Wow. This is rich...
It seems that Ken Feinberg received a letter from Louisiana's Attorney General questioning Feinberg's independence. Since, oh by the way, Mr. Feinberg is being paid $850,000 a month by BP to administer the gccf. And, oh by the way, all money left in the fund will be returned to BP, presumably with all interest accrued, as well. In response, Mr Feinberg sought legal advice from a New York University professor, Stephen Gillers, a "nationally recognized expert in the field of legal ethics". Mr. Gillers and an assistant were paid a total of $1425.00 an hour to study the case and issue an opinion. In a letter to Feinberg, Gillers wrote, "You are an independent administrator." Who do you imagine paid the Gillers bill? BP.
Really?
Check out the entire Associated Press story on Sun Herald or WLOX web sites.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
letter to Bill Mulvey, gccf-casino liaison...
This pretty much sums up the day's efforts. Very seriously hope to hear from Bill with significant answers.
Bill,
In early October, the gccf was filing, evaluating, processing, paying, and delivering claims in five to seven days. And very accurately, I might add.
My wife and I filed our Interim Claims with the managers and attorneys at the local office Monday morning 12/20. When I called the 800 number in Ohio on Tuesday afternoon, 12/28, they had no record of our claims having ever been filed. As of the 29th, the claims were acknowledged as having been received. Nine days simply to have received the claims? We had certainly hoped that this process would have been streamlined instead of having been so badly bogged down. Perhaps I am wrong in my understanding, but the thought down here has been that the liaison was created to increase efficiency in processing casino workers' claims.
The second person I spoke with in Ohio on Wednesday said, "gccf is finalizing the methodology for evaluation of Interim and Final Claims". Finalizing the methodology now? This is like saying, "I'm going to jump in the water and invent a scuba system while I'm down there!" Finalizing the methodology? Really? How long do you imagine this might take?
At the third level up, I spoke with a supervisor, Tom Bender. Tom said that "casinos" claims are "being held to different standards" than our brothers' and sisters' in the hospitality and tourism industries before us. Other quotes include, "authentication process", "more in-depth investigation", "verifying tax returns". "Verifying tax returns"? How? I will mention to you again that this will prove to be the best documented group in Mississippi. Many of us are very much in "emergency" states still. How can we move forward with maximum efficiency?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
wait, wait, wait, Part 2...
We filed our Interim Claims at the local gccf office on Monday morning 12/20. As of Tuesday, 12/28, eight days later, the gccf processing office in Ohio has no record of them having ever been filed. We must reference the "good ol' days" of early October when non-casino claims were being filed, examined, approved, and paid, all within five to seven days. One would have hoped that with new and improved systems in place and far fewer claims to process, things would have been proceeding much more efficiently with the Interim Claims. The local buzz says that some who have called Ohio have been told that their claims have been received. Some, like us, show nothing on record at all. Further, one gccf representative in Ohio reportedly said that all of our information must first be "authenticated", whatever that means. Then the claims will be passed along to the adjusters, who will have ninety days from that point to resolve them. Could this possibly get any gummier? Why can't we simply be treated exactly as so many tourism and hospitality employees before?
Our local gccf office managers have promised to try to find out about the status of our claims on Wednesday the 29th. We will try to ask a few more questions, and, perhaps get a few more answers.
Our local gccf office managers have promised to try to find out about the status of our claims on Wednesday the 29th. We will try to ask a few more questions, and, perhaps get a few more answers.
Monday, December 27, 2010
USA Today interview...
USA Today www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-12-27-casinoworkers27_ST_N.htm or just look up USA Today online and look at "Nation & World"...
Please note that the purpose of this blog has always been to gather and disseminate information about the gccf process, and never to "gather gripes"...
Please note that the purpose of this blog has always been to gather and disseminate information about the gccf process, and never to "gather gripes"...
