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Evacuees 'trapped' in their dream homes
KHOU Houston ^ | Monday, November 28, 2005 | Christina Lee

Posted on 11/29/2005 4:39:00 AM PST by Flyer

With Christmas around the corner, a group of Katrina evacuees worry they can't give the holiday to their kids.

Hauling home a Christmas tree is at least a $30 cab ride.

For Sheryl Lee whose New Orleans home was destroyed, her brand new house is a "dream come true," she said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

Yet for all that it offers, it is also a trap.

"No way to get to a shopping or nothing," Lee said.

The Clarke Springs subdivision, with its neat rows of humble homes, sits outside the beltway. The nearest Metro bus stop is a 30-minute walk.

Sheryl and her neighbors, all Katrina evacuees placed by the city of Houston, do not own cars.

"It's not close by too many things. So far out," said Colette Montgomery, Katrina evacuee.

Neighbors believe at least 40 Katrina families live in the Clarke Springs subdivision. What they're worried about now is whether they can provide Christmas for their kids.

Like all kids, Sheryl's 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son love Christmas, but look around and you won't find a single decoration because hauling home a tree is at least a $30 cab ride.

"And that kind of money I don't have right now," Lee said.

With no car, not only is a job hard to come by, so is Christmas.

"Although they [children] lost everything they had once before, but I could try to get them just a little of it. Might not be all, but it's a little," said Lee.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: evacuees; hurricane; katrina
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To: Flyer

Only a true socialist could see this. Its just like feeding wildlife until they forget how to forage. Of course with wildlife bad things happen when they stop being cute and start demanding. Oh, is there a parallel there?


21 posted on 11/29/2005 4:49:10 AM PST by Steamburg (Pretenders everywhere)
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To: Flyer

Ok, so why doesn't she ask the taxi driver to stop by the Christmas tree lot on her way home from work.... oh, never mind, getting a job would mean getting off her welfare butt.


22 posted on 11/29/2005 4:49:23 AM PST by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: Flyer

People like this piss me off. I brought a 92 Buick LeSabre w/100k miles on it for $799 3 years ago, I put about $250 into it initially. Its stil running fine with 170k miles on it now. For a car that is taking me to work and back, I'd say its a good deal. Of course I do all the maintenance and repairs myself though.


23 posted on 11/29/2005 4:50:01 AM PST by BureaucratusMaximus (The 2005 Chicago White Sox---World Series Champs---WOO! HOO!)
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To: lonestar

I guess there is no one, not a single soul in the neighborhood, that would take her to a Christmas tree lot??

She's just fishing for free stuff.


24 posted on 11/29/2005 4:50:18 AM PST by Flyer (The Internet, my dog and you ~ http://dahtcom.com/masoncam/)
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To: Flyer

I know the city has been generous already, but what would it take to have a city bus that isn't being used on a Saturday or even a school bus, to drive these people into town once a week so they can do their shopping? Maybe they could each chip in $2 or something.


25 posted on 11/29/2005 4:51:16 AM PST by Brooklyn Kid (What's it to ya? ) ((....west of the Jordan, east of the Rock of Gibraltar.................))
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To: Flyer

That FEMA money coulda' bought more than a few very, very nice bicycles. A bike ride to cover ground that otherwise is a "thirty minute walk" is only about ten minutes and it's fun. Most public transportation allows passengers to lock a bike onto a carrier on the bus, and you can just, literally, bike to a stop and from a stop to any destination afterward.

With a basket and bike lock, you're all set for modest necessity shopping. And that INCLUDES a 3-foot Christmas tree, and several of the tiny ones.

This woman is just complaining to complain, is still stuck in the self-pity cycle that prevents her from seeing all the wonderful, miraculous gifts she has been given: a new home (!!), her children, Christmas (thanks, Jesus Christ), her life, all for great big starters.

The lady is just self-pitying. I'm aghast at all the immense blessings she seems impervious to.


26 posted on 11/29/2005 4:51:20 AM PST by MillerCreek
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To: Mercat

He was dumb enough to take the blame.


27 posted on 11/29/2005 4:51:23 AM PST by johnny7 (“You have a corpse in a car, minus a head, in the garage. Take me to it.”)
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To: mollynme

Sounds like an amazing opportunity for a FReeper with a PU truck and trailer. Load it up with trees and cruise the hood like the ice cream vendors.


