They could evacuate the rich people from the big Hotels

[DoYouEverWonder]

but the can't evacuate the poor people from the Superdome or the Convention Center.


Report #1:

WASHINGTON -- Marriott International at press time had chartered motorcoaches and hired a cadre of security guards help secure the evacuation of 350 guests and employees still remaining in its Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott are the last two of 15 Marriott-branded hotels in New Orleans that remained occupied. Most of the guests and employees were in the Ritz-Carlton, a 575-room property on Canal Street.

Officials, speaking during a telephone press conference Sept. 1, said moving them over to the JW Marriott, a few blocks away, was proving to be cumbersome due to the fact that the Ritz-Carlson was surrounded by about four feet of water.

“It has been very difficult to get the people out,” said Jeff Wolf, Marriott’s regional vice president of marketing operations. “We have been able to move 600 people through and get them evacuated” to the JW Marriott, where motorcoaches were waiting to transport them to Baton Rouge, La.

At one point during the storm, the hotels provided shelter to as many as 2,500 people.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1747191

Report #2

PHYLISS PETRICH, STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS: I'm at the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street in the French Quarter.

BLITZER: How long have you been there?

PETRICH: We arrived here actually for holiday on Thursday evening and we were evacuated to the Grand Ballroom by the middle of the night Sunday. We have been on rations since then. They have evacuated some of the hotel. There are about 300 people left. The Ritz is trying to get buses in here. FEMA will not let them in. They got a group out last night. And of the three buses that got out, FEMA commandeered one of them. We have no idea where they've taken those people. We're in dire straits here. There is no electricity. The sewage is backing up. As I said, the water supply is running low.

We do have a team here of infection diseases doctors that were here for a conference who have set up a small infirmary to care for the cases of dysentery and vomiting that have come up, as well as other people who have had some illnesses. But all of those medications are now being depleted, and I don't know that anyone is aware that we're here. I realize we're not top priority on anyone's list, but we are here and we are in dire straits, and we need someone to know that we're here, to come in and help to get us out of here.

BLITZER: Do you have enough food and water right now, Phyllis?

PETRICH: Well I don't believe we have very much food left at all. I know that we didn't have any lunch today. We had just a little biscuit or a cookie for breakfast and all we're each being given is a glass of water.

BLITZER: And it's impossible for you simply to leave the hotel and walk out. Not only are there floodwaters there, but it's dangerous, the violence, the looting, the snipers. It's a very dangerous situation.

PETRICH: It is a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, the Ritz has been wonderful. Apparently they have a lot of off-duty policemen that they have access to, that are guarding the hotel with shotguns. They themselves are afraid to go outside, because policemen are being shot at. And it is a very, very difficult situation here.


http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/01/sitroom.01.html


According to the second report, infectious deseases are starting to break out even among the rich people, yet Bush Co is doing absolutely nothing to prevent further tragedy.

[madmax]

1. "Off Duty Policemen"?????????????

During a MAJOR FREAKING DISASTER??? Am I fucking high or what? They may be the cops who ABANDONED their posts. :mad: :grr:

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Wow, nice catch

How do you have off-duty policemen in the middle of a National Emergency who aren't catching some sleep for a few hours so they can get back to work?

[madmax]

3. Off duty my ass

Maybe they're mercs or Republican NRA members.

[TahitiNut]

8. There was at least one report of 40-50% desertions on the police force.

Some corporations apparently "made them an offer they couldn't refu$e."

[madmax]

14. They took an oath

I hope they're subjected to prosecution. Stick their sorry asses in GITMO.

[sierrajim]

18. Cops do not take an Oath

It's just a job and they can quit when they want.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. Nice time to quit when you're community is in the middle

of one of the biggest crises in our history?

[sierrajim]

35. I didn't say it wasn't chicken shit

I just said they can quit after all its only a job.