BILOXI, Miss. — When Brad McDonald saw the robust tips he usually earns as a dealer on blackjack and craps tables dip abruptly last summer, he did what scores of other Gulf Coast workers have done in the wake of the BP oil spill: He applied for an emergency payout from the oil company's compensation fund.
No dice, he was told. The claim was denied by the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, the agency doling out the $20 billion in BP's compensation fund to victims of the spill.
McDonald, who works at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, soon noticed that hundreds of other casino workers also were being denied, although the casinos are right on the Gulf of Mexico.
"Everybody who had the word 'casino' in their claims had their claims denied," says McDonald, 58, who started a blog to gather gripes from other uncompensated casino workers. "It's been extremely frustrating."
McDonald is one of hundreds of casino employees along the Gulf Coast — dealers, bartenders, waitresses, bellhops — who say their requests for compensation have been denied even as non-casino bartenders and waitresses have been paid.
There are about 11,000 casino workers along the Mississippi coast, and one-third of those rely mostly on tips for salaries, says Beverly Martin, executive director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association. She has received more than 500 e-mails from casino employees claiming they were denied BP compensation, she says.
While the BP oil disaster and cleanup effort played out a few miles offshore, summer tourists who regularly flock to the Mississippi coast for the beach, dining and gambling stayed away, she says. Gaming revenue for most of the casinos held steady over the summer because casino executives offered incentive packages to bring in more players and because BP contract workers filled seats, she says.
Even though gaming revenue stayed the same over the summer compared with last year, that doesn't mean workers were tipped as usual, she says.
"It doesn't necessarily translate into a customer spending the same amount of money," Martin says. "We're very dependent on those regular customers, especially during our summer months."
McDonald says he kept busy dealing for BP workers and others at the tables. But the lack of experienced gamblers lowered his tip averages noticeably, he says. He lost about 10% of his usual tips over the summer.
"When players win, they tip more," McDonald says. "When they don't win, they tend to tip less. We saw a lot of non-winning and a lot of non-tipping."
Last month, Kenneth Feinberg, the attorney in charge of the claims facility, met with Martin and other casino and state officials and promised to take another look at casino employees' denied claims. He also appointed Washington attorney Bill Mulvey as casino liaison to the facility.
No workers should have been denied just because they worked at a casino, Feinberg says. Previously denied casino employees holding good paperwork showing they lost tips and wages this summer could reapply for interim payments, a final lump-sum payment and also, if approved, could receive the emergency amount they were initially refused, he says. The deadline to apply for emergency payments was last month.
"I'm sensitive to the casino workers' claims," Feinberg says. "We have every intention of honoring documented casino workers."
Some casino workers say they showed ample documentation the first go-round and were still rejected. Roderick Miller, 44, a dealer at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino-Biloxi, says he applied in mid-October, submitting paycheck stubs and tax records for the past two years to show he lost more than $7,000 in tips over the summer. His claim was denied.
Miller's usual repeat customers who travel from Georgia and Florida to Biloxi with their families to spend big on the craps, roulette and other tables told him they were staying away this summer because of the spill, he says. "We should get more consideration," Miller says.
Laurie Lambert, 37, a server in a casino restaurant in nearby Hancock County, says she received and kept two checks from the compensation fund totaling $21,100 — 10 times what she requested. Claims by other servers at the same restaurant and dealers at the casino were denied, she says. No one at the local facility office has been able to explain the inconsistencies, Lambert says.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas ! ! !
A Very Merry Christmas to All... Today we put aside the struggle and enjoy the company of family and friends. Our Christmas this year has been much more family oriented and certainly much less about presents. Our ability to give materially is less this year, but perhaps, we appreciate each other even more.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !
MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
claim forms in the mail...
We have just received the gccf Interim Claim forms in the mail. We are given to understand that co-workers are getting them as well. We definitely recommend filing Interim Claims. The forms are very short and easy. For those who have filed "emergency claims" before, simply entering your claim number here will automatically attach your previously submitted financial information to your new Interim Claim. For most of us, pages 2, 7, 13, and 14 are all we need to fill out. You can mail this in if you wish, but the wait time at the local gccf offices is fairly short. People are available to answer most of your questions and process your information. Again, we strongly recommend preparing in advance to streamline entry time and maximize results.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Interim Claims filed...
