http://www.newyorkmetro.com/news/intelligencer/17161/?imw=Y

Quote :

"A Very Late Checkout New York’s last Katrina evacuees prepare to depart (under duress) from the JFK Airport Holiday Inn. By Matthew Philips (Photo: William Mebane for New York Magazine) This winter, FEMA put up over 300 Hurricane Katrina evacuees in New York City hotels. Almost all of them have gone back to their lives, their jobs. But not Theon Johnson. He’s currently sprawled out watching Halloween 5 on one of the two full-size beds in his room at the JFK Airport Holiday Inn. He is one of four evacuees still living in a hotel in the city. The others left in February and March, when, after spending more than $500 million, FEMA stopped paying for hotel rooms housing some 40,000 evacuees across the country. That left many scrambling for places to live. But thanks to the city’s squatters-rights law, evacuees here were safe. Their rooms weren’t paid for, but since they’d been in them for more than 30 days, the hotels couldn’t just kick them out. Only a judge’s order could evict them. And Johnson, 49, isn’t that motivated to leave. For one thing, AMC’s in the middle of its “Thrill Me” marathon. Next up, Gothika. “Halle Berry,” he says with lazy lust. These days he’s usually up all night—it’s hard to sleep on an empty stomach. When he has to, he’ll go outside and beg for change, but he doesn’t really like that too much. Most days he just showers and gets back in bed, showers and gets back in bed. Once a week he and another evacuee, a diabetic named Larry, walk to a church off the Van Wyck and get canned goods. When Johnson’s caseworker, Sharon, comes around, she gives him some bus passes and maybe a few bucks, but she’s getting frustrated. “They sit around on their butts watching TV. There’s only but so much I can do if they’re not willing to help themselves.” After being flown here for free back in September, Johnson’s been at the Holiday Inn since Super Bowl Sunday. On April 21, the hotel served Johnson with three notices of occupancy termination, saying that it would begin court proceedings if he wasn’t out by May 9. He wasn’t, so it did. If the court boots him, Johnson could end up in one of the city’s homeless shelters. He’s been broke for over a month now. fema sent him $9,000 in housing aid, but he spent it all on booze, cigarettes, some clothes, and food—partying, mostly. “I spent my money just the way I wanted, and I think [fema] should send me some more,” he says. But it won’t. Johnson’s caseworker says fema offered to buy him a ticket home to New Orleans in February, but he didn’t take it. fema won’t now. So he’s stuck, at least until the Holiday Inn pays him to leave. Attorneys with the Legal Aid Society have been negotiating a buyout deal for Johnson and the remaining evacuees, and expect a settlement—he heard about $1,200—imminently. He says he’ll use the money to get a room for a few nights and have some fun before flying back to his little house in New Orleans’ Third Ward. But for now, Gothika’s on. “Halle Berry,” Johnson says. “Halle . . . Berry.” "

6/6/2006 12:04:39 PM

too many thoughts.....

Quote :

"“I spent my money just the way I wanted, and I think [fema] should send me some more,”"

i think he is part of the problem and not the solution.

6/6/2006 12:10:45 PM

IS IT FUN THEON?

is what fun?

BEING A FUCKING STEREOTYPE!

[Edited on June 6, 2006 at 12:14 PM. Reason : yeah, its pretty cool]

6/6/2006 12:14:30 PM

Kill this fucking nigger now.

6/6/2006 12:15:20 PM

this guy sucks

6/6/2006 12:17:01 PM

wow, just wow.

where is kanye on this one?

6/6/2006 12:18:21 PM

Finally the north begins to understand....

6/6/2006 12:18:37 PM

Quote :

"fema sent him $9,000 in housing aid, but he spent it all on booze, cigarettes, some clothes, and food—partying, mostly. “I spent my money just the way I wanted, and I think [fema] should send me some more,” he says. But it won’t. Johnson’s caseworker says fema offered to buy him a ticket home to New Orleans in February, but he didn’t take it. fema won’t now. So he’s stuck, at least until the Holiday Inn pays him to leave."

He was given $9000, blew it all, and now wants to be paid by the hotel to leave...He's costing the hotel money everyday that he's using that room for free, but still wants to be paid to leave...Wow, just wow...

6/6/2006 12:21:12 PM

^^ that is one of the most ignorant statements ever.

is this guy fucked up? yes, but does he represent an entire race? no.

because look no further than "larry the cable guy" if you want to play that whole fallacy game.

[Edited on June 6, 2006 at 12:21 PM. Reason : .]

6/6/2006 12:21:26 PM

larry the cable guy is a character.

this theon guy, he's real.

6/6/2006 12:22:27 PM

Proof that giving people everything they could ever want without requiring something in return is detrimental to learning self-sufficiency. Seems like they reinforced this guy's preexisting dependency.

Why can't they require people in this situation to go out and sweep the streets or something? Do something, anything to earn their keep.

6/6/2006 12:33:23 PM

i would get a coupla hard, pipe-hittin’ niggas, who’ll go to work on homes here with a blow torch and a pair of pliers.

he'd leave. willingly.

