Katrina aid going to inland luxury condos
The AP reports that “rich federal tax breaks designed to spur rebuilding are flowing hundreds of miles inland to investors who are buying up luxury condos.” The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 granted “generous tax benefits available to investors. Now, investors are renting out luxury condos in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which “got only heavy rain and scattered wind damage from Katrina.” “It was supposed to be about getting people..to put housing in New Orleans, Louisiana, or Biloxi, Mississippi. It was not about condos in Tuscaloosa,” said a developer.
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I’m glad that the NO is being rebuilt.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:49 pmhttp://www.gravel08.us
August 13th, 2007 at 8:50 pmComment by old hack — August 13, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Who?
August 13th, 2007 at 8:50 pmI’m glad that the NO is being rebuilt.
Comment by clipse — August 13, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Up your meds wacko, you’re still in Limbaugh fantasy land…
August 13th, 2007 at 8:51 pmAre you surprised. I’m not. There are still thousands of people in New Orleans who need help rebuilding their houses, but there is no money for them. There are still thousands of people in Louisiana who are living in formaldehyde soaked trailer parks trying to get their life back together, but there is no money for them.
And yet our government finds money (our taxes folks) to give to investors? Talk about having your priorities screwed up. That pretty much describes the Bush Crime Family.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:52 pmWhat do you have against Katrina victims?
Comment by clipse — August 13, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
Ironic coming from a hate filled republican psycho?
Ah, the projection of right-wingers!
As predictable as their immoral hypocrisy.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:57 pmLooks like Rove is rebuilding NO just the way he meant to.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:06 pmRegentrification…..ahhhh, yes - from the “big tent” party.
How refreshing and so unlike all the other class warfare from this administration. Heckuva job, Bushie, heckuva job. He did roll up his sleeves and give a speech in Jefferson Square - to show all the “hard work” he does. NOLA is going according to plan: French Quarter saved, 9th ward drowned, formaldehyde contaminated trailers, rebuilding funds for luxury condos, ACOE pumps still below standards - check.
KANYE WEST WAS RIGHT!!!! BUSH HATES BLACK PEOPLE!!!!
August 13th, 2007 at 9:14 pmThat #7 is some kind of homo.
Comment by Tom3 — August 13, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
To quote a progressive.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:18 pmall according to plan, i’d say…
August 13th, 2007 at 9:18 pm.
I thought Karl Rove was the coordinator to rebuild New Orleans. Whoops he directed the money to wealthy investor pricks to build condos for other wealthy people.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:18 pmhey, i have an idea…
let’s see if we can attain a respectable and adult
level of conversation on this thread…
whadya think, progs?
August 13th, 2007 at 9:19 pm…
To quote a progressive.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
Need a tissue?
August 13th, 2007 at 9:21 pmwhadya think, progs?
Comment by katy — August 13, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Um, ok. :)
August 13th, 2007 at 9:21 pmclipse already smashed adult conversation in here > lol.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:23 pmyea, it’s me… katym… as soon as i sent that
August 13th, 2007 at 9:24 pmi realized that infamous label… sorry…
.
“whadya think, progs?
Comment by katy ”
My fondest dream. What I would really like to see is the people on this site who are here for discourse to only answer questions asked by trolls or post a rebuttal to something a troll posts that you disagree with. Other than that, ignore all the posts that are nothing more than throwing sh1t against the wall to get attention and DO NOT under any circumstances stoop to their level by calling them names. If we can’t get rid of them, at least we can keep it civil and ignore them when they have nothing to say.
What do you think. Want to try it?
August 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pmand why is that jay?
i just figure there’s enough trooll poop elsewhere…
August 13th, 2007 at 9:26 pmkeep it there…
.
bilbo > everyone must ignore the worst trolls like CT, Daryll, etc.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:27 pmZooey, what if I claimed after-the-fact SATIRE, would that make it ok?
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Need a tissue?
Comment by Zooey — August 13, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Need a tissue?
Comment by Zooey — August 13, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
You can issue the same “I can’t defend my (or my comrades) position so I’ll say “Need a tissueâ€â€ just so many times until it seems sad.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:27 pmwhy can’t these tax breaks be rescinded
August 13th, 2007 at 9:28 pmdue to LYING and CHEATING…?
Katy see post 15 clipse. I am all for adult civil conversation.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:28 pmComment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
You DO need a tissue.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:29 pmwhy can’t these tax breaks be rescinded
due to LYING and CHEATING…?
