~)

[Gay State Conservative]

The Race Card - is there any situation it can't be used?

Or to put it another way:

"The Race Card.Don't Leave Home Without It"

[dirtboy]

Or "The Race Card: No pre-set spending limit!"

[bordergal]

There's also the "cremation club". I kid you not, my parents have signed up for it.

The price is much less then for a casket and funeral home operation.

The first thing that came to my mind was the ingratitude expressed in this article. Low income people are getting help at other's expense, but seem to think they have the right to impose unlimited costs.

They also have the option of helping out personally and/or pooling their resources, why aren't they doing that?
Take up a collection among friends and relatives, if you want a bigger funeral.

[TheBattman]

Someone please explain why you can't simply burry someone for $1250 or less....

Last time I looked at caskets, you could get one for less than $450.

I know there are other expenses - including embalming if required by the state, and some municipalities require a burial vault as well. But still - $1250 to put someone in the ground?

Of course, it seems to be that cremation and scattering the ashes should be far cheaper....and probably be better for the environment in the long run.....hehehe

[TheBattman]

When the tithe system was set up the people paid 10% to the priests who in turn paid 10% to the poor fund. So if the grovenment is going to have to take care of the churches poor maybe they should be taxed.

Was there suppose to be a coherent statement in that????

[Young Scholar]

I'm pretty sure a cremation can be done for less than $1,250.

[packrat35]

I've told my wife several times the SAME thing. Don't claim the body and save your money. It just pisses her off, though.

[traviskicks]

"It also smells like a little bit of racism because we know, now I don't think it was intended, but we know that most of those at the bottom of the economic scale are African Americans," said Rev. Raymond Graves.

The good news is that this is a local issue, it doesn't take place on a Federal Level.... Yet.





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