Our personal Interim Claims were filed Monday morning. The process seemed very efficient. Definitely more so because we had assembled our claims packages over the weekend. We very definitely recommend preparing the Interim Claims form in advance. Nobody wants to be stumbling inaccurately over input questions at the local office. Interim Claims packages are just beginning to be received in the mail now. They are also available in all local offices. It is most efficient to complete this form while personal records are readily available. It's also an opportunity to organize thoughts and personal information concisely. According to a gccf source, the more information included in the package, the better. We included our paystubs from the date of the emergency claim to the present. We also included a letter from our General Manager and a transcript of WLOX's David Vincent's editorial supporting casino claims. Some Table Games dealers have produced income charts or spread sheets showing the direct effect of the blow-out. Details like these should be presented in a readily understandable fashion. Raw data presented may be hard for the laymen adjusters to understand.
To repeat an earlier note, those who file Interim Claims, will enter their previous "emergency claim" number on the form. All previously submitted information will be automatically included.
We were told officially that these claims should be resolved within ninety days. Off the record, it probably will be sooner.
To repeat an earlier note, those who file Interim Claims, will enter their previous "emergency claim" number on the form. All previously submitted information will be automatically included.
We were told officially that these claims should be resolved within ninety days. Off the record, it probably will be sooner.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Interim Claims...
Interim Claims are now being filed. Most of us have not yet received the promised information by mail, but all three Mississippi local offices do have the forms. Only the Harrison County D'Iberville office hosts a team of lawyers for more detailed answers and advice. Information and forms can be downloaded from the gccf website, http://www.gulfcoastclaimsfacility.com/. These forms will include our "emergency" claim number and automatically pick up all of our previously included financial information such as W2's and paystubs. We do recommend updating our 2010 numbers to include most recent pay periods. A gccf representative has recommended waiting for our 2010 W2's in early February, but agreed that it was not really necessary.
Some Table Games dealers have included charts showing a drop in personal revenue after the blow-out, instead of the usual tourist-season rise. Whatever new information that can be included, should be included. We recommend including new cover letters; letters from our employers, as are available; a copy of David Vincent's WLOX editorial supporting the casino employees' cause; as well as any other news or personal communications that might be beneficial.
Basically, let's dot our i's and cross our t's. We personally believe that our casino employee information is as coherent and comprehensive as any group before us. Hopefully, we will now be treated as appropriately as our neighbors before.
Some Table Games dealers have included charts showing a drop in personal revenue after the blow-out, instead of the usual tourist-season rise. Whatever new information that can be included, should be included. We recommend including new cover letters; letters from our employers, as are available; a copy of David Vincent's WLOX editorial supporting the casino employees' cause; as well as any other news or personal communications that might be beneficial.
Basically, let's dot our i's and cross our t's. We personally believe that our casino employee information is as coherent and comprehensive as any group before us. Hopefully, we will now be treated as appropriately as our neighbors before.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Bill was Right !
Finally, accurate information for the first time! Earlier in the week, Bill Mulvey, gccf-casino liasino said that Interim Claim paperwork would be available for processing in the local offices on Friday, December 17. And it WAS! Wow. Thanks, Bill, you are the Man! As of mid-morning Friday there was a mile-long line outside the D'Iberville office. Information says there was a long line in Bay St. Louis as well. Pascagoula was just a walk-in, five-minute wait. The Pascagoula input people still do not have much in the way of answers, however. There is a team of lawyers available for consultation in the D'Iberville office only. We now have an appointment to chat with them either Saturday or Monday morning.
At this point, we are still recommending everyone file an Interim Claim. The forms seem simple enough. By filing this form, all of our previous financial information should automatically be picked up. Online entry is not yet available, but the information and forms can be downloaded from the gccf website for those not wishing to visit the local offices.
At this point, we are still recommending everyone file an Interim Claim. The forms seem simple enough. By filing this form, all of our previous financial information should automatically be picked up. Online entry is not yet available, but the information and forms can be downloaded from the gccf website for those not wishing to visit the local offices.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
disappointed...
The local gccf office and gccf 800# calls told us that their "next phase" would begin on November 24th. On the 25th, a local gccf manager promised us that a team would be in place the following week (of Nov 29) to "answer all of our questions". Later that week, they told us that additional training was required and that the team would be in place the following week (Dec 6). Of course, they are still not there. Late that week, our gccf telephone contact told us that Interim Claim information packets were being mailed out, to arrive the week of Dec 13. Yesterday, Dec 15, the same source said that packets had not started mailing... This source also indicated that Interim Claim paperwork would be available in local offices Friday Dec 17. Really? Absolutely nothing gccf has promised with our claims has come true so far. The emotional roller coaster ride continues...
We had had very sincere hopes that the appointment of a casino liasion would have released us from "Denial Hell" and paid us as quickly and as generously as so many others in our area before. Speaking for casino employees, and Table Games people in particular, we are very sure that our claims have been well documented and in no way should be held to any different standards than so many miscellaneous claims having been approved before. Certainly server claims are also as well documented as others that have been generously paid.
In light of the purported liasion mission, and in light of our already-filed, well-documented claims, we are very disappointed that so little has moved forward thus far. We are also extremely disappointed to have been offered the suggestion that perhaps we would be better off to wait until February to file our Interim Claims. The reason given that our 2010 W2's might be more accurate than our ten months of paystubs having been already submitted. This strongly smacks of different treatment and different standards. We all know that ten months' pay can very accurately predict the year, as it so obviously has for so many others. We have waited two months, and now we are being asked to wait an additional two months? When so many others have been paid within days. Really?
We must point out that gccf has now resolved over 400,000 claims in less than 120 days, an average of over 3000 per day. We estimate there being between 3000 and 4000 "casinos" claims in Mississippi. This seems no more than two days work, especially given the excellent documentation, and especially given the appointment of a special liasion to facilitate and expedite. Two months? Really? How about the two days that it should actually take?
We had had very sincere hopes that the appointment of a casino liasion would have released us from "Denial Hell" and paid us as quickly and as generously as so many others in our area before. Speaking for casino employees, and Table Games people in particular, we are very sure that our claims have been well documented and in no way should be held to any different standards than so many miscellaneous claims having been approved before. Certainly server claims are also as well documented as others that have been generously paid.
In light of the purported liasion mission, and in light of our already-filed, well-documented claims, we are very disappointed that so little has moved forward thus far. We are also extremely disappointed to have been offered the suggestion that perhaps we would be better off to wait until February to file our Interim Claims. The reason given that our 2010 W2's might be more accurate than our ten months of paystubs having been already submitted. This strongly smacks of different treatment and different standards. We all know that ten months' pay can very accurately predict the year, as it so obviously has for so many others. We have waited two months, and now we are being asked to wait an additional two months? When so many others have been paid within days. Really?
We must point out that gccf has now resolved over 400,000 claims in less than 120 days, an average of over 3000 per day. We estimate there being between 3000 and 4000 "casinos" claims in Mississippi. This seems no more than two days work, especially given the excellent documentation, and especially given the appointment of a special liasion to facilitate and expedite. Two months? Really? How about the two days that it should actually take?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
interviews...
Rick Jervis of USA Today called this afternoon. We talked for most of an hour about the whole Gulf Coast "casinos" claims. We are scheduled to meet with a photographer late tomorrow afternoon to firm up details. After having been on the phone with Bill Mulvey recently, we have emailed him twice today asking for definite, positive details on our process that we can pass along to the national media.
PS: We are thinking of finding someone with a "grinch" costume to be in the photo.
PS: We are thinking of finding someone with a "grinch" costume to be in the photo.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
great interview...
