Fashionable Katrina refugees?

[sugarpea]

A little narrow-minded don’t you think?

uh, did you read my post? you are pulling a part of what i said and misconstruing it. i said that that is what the new york post wants us to think. i certainly do not think that

 

[Sephora_Socialite]

My mom and I were thinking....maybe some of these people that cashed it in really aren't Hurricane Victims? I mean most people had to run out without notice from their house....I'm sure that many aren't carrying their wallet with I.D... you can just jump in and claim you lost your home or whatnot...or not to point at volunteers, because my friends who are safe are volunteering now, but they have access to it too freely... Money make people change their tune sadly so you'll never know.

I just didn't agree with this from the beginning because I thought of how some people will misuse it. I want those in need to have access to get anything they need, but I thought that some sort of vouchers that are more restricted would have been wise. Food stamps, medi cards, certificates to clothing stores....or cards to a chain store like walmart that has clothes, meds and food in one place. I know not the coolest place to probably get clothes, but you're a Hurricane Victim....does it matter if youre looking not so chic for now?

I know that its probably a few who abuse it, but the fact that people could easily do this and how luxury stores dont' take a stand and refuse because they know its wrong really irks me

 

[Hipkitten]

uh, did you read my post? you are pulling a part of what i said and misconstruing it. i said that that is what the new york post wants us to think. i certainly do not think that

Ah! Got it. Sorry for the misunderstanding

 

[Libra Skye18]

First, what is up with these people being called profiteering ghouls & lowlifes?

Ayekarumba!! In my opinion these people have the right to spend the money that was issued to them anyway they see fit.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is that not everyone who fled their house was broke. Yet if those who did spend their money on Louis Vuitton bags (If this story is true) were poor, perhaps they did so to help lift their spirits. *shrugs* Also something that was mentioned in the article was the age of one of the alleged shoppers - 20. I am 22 (I will be turning 23 next month) and I haven't always been so responsible with my money.

Really the whole situation just seems like an invasion of privacy. I don't recall reporters and such keeping tabs on what the families of 9/11 spent their money on (hmm). However one woman did come forth and tell her story (see below)



Grieving 9/11 Widow Spends Almost $5 Million

Kathy Trant Says She Wanted to Rid Herself of 'Blood Money'

June 13, 2005 — When her husband died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, relatives, friends and strangers opened their hearts and their wallets to Kathy Trant, donating millions of dollars to Trant and her three children.



The money was meant to compensate for the income Dan Trant would have used to support his family for years to come. But to Trant it represented blood money, money that couldn't make up for what she had lost


Fewer than four years after the attacks, she has blown through most of the money, and is coming out with her story now to warn others against the trappings of chronic spending, a major problem among Americans.

"It's blood money that I don't want," Trant said. "I want my husband back."

After her husband's funeral, Kathy Trant spiraled into deeper and deeper circles of depression. She turned to alcohol and antidepressants to numb the pain, and her weight fluctuated between 90 and 170 pounds.

But as she managed to get one set of problems under control, another problem emerged. Trant started spending out of control.

At the time of his death, Dan Trant, 40, was quickly moving up the ladder as a bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, making $130,000 in addition to tens of thousands in bonuses in his final year. Based on his estimated future earnings, the Federal Victim Compensation Fund awarded Kathy Trant $4.2 million, of which she received half. She got another $3 million from friends and family.

"I didn't know how to give back because so many people gave to me when I lost my husband," Trant said.

Trant began lavishing gifts on friends and family. She gave her former housekeeper $15,000 to buy a home in El Salvador, she spent $70,000 to take six friends to the Super Bowl and another $30,000 for a trip for 20 to the Bahamas.

She said Dan would have wanted to help others, and he would have liked to improve their home as well. So Trant spent $1.5 million to nearly triple the size of her suburban New York home. She spent $350,000 on the back yard, installing a full basketball court also equipped for volleyball, tennis and Rollerblading, a heated pool and a hot tub.



Trant designed a shrine of her husband's mementos, and put it on display in her new red-white-and-blue den. She added sports memorabilia to her walls, including a Boston Celtics ball autographed by players. Dan was drafted last by the Celtics in 1984, and though he never played for them, he played professionally in Ireland.