[madmax]

31. I heard one officer in NO state they took an 'oath'

Here is an example:

"A group of individuals gather before an austere government official, their right hands raised as they repeat in unison an Oath of Office that typically contains the phrase: "I do solemnly swear." When the oath is finished, the individuals will have completed their transformation from civilian status to that of sworn law enforcement professionals. The new officers will be congratulated by their family members, their friends, agency command staff members, and various government officials. For most, it is truly a momentous occasion that marks the embarkation of a challenging and rewarding career."

snip

'The Oath of Office is not the only time a law enforcement officer will have to raise his or her right hand. There will be countless opportunities for the law enforcement officer to take an oath or affirmation that he or she will testify truthfully. These occasions include: State Attorney Investigations; defense depositions; courtroom testimony; preparing arrest warrants and search warrants; and in all probability, the law enforcement officer will have to swear to the truthfulness of his or her testimony during an internal administrative investigation, either as a witness officer or the subject of a misconduct complaint.'


http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/articles/sudler.asp

[ClintonTyree]

32. Beg to differ............

they do take an oath to uphold the laws of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. ANY policeman takes a similar oath upon completing the academy and being activated into their particular police force.

[sierrajim]

36. Ok they may take some kind of oath

But in no way is it an oath that they need to stay on the force. Like my post above it may be chicken shit but thats life.

[MellowOne]

4. They also got food to them Wednesday

Global Hyatt Corporation and Strategic Hotel Capital, Inc. Announce Worldwide Hyatt Relief Fund for Employees Affected by Hurricane Katrina
CHICAGO, IL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/02/2005 -- Hyatt Regency New Orleans and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the evacuation of hurricane victims -- including both guests and employees -- from the hotel. With the exception of a small group of Hyatt executives, safety experts, city officials and FEMA representatives, all guests have vacated the premises.

According to Hyatt Regency General Manager Michael Smith, guests and employees who had operable cars were evacuated and cleared to drive to points north via caravan, and the remainder were evacuated via bus. No guests were suffering from major injury or illness at the time of evacuation, Smith said.

The approximately 900 guests that remained on the premises following Katrina's powerful blow -- primarily hotel staff and their families, officials, and those in emergency-related roles -- were safely relocated to the hotel's well-sheltered ballroom, exhibit hall areas and serviceable guest rooms where they were kept comfortable following the hurricane while city and emergency officials began the difficult process of assessing storm related damage to the hotel and the city.

According to Smith, the heaviest physical damage to the property was caused by significant water and debris being blown into hotel guest rooms and atrium lobby after windows were shattered by severe winds.

A convoy of food and supplies provided by Hyatt hotels in Atlanta and Houston arrived at Hyatt Regency New Orleans on Wednesday of this week.

Those who are concerned about the safety and location of friends or family who were staying at Hyatt Regency New Orleans should call Hyatt's toll-free, Special Assistance Number, [phone] or contact a Hyatt crisis representative at [e-mail].

Hyatt continues to alert its customers who have reservations through March 31, 2006 that the hotel will not be able to accommodate them and that all cancellation fees will be waived. In addition, Hyatt's national sales force is in the process of contacting all meeting planners who have programs scheduled at Hyatt Regency New Orleans between now and March 31, to provide assistance with relocation to other destinations.

Hyatt and Strategic Hotel Capital, Inc. Establish Global Relief Fund to Aid Employees Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Hyatt, in partnership with Strategic Hotel Capital, Inc., also announced today that a Global Hurricane Relief Fund has been established to allow employees of Global Hyatt companies around the world to provide cash donations to aid Hyatt Regency New Orleans employees and their families who have been so severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Hyatt will match every employee donation dollar for dollar and both Global Hyatt Corporation and Strategic Hotel Capital, Inc. -- owners of the Hyatt Regency New Orleans real estate -- will make significant corporate donations to the fund immediately.

According to Chuck Floyd, executive vice president of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, this is the first of several initiatives that the Company and many of its individual hotels are initiating to provide relief for employees' loss of property and personal possessions.

"Hyatt Regency New Orleans is a large hotel and therefore has a large employee base," Floyd said. "We feel that providing cash donations at the onset of the recovery process will have the quickest impact to hurricane victims. Once we establish an inventory of specific items that are needed by these families, we can begin supplementing our relief effort with food, supplies, clothing and other goods."

Prior to the hurricane, Hyatt Regency New Orleans employed approximately 500 people.

Hyatt has also initiated a permanent and temporary job placement program for its New Orleans employees in other Hyatt locations, Floyd added. Several Hyatt and AmeriSuites hotels in affected areas are providing shelter for hurricane victims at both complimentary and deeply discounted rates, while other properties are providing bedding, linens and clothing to those who have been relocated to areas of Texas including the Astrodome and Reunion Arena in Houston and Dallas.

