Incompetence at river’s edge
Editor, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” These words are etched in the memory of everyone who watched New Orleans’ Ninth Ward ravaged by floodwaters when Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore 20 years ago.
They’re the words of then-President George W. Bush shortly after surveying the damage. Unfortunately for both Bush and then-FEMA Director Michael Brown (aka “Brownie”) was directly contradicted by what everyone with eyes in their head could see was actually happening on the ground. This episode came to represent what many considered the ultimate embodiment of gross incompetence ... at least until now.
According to the Washington Post, Trump’s acting FEMA director David Richardson was largely inaccessible in the critical hours immediately following the deadly July 4 flooding that surged down the Guadalupe River.
Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, had issued an order that only she have authority to approve expenditures over $100,000 before funds could be disbursed.
This meant access to Richardson was essential on July 4 in order to get Noem’s authorization to disburse funds for FEMA search-and-rescue operations. But instead, “nobody could get ahold of (Richardson) for hours and hours,” a senior official who coordinated search-and-rescue resources told The Post.
This delayed unnecessarily the deployment of FEMA’s search-and-rescue assets.
Noem’s order regarding her sole authorization to release sums exceeding $100,000 was part of the Trump administration’s reprehensible and haphazard effort to indiscriminately slash government spending.
The Trump people have since released a statement attempting to defend Richardson’s absence by asserting, “Many in the federal government, including Richardson, have loving families to attend to and to take care of ... Having a family does not diminish anyone’s ability to serve their country; rather, it enhances it.”
Try telling that to the families who lost loved and cherished members due to this disaster.
Cindy Offutt Fair Oaks Ranch resident
Immigration roundup has crossed the line
Editor, The Trump administration’s effort to deport criminals has moved far beyond that. Many innocent law- abiding, tax-paying individuals are being swooped up and being denied their due process of law, and it’s happening in your own neighborhood.
Here in Kendall County ICE is stepping up their efforts to round up these “criminals,” but are they all criminals?
A family from Guatemala came here nine years ago. There was a husband, wife and two sons. Since they have lived here, they now have a daughter as well. They came to America and applied as asylum seekers and were granted that status, which means they are given a Social Security number, pay taxes (they cannot access benefits) attend court appearances; they also have a lawyer to help them with this process.
Since moving to the Comfort area, they started a lawn service business. All members of the family work in this business. Over the years they were able to buy a mobile home and pay local taxes and are regular members of a local church: very responsible, law-abiding people.
When he went for his required annual work permit renewal, it was suddenly denied. He and his two boys were subsequently detained. No chance to call their family, no chance to call their lawyer; just ... gone. Two days later they were back in Guatemala.
I totally understand deporting criminals, but this simply is not the case. In America we depend on the rule of law; without it, we are a nation not of freedom, but tyranny.
This family is a true casualty of the overzealous efforts of the Trump administration, in our own neighborhood.
Richard Caldwell Boerne resident
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