Well done, our Bay St. Louis colleagues. Most excellent appearance on WLOX, extensive interview with Doug Walker and Dave Elliott. Well said. We are very proud of so many concerned Mississippians for pulling together on this. We now have our Mississippi Casino Operators Association, State Legislator, State Attorney General, Gulf Coast newspapers, and Gulf Coast television station involved. After speaking with leaders and decision-makers, we feel more confident than ever that the GCCF is seriously motivated to clean up this mess. Will it be before Christmas? That would be nice. Don't really see it happening that fast, but we do definitely see it happening.
Friday, December 10, 2010
on track...
Bill Mulvey seems to be a very sincere gentleman who is genuinely concerned with our situation, and as GCCF-casino liaision, wants to push through the Interim Claims process as efficiently as possible. We have every reason to think that we are on track for successful resolution of our claims.
Fact update: December 31 is NOT a hard deadline for filing our first Interim Claim. Our first claim, no matter when filed, will go back to April 20, the day of the blow-out. Subsequent Interim Claims may be filed once quarterly thereafter. GCCF is pushing for accuracy in it's own forms and website information. We had hoped to have the Interim Claims info by now, but we may still be looking at another week. There had been thoughts that GCCF might have wanted to push through as many Final Claims as possible before Christmas, but that looks like so much conspiracy theory now. Final Claims will probably not even be considered until next year.
We have been on the front page of the Sun Herald two days in a row now. We all owe a great debt of thanks to Anita Lee of the Sun Herald for breaking our story and following it thus far. And very much gratitude to Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, who is working closely with Bill Mulvey to establish 2010 pay rate guidelines relative to a good 2008 instead of an off year 2009. She is a huge difference-maker for all of us.
We are in a wait-and-see mode right now. Let's get our Interim Claim info in the mail, check it out, and file accurately. Our local GCCF office called today to congratulate us all on our front page story. They will call us as soon as they are prepared to process Interim Claims.
Fact update: December 31 is NOT a hard deadline for filing our first Interim Claim. Our first claim, no matter when filed, will go back to April 20, the day of the blow-out. Subsequent Interim Claims may be filed once quarterly thereafter. GCCF is pushing for accuracy in it's own forms and website information. We had hoped to have the Interim Claims info by now, but we may still be looking at another week. There had been thoughts that GCCF might have wanted to push through as many Final Claims as possible before Christmas, but that looks like so much conspiracy theory now. Final Claims will probably not even be considered until next year.
We have been on the front page of the Sun Herald two days in a row now. We all owe a great debt of thanks to Anita Lee of the Sun Herald for breaking our story and following it thus far. And very much gratitude to Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, who is working closely with Bill Mulvey to establish 2010 pay rate guidelines relative to a good 2008 instead of an off year 2009. She is a huge difference-maker for all of us.
We are in a wait-and-see mode right now. Let's get our Interim Claim info in the mail, check it out, and file accurately. Our local GCCF office called today to congratulate us all on our front page story. They will call us as soon as they are prepared to process Interim Claims.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Letter to GCCF liaison Bill Mulvey...
This morning we have emailed the GCCF-Casinos liasion:
Bill Mulvey,
Any discussion of "casinos" claims must begin with why they were categorically denied in the first place. Overall quality of the group would be next, followed by the most efficient way to determine validity
1. We are given to understand that denial began with the notion that the casino industry was "unaffected".
Our casinos are experienced marketers, sensitive enough to different economic indicators to stay ahead of the curve. When a downturn is indicated, a number of procedures kick in. Many more coupons and promotional chips are sent out. These are counted as revenue when they are played. A house with $100,000 per time frame last year may show $105.0 this year from $95.0 actual plus $10.0 promotional. Fewer real dollars, lower tips.
Casinos constantly work to implement attractive game variations that increase percentage. This drives more revenue from fewer players. More revenue, fewer players, fewer tips.
BP oil clean-up people filled the hotels for these same months. They were, for the most part, inexperienced gamblers with loose money. Winners tip more, non-winners tip less. Revenue up, tips down.
The real challenge for all of us here is to completely put aside this first notion and view our people with totally new eyes.
2. Honesty and Integrity
The Mississippi Gaming Commission conducts extensive background checks before issuing a gaming badge. Licensed casino employees must have an absolutely clean record to begin with. Any hint of impropriety can result in job loss, no questions asked. Any one of a number of misdemeanor offenses can result in loss of gaming badge. Badged employees have many years of experience living very clean lives.
After Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies came in and hired literally thousands of casino employees to train as adjusters, processors, input, and office people. Why? Because we are known for our integrity, honesty, intelligence, and dependablity.
No one here is asking for anything more than we have actually lost. Hundreds of Table Games dealers, using a hundred different methods are all coming up with very similar loss numbers. Almost all are within the $4,000 - $8,000 range for the year. Very statistically significant.
3. GCCF has already established a very efficient method to determine eligiblity.
Comparing '08 and '09 W2's with '10 income, projected from nine months of pay stubs, is a very simple and efficient way to establish loss. Many tipped casino employees have established charts showing very definite drop-offs of income relative to the Blow-Out. When "casinos" claims are evaluated by these GCCF parameters, they will prove to be the most accurate and well-documented group the GCCF has received on the entire Gulf Coast. This is a matter of simply evaluating with the same eyes as others before, not requiring any more burden of proof than has been required from any previously paid groups.
We must note that claims here have been paid for grocery stores, convenience stores, landscapers, trucking businesses, beauty salons, retailers of building materials and furniture, laundry services, electricians, plumbers, and cleaning services. These groups are down largely because our casino employees, a major economic engine of the Gulf Coast, have been down. If these groups have shown a direct link to the oil spill, then certainly we have as well. We are all inter-related. We can't imagine what burden of proof they have provided that we have not. Guests come here for ultimate hospitality; beaches, fishing, spas, golf, and casinos. Our casinos are built on or over the water. Oil is under us, and on our beaches to this day. Two comparisons are appropriate. New Orleans servers have been paid generously, though they are more than fifty miles removed from oil or beaches. Atlantic City casinos are suffering because they offer nothing but gambling. We succeed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast only because of the synergy among all hospitality businesses. To pay one and deny another is simply unconscionable.
Supporting our claims, we have the Mississippi Attorney General's office, the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, letters from our employers, editorials from our local television station, and constant support from our local press.
We very much look forward to meeting you and moving forward with this process in a timely fashion. We understand that information packets for Interim Claims should be received this week by all claimants, and that Interim Claim processing teams should be in place at local offices next week. Given that Interim Claims quarterly must be filed by Dec 31, this gives us a very small window in which to work, especially given the Season. It would seem that our main challenge here is to inform as many claimants as possible to file Interim Claims before the end of the year.
Thank you, and please call or write, ...
Lotta News...
Here we are simply copying our correspondence with the Mississippi Attorney General's office. Please read carefully and pass along as much and as soon as possible...
Thank you for forwarding the Protocol. We spent a good while studying it
and found both answers and questions (not surprising, huh?). A
knowledgeable lady named Sheila answered the phone at the GCCF 800 #
yesterday, and we had a very productive talk. According to her, they have
been somewhat delayed (again, not a surprise) in getting "Interim Claim"
paperwork out and new teams in place for processing the claims. Apparently,
information packets will be mailed to all claimants to arrive sometime this
week. Processing teams should be in place at local GCCF offices next week.
The rub here is that all claims must be filed by Dec 31. Very small window
there, especially in light of the Season. Interim Claims may be submitted
quarterly going forward. Importantly, the first Interim Claims will cover
losses from the April blowout until the end of the year. In other words,
just like the Emergency Claims were supposed to do. The local GCCF office
is scheduled for a phone conference this evening to receive this updated
information.