28 posted on 11/29/2005 4:51:27 AM PST by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))
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To: Flyer



When it comes to Christmas for my kids I think I would manage that 30 minute walk to the bus. Buy a 10.00 artifical tree and make it happen.


29 posted on 11/29/2005 4:52:53 AM PST by SouthernFreebird
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To: Flyer
When they were here they complained about (1) no public transportation (we had to provide one) (2) would not accept used anything (clothes, toys, silverware,etc . . ). When they did get their FEMA check(free money), it was spent at the bingo/casino or electronics. Nothing for a future start at independance. When offered jobs - less than 10% accepted.
30 posted on 11/29/2005 4:53:34 AM PST by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I looked in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Flyer
This is making me crazy. . .

Sounds like some enterprising teens could find new job venues. . .how about; the truck comes in; loaded with trees and they buy one. . .right in front of their house or in their driveway!

How about, RENT or lease a SUV for the weekend - or longer . . .and the 'displaced' share the cost; while they all go shopping. . .together. . .or by turn. . .or some teens provide 'taxi' type rides for 'less than union rates'. . .

WHATever;

I am over Katrina and the myriad of problems. . .or at least some of them.

31 posted on 11/29/2005 4:53:41 AM PST by cricket (No Freedom - No Peace)
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To: Flyer
These people just can't stop whining.

They are the spawn of Satan.

32 posted on 11/29/2005 4:53:42 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with really stupid enemies.)
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To: mollynme

It might not kill her to walk however i feel as if the kids are the ones who are going to be hurt because at the age they wont realize why mom and dad can't get them anything for Christmas.


33 posted on 11/29/2005 4:54:09 AM PST by South_Carolina9
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To: Brooklyn Kid

She and her peers have been given NEW HOMES. For Heaven's sake, NEW HOMES. In a nice, new suburban neighborhood.

A shopping shuttle does not even begin to break even for a $2.00 per passenger fare. Not even begins to. And, thus, taxpayers fund them.

Her city certainly has a Senior Shuttle service...maybe she can get incentivized ("must buy Christmas tree") and ask the City to organize a one-time Holiday Shuttle service for the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the woman does not seem to be problem solving but self-pitying. She needs motivation.


34 posted on 11/29/2005 4:54:53 AM PST by MillerCreek
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To: eastforker
Load it up with trees and cruise the hood like the ice cream vendors.

'course you'd have to unload it, take it in the house AND decorate it (maybe even supply a couple of wrapped gifts) all for charity.

35 posted on 11/29/2005 4:56:03 AM PST by add925 (The Left = Xenophobes in Denial)
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To: eastforker
Load it up with trees and cruise the hood like the ice cream vendors.

Yeah, but this lady is hoping for a free tree, and gifts for the kids, too.

36 posted on 11/29/2005 4:57:32 AM PST by Flyer (The Internet, my dog and you ~ http://dahtcom.com/masoncam/)
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To: Flyer

Boo f'in hoo. The horrors.


37 posted on 11/29/2005 4:58:22 AM PST by dinodino
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To: add925

their mental thought needs some tweaking.


38 posted on 11/29/2005 4:59:04 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: Flyer
"And it's pretty sick that the TV station helps her beg. "

I have been thinking about this article, I know a lot of people in the Houston area have become "tired" of dealing with the huge influx of people after the storm. I just wonder if they did this article intentionally to work on the feelings of people who are getting a little upset about them.
A lot of them have been given so much that they may well be wearing out their welcome now, I wonder if the reporters did this intentionally to show people that a lot of them don't need as much now as they act like they do.

39 posted on 11/29/2005 4:59:54 AM PST by Abathar (Proudly catching hell for posting without reading since 2004)
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To: Flyer
This is sad

This woman and her family have a new house and a new life and she can't be grateful?

What about all three walk the 30 minutes as an "adventure" to shop and tell her kids that the greatest Christmas gift was the generosity of strangers and a new home and new opportunities for a better life!

40 posted on 11/29/2005 5:00:31 AM PST by apackof2 (I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American. Daniel Webster)
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