Trant also blew millions on frivolous items for herself. Her walk-in closet houses a $500,000 shoe collection, gowns by Versace and Capelli that go for $5,000 each and Fendi and Judith Leiber handbags, also $5,000 per bag.

The rest of the article ~

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=843920&page=2


Kathy's spending habits were also mentioned in this article

http://www.harrisonline.com/2005/06/911-victim-wastes-millions.htm


She spent it, like crazy. Here's a sample of her shopping list over the last three years or so:

• a $350,000 basketball court, a pool, and hot tub
  
• a $20,000 cherry-wood pool table for the renovated den
  
• 7 flat-screen TVs
  
• $500,000 worth of shoes
  
• a $60,000 SUV, plus a brand new BMW
  
• trips to Europe, Asia, and Jamaica
  
• $50,000 for 4 Caribbean cruises with friends
  
• $30,000 to take 20 friends to the Bahamas
  
• $15,000 to take 10 friends to Las Vegas
  
• $70,000 to take 6 friends to the Super Bowl
  
• $13,000 to rent a beach house in North Carolina for a week
  
• $11,000 for breast implants for friends
  
• hundreds of dollars for Botox injections for friends
  
• Parties for her teenage sons and their friends
  
• Watches, puppies, tattoos -- and on and on

 

[fugfashion]

how sad

 

[Erin]

Yet if those who did spend their money on Louis Vuitton bags (If this story is true) were poor, perhaps they did so to help lift their spirits. *shrugs*

I'm sorry, but to me, somebody who's spirits are heightened moreso by buying designer bags rather than buying essentials, like food and clothing, has a few problems to work out. To me, there is absolutely no excuse.

 

[Libra Skye18]

I'm sorry, but to me, somebody who's spirits are heightened moreso by buying designer bags rather than buying essentials, like food and clothing, has a few problems to work out. To me, there is absolutely no excuse.

Whose to say that these alleged persons didn't also buy food, clothing et cetera?. The article stated that 2 women bought an LV handbag that was in the 800 dollar range (therefore they would still have over a thousand dollars left to buy the essentials.).

Now if given the aforementioned situation occured, after being treated like trash perhaps these people wanted something they can hold onto for a long time. I really don't know and I am not making excuses just trying to see both sides of this alleged situation.

Granted. If I was in that scenario, I would first try to put some money down on an apartment, some clothes, food and all that jazz.

But not everyone (clearly?) thinks like that.

 

[sugarpea]

Ah! Got it. Sorry for the misunderstanding

hey no problem!

 

[sugarpea]

Granted. If I was in that scenario, I would first try to put some money down on an apartment, some clothes, food and all that jazz.

But not everyone (clearly?) thinks like that.

easier said than done....if i were in such a traumatic situation, i dont know if i wouldhave the sense to do that...and frankly 2000 dollars isnt nearly enough to do everything you mention above.....its a slap in the face of the govt to even give people that little amount of money to rebuild entire lives

 

[Libra Skye18]

easier said than done....if i were in such a traumatic situation, i dont know if i wouldhave the sense to do that...and frankly 2000 dollars isnt nearly enough to do everything you mention above.....its a slap in the face of the govt to even give people that little amount of money to rebuild entire lives

You're right. It is a lot easier said then done but everyone is different. However I can change that and say that I would hope to be able to do all that I said I would if I was in that situation.

Where I live and given who I am (someone who can make a little money stretch a long way...lol) 2k is actually enough to put money down on an apartment, buy some clothes and food, et cetera. Then again I am pertaining it to just me alone.

Obviously for those who have children and such that would be much harder for them to do. Also while 2k is indeed a very small amount...you don't think that is all that they'll be getting do you?

 

[Erin]

Whose to say that these alleged persons didn't also buy food, clothing et cetera?. The article stated that 2 women bought an LV handbag that was in the 800 dollar range (therefore they would still have over a thousand dollars left to buy the essentials.).