Another rally is scheduled at the Lighthouse today. Given the "cool" only
the most dedicated are expected to show. This information will be
disseminated, and as Bill Mulvey has envisioned, "informal communications"
will hopefully spread quickly. Perhaps we will be able to enlist the aid of
our local media to help get the word out.
It's important to note that "Interim" and "Final" claims are not exclusive,
but, rather, both can be filed. Interim Claims should be filed first and by
all claimants, just as Emergency Claims previously. Final Claims may be
filed after Interim Claims have been resolved.
Time line: GCCF plans to finish all Emergency Claims by Dec 15. Interim
Claims will then be processed, to be resolved within 90 days and hopefully
sooner, perhaps within 15-45 days. Final Claims will not even be looked at
until the first waves of Interim Claims have been resolved.
Thank You,
Thank you for forwarding the Protocol. We spent a good while studying it
and found both answers and questions (not surprising, huh?). A
knowledgeable lady named Sheila answered the phone at the GCCF 800 #
yesterday, and we had a very productive talk. According to her, they have
been somewhat delayed (again, not a surprise) in getting "Interim Claim"
paperwork out and new teams in place for processing the claims. Apparently,
information packets will be mailed to all claimants to arrive sometime this
week. Processing teams should be in place at local GCCF offices next week.
The rub here is that all claims must be filed by Dec 31. Very small window
there, especially in light of the Season. Interim Claims may be submitted
quarterly going forward. Importantly, the first Interim Claims will cover
losses from the April blowout until the end of the year. In other words,
just like the Emergency Claims were supposed to do. The local GCCF office
is scheduled for a phone conference this evening to receive this updated
information.
Another rally is scheduled at the Lighthouse today. Given the "cool" only
the most dedicated are expected to show. This information will be
disseminated, and as Bill Mulvey has envisioned, "informal communications"
will hopefully spread quickly. Perhaps we will be able to enlist the aid of
our local media to help get the word out.
It's important to note that "Interim" and "Final" claims are not exclusive,
but, rather, both can be filed. Interim Claims should be filed first and by
all claimants, just as Emergency Claims previously. Final Claims may be
filed after Interim Claims have been resolved.
Time line: GCCF plans to finish all Emergency Claims by Dec 15. Interim
Claims will then be processed, to be resolved within 90 days and hopefully
sooner, perhaps within 15-45 days. Final Claims will not even be looked at
until the first waves of Interim Claims have been resolved.
Thank You,
Saturday, December 4, 2010
ACTION ! ! !
There will be another rally supporting casino workers' claims this Tuesday, December 7, at the lighthouse, from 10am until 2pm. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for our situation. Keeping up the public pressure can only be positive. David Vincent, WLOX General Manager, recently produced a very strong editorial comment on our behalf, and we do expect additional coverage at the rally. We feel very strongly that we may yet have a positive outcome, but we have been treated very unfairly so far, and our story needs to be told. Please try to get out as many people as possible...
WLOX Editorial
Casino workers claims should not be denied
Updated: Dec 02, 2010 6:04 AM CSTWe hope Kenneth Feinberg who is administering some $20 billion in BP oil claims will take a hard look at the casino workers in South Mississippi. The casino workers are a big part of our tourist industry. There are thousands of them working in the coast's 11 casinos. Many of them work as dealers or work in one of the many casino restaurants.
So when the oil spill news made national headlines and coast tourism took a big drop last summer, the paychecks of many of these workers dropped as well. A lot of casino employees depend on tips to help round out their income. If there are fewer tourists coming to the coast, it would stand to reason that the tips would decrease as well.
Claims should not be systemically denied just because someone works at a casino. If a casino employee can show their income has dropped this year, then we believe they should be considered for some payment.
This is not about greed or trying to get something for nothing. These are legitimate claims being made by thousands of Gulf Coast families that are trying to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. Everyone who has been impacted by the oil spill should be eligible to receive some compensation. To leave an entire group out of the process is just not right.