Comment by katy — August 13, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Great idea!!
August 13th, 2007 at 9:30 pm“bilbo > everyone must ignore the worst trolls like CT, Daryll, etc.
Comment by Jay Randal “
Well, since they are the ones who pretty much do nothing other than throw sh1t at the wall, I would tend to agree with you.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:35 pmYou can issue the same “I can’t defend my (or my comrades) position so I’ll say “Need a tissueâ€â€ just so many times until it seems sad.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
You DO need a tissue.
Comment by Zooey — August 13, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
I guess. Sometimes I’ve felt your arguments were compelling.
But, “need a tissueâ€. Not so much.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:35 pmI guess. Sometimes I’ve felt your arguments were compelling.
But, “need a tissueâ€. Not so much.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
My only position is that you are a whiner and trouble maker — nothing to defend. I’m simply offering you a tissue. Maybe some hot cocoa and a nap?
August 13th, 2007 at 9:37 pmIf investors are allowed extensive tax breaks to invest in housing, then they buy condos and rent them out, shouldn’t the rentors be Katrina victims, with some rental breaks? Even if the intent gets abused, there should be some standards to prevent flagrant profiteering. So many abusers, so little time, regulations, or enforcement.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:43 pmI guess. Sometimes I’ve felt your arguments were compelling.
But, “need a tissueâ€. Not so much.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
My only position is that you are a whiner and trouble maker — nothing to defend. I’m simply offering you a tissue. Maybe some hot cocoa and a nap?
Comment by Zooey — August 13, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
The only thing I’ve whined about today is that multiple “good posters†were gay bashing.
For example:
That #2 is some kind of homo.
Comment by Tom3 — August 13, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
So I’m a big crybaby for this?
Shouldn’t you and your “progressive†and not “hypocrite†like minded types bash him, not me?
And for this, I’m a trouble maker. The trouble maker is the person who makes the ugly statement, not the one who points it out. Which is what you would agree with if I had a different – safe liberal moniker.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:48 pm“Why do trolls like “bilbobaggins†get to make comments, but regulars, like “Dennis the Democrat Dhimmi,†get censored.”
I would like to say it is because, for the most part, Bilbo stays on track and makes intelligent comments about the subject at hand. But, alas, Bilbo’s posts go poof too. I have no idea why. It’s all very puzzling.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:48 pm“But, “need a tissueâ€. Not so much.”
Maybe a Midol, r?
August 13th, 2007 at 9:49 pm“Do all TPers hate gays?”
Only if they are in the closet pedophilic gays liek have of the Senate and House Republicans seem to be.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:50 pmenforcement…
rove was in charge of this scam…
of course this aid should go to the directly affected
residents of the area destroyed…
surprised the picayune journal is not all over this situation…
August 13th, 2007 at 9:51 pm.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
You’re a passive/aggressive troublemaker. You go on and on with your whining. You copy and paste comments from one thread to another, and then whine some more.
Maybe you think you’re making us look bad, but you’re actually just making yourself look stupid — and whiny.
Drink your cocoa, it’s nappy time.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:51 pmaw fukit… never mind…
i guess this thread is all about gayness…
carry on…
August 13th, 2007 at 9:51 pm“Shouldn’t you and your “progressive†and not “hypocrite†like minded types bash him, not me? ”
I wasn’t around when he said it. It was a jack-a$$ comment by him. But you decide to say all TPers are homophobic because of his comment. That is just a nasty little smear. It is nice to see that you are whining about your mistreatment though.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:52 pmsurprised the picayune journal is not all over this situation…
Comment by katy — August 13, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Is it owned by Murdoch? :D
August 13th, 2007 at 9:53 pmI don’t get it. The first post on this thread is at 8:49pm and we are endlessly told to respond to Tom3’s 6:14pm comment?
And clipse, what would you call your link—pro-Christian profanity rap?
More on topic: The first thing the Bush administration did after Katrina was do away with the prevailing wage law. The second was ease restrictions on pollution. It doesn’t surprise me that the poor people would lose their homes and investors would make money on condos.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:01 pmKeith, I am guessing Lott has a nice, brand new mansion, as well.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:10 pmYou can issue the same “I can’t defend my (or my comrades) position so I’ll say “Need a tissueâ€â€ just so many times until it seems sad.