About Global Hyatt Corporation

There are 211 hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Grand Hyatt® and Park Hyatt® brands. Currently, there are an additional 31 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 12 new hotels in China. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago-based Global Hyatt Corporation. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. (timeshare), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, Microtel and America's Best Inns).

In January 2005, Global Hyatt Corporation also added an additional 143 U.S. properties to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of the upscale, limited service AmeriSuites hotel chain. These properties will be repositioned and renamed under the new Hyatt Place select service brand in 2006.

[bloom]

5. There were other hotels where the people were kicked out...eom

[Stewie]

6. Blame Nagin

They got moved ahead of the Superdome evacuees on his orders. God forbid some dainty tourists who waited it out in the Hyatt have to sit behind folks who were soaked, robbed, beaten and raped in a filthy stadium for four days.

Sick.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. You see what's going on here

Welcome to DU :hi:

[DemBones DemBones]

16. Have you got a link for that? Assuming your info is

correct, he probably wanted to get the tourists out because they can just go home once they can get a flight or a rental car. The New Orleans residents can't go back to their homes and many haven't got the money to stay in a hotel elsewhere, so it's a problem of finding a place to take them all.

I think the National Guard should have been setting up temporary camps days ago, places with food, water, cots, and port-a-potties. I feel sure most people would rather be in a tent with ventilation than in a building with no AC.

[ClintonTyree]

34. Bullshit..........

please supply some evidence of this order from Nagin. He'd never do that to his people. A Republican Mayor probably would, but not Nagin.

That being said, isn't this a perfect example of how private industry can handle the situation better than the government? :think:

Or maybe it's an example of the inequities between the rich and the poor and that money always gets it's way. Maybe an example of how totally fucked up FEMA is because of bush's budget cuts and "piratizaition" of a program that WORKED before the neo-cons got their grubby little paws on it. I'll let the readers decide which one applies.

[Igel]

9. Different 'theys'.

And every person removed is one fewer for the NG to remove.

Think of it as a temporary allocation of extra resources. Buses and security staff that wouldn't be there otherwise.

They're also in a slightly different situation; they have someplace to go to, probably, when they leave. Get them out, and they're no longer on any relief effort's list of things to take care of.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Bull, it's been five days since the storm passed

New Orleans is a totally devastated disaster area. The only people who should be left are the ones still trapped in their houses. There is no good reason in the world for them keeping anyone in the Superdome or the Convention Center under these conditions. This is Genocide live on National TV.

[Igel]

39. Agreed.

Nobody should be left, except people that refuse to go.

But people are left.

People here have complained that private efforts have been turned back. Somewhat fewer private efforts have been commandeered by officials, and people have complained (much less) about that. Here's a private effort that partially succeeded, and people complain about that.

Anything that gets people out is a good thing.

[DemBones DemBones]

10. Just for the record, I'm not rich but I've

stayed in fancy hotels in New Orleans several times, attending professional conventions and getting a very much reduced rate on the hotel, plus having my employer pick up most of the tab.

Also, New Orleans is hotter than hell in August, so the hotels probably offer some good bargain rates now. This is not the time of year most people want to be in NOLA!

I can be glad the Marriott corporation is trying to take care of its customers and still be furious that all the New Orleanians flooded out of their homes haven't been taken out of the city yet. The failings of the government to help citizens are the real issue.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. You are rich in comparison

to the extremely poor and disabled that have been abandoned to die in the SD and CC.

[DemBones DemBones]

17. Yes, I am, but my point was that the hotel guests are not

necessarily rich. I thought I made that clear. . .

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. I was in Jamaica once

and a little boy came up to me and my SO and asked him to give him his watch. He said, "Hey Mister, why don't you give me your watch? You're rich" We both laughed because we were far from rich. But then I realized that in that little boy's world we were extremely rich.

[never_get_over_it]

12. I'm sure some won't like this

but I really don't have a problem with the Marriott getting their guest to safety - what I mind is that our Gov't has not gotten the others out. There is some kind of feeling that these people are RICH - they may not be RICH just richer than the folks at the convention center - persoanlly I don't care what anybody's check book looks like I want everybody the fuck out of there and to safety.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. I do have a problem when you are in a disaster zone

from which all entry and exits are controlled. They are not allowing the people in the SD or the CC to leave even if they want to walk. They are imprisoning those people against their will and they are leaving them to die on purpose.