6/6/2006 12:35:22 PM

does this man deserve to live in poverty because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?


Just because he may have been living in poverty before- does that mean he has to live in poverty now?


If a millionaire was stripped of his/her assets in a catastrophe like this- does he/she deserve to have FEMA pay for their high- class style of living? Should they stay in the Hyatt because that is what they're used to?


I'm just wondering what you guys think.

6/6/2006 12:49:25 PM

i think you should cease breathing

6/6/2006 12:50:14 PM

of course not - fema is there to make sure people can SURVIVE in times of extreme disaster - not to upkeep someone's lifestyle - that's their job

6/6/2006 12:50:56 PM

I cant believe there are squatters rights laws still in existence

6/6/2006 12:54:20 PM

Quote :

"fema sent him $9,000 in housing aid, but he spent it all on booze, cigarettes, some clothes, and food—partying, mostly. “I spent my money just the way I wanted, and I think [fema] should send me some more,” he says."

nuff said

6/6/2006 1:03:20 PM

Quote :

"DJ Lauren All American 12549 Posts user info edit post block user does this man deserve to live in poverty because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Just because he may have been living in poverty before- does that mean he has to live in poverty now? If a millionaire was stripped of his/her assets in a catastrophe like this- does he/she deserve to have FEMA pay for their high- class style of living? Should they stay in the Hyatt because that is what they're used to? I'm just wondering what you guys think. 6/6/2006 12:49:25 PM 30thAnnZ All American 29484 Posts user info edit post block user i think you should cease breathing 6/6/2006 12:50:14 PM"

such a lame fucking response to a couple legit questions

suspend

6/6/2006 1:12:30 PM

all I'm saying is that this guy has spent 9 K in how many months?


............is it REALLY that surprising? How long does it take you to spend 9K?


just wondering. isn't poverty level around 12-14K?

6/6/2006 1:17:12 PM

if i was holiday inn, and it was possible, i'd cut off his hot water, cable, and possibly power. i'm not sure the specifics of this "squatter's rights" law, but i wouldn't think it says the squatter gets all these services for free.

6/6/2006 1:19:55 PM

I guess your argument is that FEMA should not accommodate the millionaire such that they maintain the standard of living that they are accustomed to. I agree, they are there to help people survive. Just remember that in this case FEMA at the very best did accommodate this guy's standard of living (doing nothing and watching TV all day) and probably went above and beyond his normal standard of living (free booze, cigs, parties - all on someone else's tab).

6/6/2006 1:20:34 PM

...i forget how heartless republicans are sometimes.


don't worry- I remember now.

6/6/2006 1:21:11 PM

Who the fuck are you to infer such a thing?

Quote :

"and probably went above and beyond his normal standard of living (free booze, cigs, parties - all on someone else's tab)."

And Just because you're poor and homeless - does that mean you shouldn't get to have a budweiser?

Jesus christ!!!! Should he be given a blanket and a pocket knife and set loose in the woods?


I mean- shit...

Quote :

"and probably went above and beyond his normal standard of living (free booze, cigs, parties - all on someone else's tab)."

6/6/2006 1:22:59 PM

So you are saying that the tax payers should fund this guy from here to eternity so he won't get his TV watching interrupted. If he is making progress toward self-sufficiently, fine - continue helping him financially. If not, then what good is that aide doing?

6/6/2006 1:24:43 PM

just curious


have you ever tried to get a job in NYC?


and I never said from here to eternity. I'm just offering an oppositional suggestion to make you motherfuckers get off your god damned high horse and give a fraction of the money to some people who seriously are SHIT OUT OF LUCK.


You are seriously closer than you think to saying "hang 'em".....and then that makes us just like all of those other countries that we are "trying" to give "freedom" to.

6/6/2006 1:26:56 PM

What is your oppositional plan to teach this guy to be self sufficient? Mine is make him do a small job to earn the money (clean the hotel he is staying at as an example), assist him in finding a job, and slowly reduce the financial aide as he gets more and more capable of fending for himself.

6/6/2006 1:31:02 PM

the guy doesnt deserve death, no one is suggesting that. they gave him a free hotel room for 4 months and 9k and then he refuses a plane ticket home because he'd rather mooch of people in NYC.

6/6/2006 1:32:27 PM

Yea this is kind of a bullshit position to take for this guy Lauren. He has been there HOW FUCKING LONG since Katrina? Almost a year. He has done what again? Drank, smoked, partied and watched TV. If this guy was going out every day looking for a job, I would have sympathy. But this worthless piece of shit is sitting on his ass in a hotel watching AMC all day. Where he is staying might be the hardest or the easiest place in the world to get a job, but he won't know if he don't get the fuck out and look.

Last time I checked the jobs I have gotten didn't show up in the middle of me watching Hally fucking Berry.