Comment by r — August 13, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Need a tissue, you sad little boy?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:12 pmAny chance these new digs are along Trent Lotts new railroad line?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:24 pmWhat gets me is that I posted alink to the story about 3:45 PM in ThinkFast. Why did TP take 5 hours to pick up the thread? Asleep at the wheel?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:27 pmAsleep at the wheel?
Comment by WaltTheMan — August 13, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
That’s a pretty safe assumption. :)
August 13th, 2007 at 10:28 pmBye, Zooey, I will be banned again tomorrow.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:31 pmBye, Zooey, I will be banned again tomorrow.
Comment by WaltTheMan — August 13, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
Bye, Walt. Me too. :-)
August 13th, 2007 at 10:32 pmBy the bye, BnF is still in hiding, but, observing.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:33 pmI miss BnF’s posts. We didn’t always agree but he is one smart guy.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:09 pmI miss his legal point of view (since that is his field).
August 13th, 2007 at 11:21 pmThis is just one more example of how the people of New Orleans have been ignored by the federal government. Katrina made the American people finally realize how incompetent this administration really is. If New Orleans had mostly White people in it help would have arrived faster.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:27 pmFrom the Times-Picayune:
Jindal Leads Comfortably in Latest Poll
Jindal, a congressman representing the 1st District, led with 63 percent, followed by state Sen. Walter Boasso, D-Arabi, with 14.3 percent, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell with 4.4 percent and Republican Metaire businessman John Georges with 1.3 percent.
In the poll that included Nagin, Jindal had 60.3 percent followed by Nagin with 10.5 percent, Boasso with 10 percent, Campbell with 3.3 percent and Georges with 1.5 percent. Nagin, a Democrat serving his second term as mayor, has not announced his intentions for the future.
So “Other/No preference” went from 17% to 14.4% when Nagin’s name is inserted. Got to think a primary victory/mandate looks pretty good for Bobby at this point. Personally, I don’t think there’s any way that Nagin will run.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:21 amSurprised? Not….america for the rich by the rich, screw the average american, grab what you can, don’t worry about the country or society, grab what you can….we suck.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:26 amThis is just one more example of how the people of New Orleans have been ignored by the federal government.
How sweet of you to ignore the decades of incompetant rule by successive democrat city governments which created a sub-class of morons who didnt have the ability to think for themselves.
Typical you would automatically blame the government for not doing more to get those morons on the road when the hurricane made its way toward land.
Gulfport got his just as hard yet their people managed to get out the elbow grease and put things back together in due time, meanwhile Nagin and his posse were busy blaming Big Whitey while his constituency looted everything in sight.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:54 amYoot,
Way to compare apples to oranges. Gulfport is 1/10th the size of NO and has 1/4 the poverty.
Elbow grease doesnt mean squat if you can’t afford the bricks and mortar.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:37 amI am compelled, yet again, to point out that there would be no Katrina story in New Orleans had the United States of America done an adequate job of levee construction.
Successive administrations in the White House and Congress miserably failed to provide adequate funding and oversight to ensure that a functional flood protection system was constructed in a timely manner.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:39 amThe GO Zone Act contains a variety of tax breaks designed to stimulate construction in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. It offers tax-free bonds to developers to finance big commercial projects like shopping centers or hotels. It also allows real estate investors who buy condos or other properties in the GO Zone to take accelerated depreciation on their purchases when they file their taxes.
The GO Zone was drawn to include the Tuscaloosa area even though it is about 200 miles from the coast and got only heavy rain and scattered wind damage from Katrina.
The condo deals are perfectly legal, and the tax breaks do not take money away from Katrina victims closer to the coast because the depreciation is wide open, with no limits per state.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:42 amBienville- I agree. It is also more a local leaders responsible to make sure the levees were adequate. They are the front line leaders.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:43 amComment by lostcosts — August 14, 2007 @ 10:43 am
In every other project on Earth, the designer and constructor have the front-line responsibility to ensure the design and construction are adequate.
For the levees around New Orleans, the designer and constructor of record is the United States of America. The Corps of Engineers designed the levees, hired the contractors, and inspected the work.
The United States of America had that front-line responsibility and failed.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:39 pmDon’t be suprised. At all. I’m a Katrina victim–my wife and I lost everything–and the worthless federal government couldn’t even get us a trailer. We were homeless for ~6 months. Thanks, FEMA.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm