Posted on 02/04/2006 7:28:35 AM PST by Ellesu
(AP) A group of Hurricane Katrina evacuees staying at a Queens hotel want it to contribute $2,500 to each family as an incentive to move, but the hotel's owners are questioning their obligation to pay.
Charlie King, a lawyer and a Democratic candidate for New York attorney general who was involved in a meeting this week on the proposal between hotel management and community leaders, told The New York Times in Saturday's editions that the money also would help cover costs for families seeking permanent housing.
The owners of the hotel, Radisson J.F.K. Airport, are expected to meet with the families' representatives on Tuesday.
"What the hotel is wondering is why private citizens are coming forward and asking the hotel for things that are FEMA's responsibility," said Marc Leffman, chief executive of Atlanta-based French Quarter Hospitality, which owns the hotel.
About 30 families remain at the Radisson, the last of about 120 Gulf Coast-area families who arrived there after the hurricane.
Their rooms are being paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Many of the families who have left the hotel have relocated to city-managed or permanent housing, or to other hotels in the area.
In January, the Radisson's managers told remaining evacuees that they would need to find new housing by the end of the month because of a scheduled $7 million hotel renovation. That led to a protest in which the Rev. Al Sharpton threatened to boycott the hotel if it forced the evacuees to leave.
Lol...good grief.
They've had FIVE MONTHS to find someplace to stay. Drop-kick 'em.
Besides, how the heck did they end up staying on our tax dollar in one of the most expensive cities in the world for hotels? At a *Radisson* no less. Jeez, when my wife and I travel on our business, we have to stretch it to stay at a Hampton, and we only do that because we're in their points program (and since we do retail and travel with some cash, I'd rather not risk staying at, say, the local Motel 6).
}:-)4
I think this is the lastest page from the Welfare Rights handbook.
I don't fall for this ploy.
The truth be known, Radisson will
"pay" the families to get out, then
receive a tax credit on their books
for 2005. Al Sharpton will look
good, the Hotel will look good,
and the Democrats will take credit
for the move. Barf.
There goes my blood pressure again! Why doesn't the rev and his Hollyweird friends buy them a place to live.
Why do people keep calling these slugs evacuees?
They never evacuated when they were supposed to.
When they were finally hauled out of NO it was five months ago.
Time to find a new name for these folks.
You can check-out anytime you like, but you can never leave.
I wish O'Reilly and others would not give Al Sharpton any air time. The man is nothing more than a con artist, and I think it's wrong to allow him to collect money from the political groups when he runs for President. I think he just wants publicity and to get money without having to work for it. He knows he's not going to win, and IMO, should not be allowed to enter the race after his involvement with the Tawana Brawley scandal.
Nuts.
Un-Believable!!!!
How Long Must We pay these Con-Artists???
Sometimes makes you wonder if this "disaster" wasn't the best thing that ever happened to some of these people.
Radisson? Airport hotel? Evacuees? Dig a hole and pile all their stuff in it... then change the key cards...
it's called "Extortion".
Might not for them, but best for observers....it certainly has uncovered those folks' true nature.
You look like an easy mark.
We all knew this was going to happen the minute Bush started handing out $2000 checks. Whaaaaa, I want moooooore!
No, what the hotel should be wondering is why they think it should be FEMA's responsibility either. FEMA's supposed to be a safety net, not a hammock.
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