Anyone wanna dis on Governor Blanco at this point?
IIRC (and I could really be wrong here), but it was/is important to avoid the appearance of corruption. To do so means being accountable for every penny and distribution of a lot of the money given to LA from Washington required some sort of plan in which the money is to be spent. Many areas (including NOLA) still have no solid plan to date. Hopefully that's not what that money is for. Still, I'm sure it can't be given out too quickly...
I did see a blurb the other day where KBB "ordered" the process sped up to the tune of 1,000 claims filled/funded a week/day? I'll have to read up tomorrow and get my facts straight.
I'm not sure the blame falls squarely on Blanco, but for at least two months now I have heard officials from the LRA on the Radio several times per week saying that the money is coming. IIRC, the first time I heard them 13 checks had been issued now, two months later, it's 26. I understand the need to avoid the appearance of impropriety, but I think that is ridiculous. The fact is once the grant has been approved and many, many more than 26 have, the checks should be cut. I have no idea why they have not.
Beyond that, I can't even begin the number of people you hear on the radio who had their applications lost and/or no action at all on those applications. I'm frustrated and I don't even qualify because I was fully insured.
IMO, you have every right to comment on the Katrina stuff. You're a LA resident and have a vested interest in what happens in New Orleans and what happens with the state funds being used to rebuild it. You may not have been as personally affected as some of us, but that doesn't mean you don't have a right to comment since you were affected in some ways and will continue to be affected by the aftermath.
I understand the horrible response was not all her fault, but she does have to take a good amount of blame. There is simply no reason the National Guard was not stationed near by with vehicles that could drive through water and/or boats so they could get in quickly with food, water, medical care and rescue equipment. In fact, I see no reason why they were not in the Dome and/or Convention Center. Instead, the Guard that stayed were stuck in the flood waters by Jackson Barracks like everyone else who stayed.
What it comes down to for me is I expect more than just the ability to go out trips and get business (assuming that happens) and that alone will not win my vote. Maybe no other governor in the country could have done better (I doubt that by the way), but that does not mean that we should settle for one of the ones who we know performed poorly. The thing is, another hurricane could hit anywhere in LA again or some other disaster could happen and I have no confidence that she would react better this time.