Even if they have to stay at those locations there is no reason why conditions haven't been significantly improved since Monday. Today was the first meager delivery of food and water in 5 fucking days. Give me a break.

[never_get_over_it]

21. I agree with you completely

I'm just saying no matter how much money someone has should not be a criteria to get out I want everyone the fuck out of there NOW and it is incomprehensible to me why now 5 days later they are still in there. You know there are some tourist who went to the SD too - they might be just as "rich" as the folks in the Marriot. I'm just saying that no matter how anybody gets out it is a good thing - like I said I want them all out of there - this is so incomprehensible to me - I can't belive that this can not be accomplished - and I am heartbroken - we have truly lost our country and I just pray there is a way to get it back.

[progressivebydesign]

22. I am tiring of the class warfare here on DU. I'll take some heat with you

I guess we'll both take some heat. But I agree with you.

My feeling is why would the guests and employees in the hotels be left to die of starvation and disease because others do not have more money than they do? I mean, down to the last poor person, everyone has more money than someone else. Who are we to tell a corporation not to rescue their employees and guests? It doesn't sound like a picnic inside that hotel, either. yes, they have shelter, but they're out of food, and many are now ill.

If you were on a business trip, or your family member was, would you want them to starve to death or die of disease justbecause they were in a hotel?

Why are people here making such judgements about others. I find the class warfare here to be just as bad as freeper racism. Many are prejudging folks just because they may have more resources than someone else... and frankly, many are forgetting the employees of the hotels, as well.

[DoYouEverWonder]

23. The problem isn't that they got out

the problem is that the people at the SD and the CC are not being allowed to leave. They are being held prisoners.

[never_get_over_it]

24. Thanks I needed that

I'm just saying anybody that gets out safely is a good thing - and I want everybody out!

[DoYouEverWonder]

25. There is no reaons why anyone should be in the city at this point

The people in the SD and CC are being held against their will and it is deliberate.

[iamjoy]

26. I'm With You Too - Good For Marriott

They probably got tired of waiting around for the government to do something & took responsibility. Shows it can be done.

Why are some of us blaming Marriott or the "rich" people for having resources? Do we blame everyone who was able to evacuate before the storm? Is there any evidence that any one (in the Superdome or Convention Center) is suffering as a direct result of Marriot doing this? If so, maybe there is a point to this. If not, rather than sneering at Marriott or their employees and guests, we should be even angrier at our government for not doing their job.

Besides, the Ritz Carlton is normally a luxury hotel, but after a few days with no power, no running water, toilets not flushing and food and water supplies running low...this was not an extended vacation for these people.

[ProudDad]

29. In case you haven't noticed

the entire bush admin. and most of Congress are the front line troops of the class war. They aren't on our side, that of the Working Class.

This war is going on now and has been going on since the first "priests", "politicians" and "aristocrats" conned the first farmers in the Tigris-Euphrates valley who were able to produce a surplus out of their surplus.

If you don't live (very well) off of the interest on the assets you own you are in the "Working Class". Whether you're a CEO making $1,000,000 a year or a farm worker making $2/hour, you're Working Class.

Where the rubber meets the road, if it's a choice between the ruling class and the Working Class, you KNOW who's going to be taken care of first.

CLASS COUNTS in the capitalist scheme of things.

Race counts more but Class Still Counts next. In fact, Racism is the ruling class's most potent weapon to keep us all down. Divide and Conquer.

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Then that will be their downfall

there's a lot more of us the them and a fair number of us know a lot more then we use to.

We can change things and we can do it peacefully. Their karma will catch up to them soon.

[Piperay]

33. I agree

with you. The hotel is doing what they should for people that they have a responsibility too. The problem is not what is being done for the hotel guests by the hotel but what the govenment is not doing for the people they have a responsibilty to.

[JRob]

27. is any one really surprised?

[ProudDad]

28. Nope

[yourout]

30. Why didn't they leave before the storm?

sarcasm off

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. According to the 2000 US Census

100,000 HOUSEHOLDS in New Orleans did not have transportation. Many of these people are women with children, the sick and elderly and for the most part poor. They did not have the ways and means to leave town on their own. They required assistance and FEMA never sent it. It is starting to appear that this was deliberate.

[newblewtoo]

40. More of the same here....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1747727#1748206