6/6/2006 1:32:54 PM

Quote :

"just curious have you ever tried to get a job in NYC? and I never said from here to eternity. I'm just offering an oppositional suggestion to make you motherfuckers get off your god damned high horse and give a fraction of the money to some people who seriously are SHIT OUT OF LUCK. You are seriously closer than you think to saying "hang 'em".....and then that makes us just like all of those other countries that we are "trying" to give "freedom" to."

they offered to fly his ass back to his home!!! but NOOOOOOOOOO he couldnt stop living it up in NYC long enough to get on the fucking plane

6/6/2006 1:49:52 PM

Quote :

"larry the cable guy is a character."

Sounds like somebody's never been to Wal-Mart.

6/6/2006 1:51:23 PM

hang em

6/6/2006 1:53:10 PM

^^^ what he said

fuck this lazy ass guy. he got offered a ticket to go home and didn't take it b/c he was too busy living the good life on someone elses tab and now he can't get back. Let him fucking hitchhike for all i care, i don't give a fuck about some lazy ass guy that squadered what our taxes were nice enough to give him. It's America, make your own opportunity bitch.

6/6/2006 1:55:59 PM

shes... defending... him...

wow. this worthless shitpile is just sitting around doing nada... blew 9k and now wants more. fucker is living FOR FREE in the hotel, at no cost. So that 9k went somewhere else............. No damn car there.... FOOD/BOOZE/DRUGS.

if you want to help people dj lauren, i can use some help. you can buy me some socks, shorts, shirts and canned soup and i can get you a shipping address. any beer you feel like shipping too, since that is a right of people on assistance. if you really want to help someone.

6/6/2006 1:59:17 PM

There are a lot of people in this country (and the world, of course) who could make $100 go a long way, let alone $9000 and deserve it a lot more then this guy. Hell, the crazy guy who sits on Western and Gorman and does kung-fu all the time probably does.

6/6/2006 2:07:15 PM

haha

it's poopface

6/6/2006 2:07:53 PM

don't bother arguing with dj lauren - she's mentally deficient

6/6/2006 2:08:13 PM

i cant believe dj lauren is defending this

hey, dj l...did you ever READ the article

Quote :

"fema sent him $9,000 in housing aid, but he spent it all on booze, cigarettes, some clothes, and food—partying, mostly. “I spent my money just the way I wanted, and I think [fema] should send me some more,” he says. But it won’t. Johnson’s caseworker says fema offered to buy him a ticket home to New Orleans in February, but he didn’t take it. fema won’t now. So he’s stuck, at least until the Holiday Inn pays him to leave.""

he spent all the money fema gave him on partying....

and to think you have a degree / wow

6/6/2006 2:11:35 PM

dj lauren licks clams

6/6/2006 3:28:15 PM

Quote :

"Just because he may have been living in poverty before- does that mean he has to live in poverty now?"

He chose to live that way. He said that he spent all his money on booze, cigarettes, and mostly partying. He said he spent it just the way he wanted to, and thinks he should just be given more. He gets out of bed, takes a shower, and gets back in the bed to starve all day. And if he is really hungry, he'll go BEG before he'll go ask for a sweeping job or anything else. (And people weren't in the wrong place at the wrong time down there, they were told to evacuate. They knew the severity of Katrina before it even hit. Everyone in NO knows they're below sea level, highly prone to flooding, and chose to live there anyway-so that's just tough.)
Either way, this guy is mooching off the government and is annoying the hotel until they pay him to get out of their hotel. There's no legitimate reason for this, so stop trying to defend him.

And a beer is not a right of someone on assistance from the government-that's why food stamps is not good for alcohol!

6/6/2006 3:34:01 PM

You're damn right I got a degree

in mass communications

Which gives me the knowledge to look at the source that this article is coming from- and realize it's a FUCKING GOSSIP MAGAZINE. They slanted it- of course this motherfucker doesn't wanna leave his fantasy world.


anyway...i'm still right so suck it.

6/6/2006 3:34:07 PM

<insert one of the many jokes about how hard it is to get a degree mass communications>

6/6/2006 3:36:51 PM

mass comm, sweet!

is that one a dem 6 year degrees?

6/6/2006 3:37:45 PM

^hahaha

^^^How can that be a fantasy world? To wake up, shower, and go back to bed starving because he's too sorry to leave or get a job. I understand it's beter than nothing at all, but that doesn't justify it.

6/6/2006 3:40:02 PM

drug problems are very real, folks. Why hasn't fema offered to give him rehab?

6/6/2006 3:51:15 PM

because that's not what fema does.

6/6/2006 3:56:05 PM

it doesn't mean the problem isn't there.

6/6/2006 3:59:48 PM

I just want you to realize this is NOT a New York Times article.

6/6/2006 4:00:16 PM

^why doesn't he STOP DOING DRUGS... I wake u everyday and don't snort coke. why does someone have to help him. crist sakes, he needs to be responsible.

6/6/2006 4:01:44 PM

Quote :

"it doesn't mean the problem isn't there."

it's not their problem to solve - FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency - are you a retard or what?

Quote :

"I just want you to realize this is NOT a New York Times article."

we can read and understand things better than you - that is definitely not the problem here

6/6/2006 4:02:23 PM

10/10

6/6/2006 4:23:50 PM