That wasn't my point. This money wasn't handed out to buy luxury goods, it was handed out to buy essentials. The government didn't hand money out in order to help people "rebuild lives", but moreso to get them adequately through the next few weeks where they'll more than likely be experiencing the most turmoil. I wouldn't be so upset if my tax dollars went toward purchasing clothing and food for citizens in need, I support that. But I'm not paying for other people's expensive purses, and the donations I have made better not in hell be going toward LV. A $800 purse is certainly not acceptable, nor any purse in that price range. I would like to think the government knew who NEEDED this money, and that's who they gave it to. It has been abused - thankfully, by a small amount of victims.

Personally, I think it was a bad idea in the first place. For one, you have other families/people wondering where their cards/money is. And two, the obvious problems of how the money is being spent.

 

[PrincessImp.]

^ Well said!

 

[Libra Skye18]

That wasn't my point. This money wasn't handed out to buy luxury goods, it was handed out to buy essentials. The government didn't hand money out in order to help people "rebuild lives", but moreso to get them adequately through the next few weeks where they'll more than likely be experiencing the most turmoil. I wouldn't be so upset if my tax dollars went toward purchasing clothing and food for citizens in need, I support that. But I'm not paying for other people's expensive purses, and the donations I have made better not in hell be going toward LV. A $800 purse is certainly not acceptable, nor any purse in that price range. I would like to think the government knew who NEEDED this money, and that's who they gave it to. It has been abused - thankfully, by a small amount of victims.

Personally, I think it was a bad idea in the first place. For one, you have other families/people wondering where their cards/money is. And two, the obvious problems of how the money is being spent.

The cards that were given out only stated that there was to be no purchase of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.


"It doesn't say anything on the card other than alcohol, tobacco and firearms cannot be purchased with it," the store employee told me. "There's nothing legally that prevents us from taking it, unfortunately. Other than morally, it's wrong."



So that was a mistake on the governments part. They should have set ground rules that the cards should only be used to purchase essential items (ie~ food, water, clothing...).

Then again as I find out more information about the scenario- it was one that was very unorganized. Actually Sephora Socialite made mention that some of the people who got the cards perhaps weren't Hurricane Victims and considering how the initial distribution of the cards was set up, seemingly anyone could have stood in line and recieved them.


Really since nothing has been set in stone as to whether these (alleged) persons weren't Hurricane victims, were Hurricane victims or hell even if the story is true- one can only make assumptions. To be blunt out of the 500,000 + evacuees the alleged 3 that have quote unquote misused the cards should not have even been a f*cking newz item. The New York Daily whose story seems shady is making it seem as if the majority of the evacuees were misusing their funds. *smdh*

Anyways, when it comes to situations that have actual hard evidence supporting them- I am someone who is more put off by some of the money I donated ( towards 9/11) being thrown away by the woman who spent nearly 5 million dollars in 3 years on various things including many outlandish gifts for her friends and luxury items. Or even moreso I am disgusted about Bush pissing away my tax dollars...

But that is just my opinion on the matter. I can only try to be diplomatic when dealing with a newz item that is poorly written.

 

[darkintragedy]

They needed a better way to distribute the cash cards.
And even so, as someone said earlier, it wasn't given out to rebuild lives,
but enough to get through the next few weeks/month.
I doubt an 800.00 purse has any use.

 

[roppal222]

Just wondering, exactly how many people are suspected of misusing the cards?

Also thank u kindly Libra Skye for that article. I'm glad some mention of the misuse of funds by those striving to be compensated for 9/11 has been brought into the mix. It's a good comparision.

 

[LoveLetter]

What a waste of the Government's and tax payers' money!

 

[Libra Skye18]

Just wondering, exactly how many people are suspected of misusing the cards?

Also thank u kindly Libra Skye for that article. I'm glad some mention of the misuse of funds by those striving to be compensated for 9/11 has been brought into the mix. It's a good comparision.

This is the only story I have read about. The sad thing is that if this is true, no one would really know as to who really went out and purchased these items because the way that the cards were distributed at the beginning- it was a very unorganized situation therefore scammers and such could have easily got a hold of one of the cards. *smdh*


Oh and you are welcome.

 

[Lonewalker]

They have a right to remain fabulous.

OK, it is kinda sad, but it's their choice...