HEY Coldtowne!

chicocarlucci · Post by **chicocarlucci** » June 19th, 2006, 5:28 pm

I work on the East side near I-35. There are hobos everywhere. They're so abundant they have found ways to camouflage themselves into the surroundings and then popup and harrass you for change and cash pretty much non-stop. They walk into the office and go from person to person repeating their plight. And every single one of them is a "Katrina victim" although to be honest I don't think any of them have ever been to New Orleans in their lives.

Out of curiousity, what does Coldtowne say to people who ask for change and tell you that they are Katrina victims?

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » June 19th, 2006, 6:43 pm

They say "Yes, and..." and make them part of the troupe.

ZING!

taminelson · Post by **taminelson** » June 19th, 2006, 11:23 pm

we don't speak english

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » June 19th, 2006, 11:53 pm

i have very mixed feelings about this.

i feel guilty as hell for accepting emergency funds as it is, and the idea that someone didn't qualify just because they didn't have a legit mailing address in New Orleans irks me. That's why I generally throw them loose change when I can. but that's just peanuts.

I had a terrific job in new orleans as an artist's studio assistant that took me months of living off of credit cards to land; Katrina blew the roof off my boss' home, Rita drenched it; the logistical ineptitude of the state and federal government actively prevented us from going in and preventing total loss. now he's in Arizona, I sure as hell ain't moving to Arizona. that's my personal justification for accepting relief money.

but who qualifies? how much suffering and displacement to you have to endure to qualify you? what's the dollar value placed on inconvenience?

to hell with the vagabonds that want to exploit a lucrative hobo-sympathy-marketing tool.

bless you and I'm sorry for those who are telling the truth and were really overlooked by the system.

I took at least $1500 of my FEMA money and spent it at my favorite privately-owned new orleans businesses. that made me feel a little better. I donated at least 7 different paintings to ruined people who I felt needed a smile. I've given up to $20 on highway vagabonds, and that made me feel not so better. but better. and better is better, right?

York99 · Post by **York99** » June 20th, 2006, 3:03 am

"You expect me to just GIVE you the hard earned money that my dad sends me every week?"

WMH

Jastroch · Post by **Jastroch** » June 20th, 2006, 1:08 pm

I don't know about you guys, but the happiest moment of my life was when I had to accept government aid... seriously.

Some people (not necc. of the AIC) have made snide comments about us accepting unemployment etc... without realizing that most of us lost our full time jobs and that Katrina seriously f'd up our careers.