$2,000 Debit Card - Good Idea?

[JBean]

This may appear as "gossip," so to speak, as I don't have the name of the County Judge here in Central Texas, but just before I left work this evening, my boss received a call that a County Judge was already calling his "constituents," that he wanted to "get out of the shelter business" because the local crime rate has already dramatically increased in his County (it is one that opened a shelter last Wednesday)...and that there's already an influx of evacuees being arrested for selling dope on the corners. Like this is one of their greatest ways to spend their time? I know, I know...

Word "on the street" is that the bigger, already-established drug dealers are already trying to set up shop with swipe machines for the debit cards. I kid you not.

Consider the source as good as hearing it around the water cooler, but it's probably happening. :banghead:

Oh I believe it all right.

 

[concernedperson]

Yes, there will always be the criminal element as we have seen over and over. In this situation some people are perpetrating crimes and the true victims will be looked over because they are from Louisiana. This is what is not fair and shouldn't be an absolute. Please continue to help and not let a few get away with helping so many others who need help. Please have a heart and don't let the scammers scam you.

 

[Details]

This may appear as "gossip," so to speak, as I don't have the name of the County Judge here in Central Texas, but just before I left work this evening, my boss received a call that a County Judge was already calling his "constituents," that he wanted to "get out of the shelter business" because the local crime rate has already dramatically increased in his County (it is one that opened a shelter last Wednesday)...and that there's already an influx of evacuees being arrested for selling dope on the corners. Like this is one of their greatest ways to spend their time? I know, I know...

Word "on the street" is that the bigger, already-established drug dealers are already trying to set up shop with swipe machines for the debit cards. I kid you not.

Consider the source as good as hearing it around the water cooler, but it's probably happening. :banghead:

I'm sure it is - you can take a drug dealer out of New Orleans, but you can't take the drug dealer out of the business. And I'm sure there were a fair number of drug users - they're probably quite desperate for a fix right about now. Such is life. All the same, I think it's really good that they're scattered about everywhere - should give the local police some additional work, but they'll catch and convict a lot more than the New Orleans police caught.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

I'm sure it is - you can take a drug dealer out of New Orleans, but you can't take the drug dealer out of the business. And I'm sure there were a fair number of drug users - they're probably quite desperate for a fix right about now. Such is life. All the same, I think it's really good that they're scattered about everywhere - should give the local police some additional work, but they'll catch and convict a lot more than the New Orleans police caught.

So true.

And yet, to be fair, I'm sure there will be turf wars, but I'm sure the local TX drug-dealers are going to get their fair share of the dealing as well!

 

[Details]

So true.

And yet, to be fair, I'm sure there will be turf wars, but I'm sure the local TX drug-dealers are going to get their fair share of the dealing as well!

Yep. Hope it only kills the drug dealers and their thugs. I think the TX drug dealers will win - it's their native turf, and the New Orleans gangs were probably not all on the same bus to go to the same shelter.

 

[kgeaux]

This may appear as "gossip," so to speak, as I don't have the name of the County Judge here in Central Texas, but just before I left work this evening, my boss received a call that a County Judge was already calling his "constituents," that he wanted to "get out of the shelter business" because the local crime rate has already dramatically increased in his County (it is one that opened a shelter last Wednesday)...and that there's already an influx of evacuees being arrested for selling dope on the corners. Like this is one of their greatest ways to spend their time? I know, I know...

Word "on the street" is that the bigger, already-established drug dealers are already trying to set up shop with swipe machines for the debit cards. I kid you not.

Consider the source as good as hearing it around the water cooler, but it's probably happening. :banghead:

We've seen some increase in petty thefts--mostly shoplifting of items like soft drinks and chips. Five or six evacuees have been arrested for "inciting a riot" and one for carrying an illegal weapon, and one for manufacturing and distributing Schedule III narcotics. (Not sure what schedule III means!) We had 6000 evacuees in the Cajun Dome, and who knows how many staying with friends and family or in hotels, so the percentage of people causing problems is very, very small. The majority of our evacuees seem to be law-abiding citizens whose biggest concern is finding missing family members, work and a permenant home.

I am so sorry your community is having trouble. I hope the bad get weeded out quickly and that you don't let the bad apples harden your heart to the ones who are so grateful for your help.

 

[Details]

With all the drug users on unfamiliar territory, it'd be a great time to set up some stings, some police posing as drug dealers.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

We've seen some increase in petty thefts--mostly shoplifting of items like soft drinks and chips. Five or six evacuees have been arrested for "inciting a riot" and one for carrying an illegal weapon, and one for manufacturing and distributing Schedule III narcotics. (Not sure what schedule III means!) We had 6000 evacuees in the Cajun Dome, and who knows how many staying with friends and family or in hotels, so the percentage of people causing problems is very, very small. The majority of our evacuees seem to be law-abiding citizens whose biggest concern is finding missing family members, work and a permenant home.

I am so sorry your community is having trouble. I hope the bad get weeded out quickly and that you don't let the bad apples harden your heart to the ones who are so grateful for your help.

No, the bad are still small in number compared to those that are truly grateful.

 

[2sisters]

Now I'm hearing on the news that they aren't giving the cards out just yet. I guess they have had a change of heart. I can't find anything about it but it was on MSNBC tonight. I hope it was misinformation. If anyone has any info on that please post.

 

[tybee204]

The cards that were distributed today were from the Red Cross in incriments of 300-1500. The Fema Debit cards will start being distributed tomorrow for folks sheltered only at the Astrodome.

 

[txsvicki]

Seems like a good way to give people some sense of normalcy and control. I never thought about gambling, etc.

I agree. They need the cash for what they feel they need, not used clothing and such. To people who lose every single thing they have, $2,000 may not seem like much but at least they can buy new clothes if they want, shoes, radio, tv, dishes, hair care, beauty supplies, watch, purses, diaper bags, etc..... It won't go far. Gambling is no respector of persons either. I know a man who makes $70,000 a year and spends most of it at the casino.