That's our opinion, we would like to hear yours. Email your thoughts to editorials@wlox.com, or post your comments below.
David Vincent
WLOX-TV General Manager
So when the oil spill news made national headlines and coast tourism took a big drop last summer, the paychecks of many of these workers dropped as well. A lot of casino employees depend on tips to help round out their income. If there are fewer tourists coming to the coast, it would stand to reason that the tips would decrease as well.
Claims should not be systemically denied just because someone works at a casino. If a casino employee can show their income has dropped this year, then we believe they should be considered for some payment.
This is not about greed or trying to get something for nothing. These are legitimate claims being made by thousands of Gulf Coast families that are trying to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. Everyone who has been impacted by the oil spill should be eligible to receive some compensation. To leave an entire group out of the process is just not right.
That's our opinion, we would like to hear yours. Email your thoughts to editorials@wlox.com, or post your comments below.
David Vincent
WLOX-TV General Manager
wait, wait, wait, oil...
We met again with our local GCCF bosses Friday afternoon. They still have no hard information for us. They were expecting a new team to come in this past week to deal with interim and final claims, but, no dice. Who knows when? They do have "final claim" packets available, but nothing yet on interim claims. They do have our phone number and have offered to call us as soon as they hear anything new. Anything else floating around right now is pure rumor. They do recommend we all wait for their new team, so we may be best informed about future courses of action. Our colleague at work received a phone call from the Mississippi Attorney General's office. The AG representative recommended not signing off yet on final claims. We are of mixed emotions ourselves.
Please check out ABCNews' "Exclusive: Submarine Dive..." There is a LOT of oil out there on the Gulf floor. A large area is totally dead. And there is still major national media attention. We all know how damaging that can be to tourism. We certainly hope that we are all on the rebound ecologically and economically. But who knows what the near future will bring in terms of media, seafood, tourism, and God Forbid, hurricanes stirring it all up.
Attached is our Saturday morning letter to Amy Weiss, whose public affairs office has been hired by Mr. Feinberg to handle dissemination of information.
Please check out ABCNews' "Exclusive: Submarine Dive..." There is a LOT of oil out there on the Gulf floor. A large area is totally dead. And there is still major national media attention. We all know how damaging that can be to tourism. We certainly hope that we are all on the rebound ecologically and economically. But who knows what the near future will bring in terms of media, seafood, tourism, and God Forbid, hurricanes stirring it all up.
Attached is our Saturday morning letter to Amy Weiss, whose public affairs office has been hired by Mr. Feinberg to handle dissemination of information.
Amy Weiss,
Amy, maybe you can help me out in getting some accurate information for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The local GCCF bosses were expecting a new team to be here this past week to handle interim and final claims. That didn't happen and now they seem to have been postponed indefinitely. Also, they had never heard of Bill Mulvey, and don't seem to be receivng any accurate or timely information from either Mr. Feinberg or the GCCF "home office". In fact, they tell me that I seem to know more than they do, and ask me to kindly keep them informed. We have exchanged telephone numbers. Will Bill be coming to the Coast anytime soon? Definitely look forward to meeting him and discussing moving forward. What is your current time frame?
As you know, our Mississippi Attorney General's office has joined the fight, and I hear that they are largely recommending not signing off on final claims. Our local television station just issued a strong editorial comment supporting the Coast. And our local newspaper continues to keep BP and GCCF in the news as well. A most timely resolution would be beneficial for all.
Please let me know as soon as possible what's going on from your point of view.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
David Vincent, WLOX...
This morning at 6:30am on WLOX' Good Morning Mississippi, General Manager David Vincent delivered an editorial directed to Mr. Kenneth Feinberg and the GCCF regarding the systematic denial of "casino" claims. This was a very powerful and positive statement on behalf of all of us in South Mississippi. We have asked permission to print a transcript and present it with future interim or final claims.
Casino workers claims should not be denied
Updated: Dec 02, 2010 6:04 AM CSTWe hope Kenneth Feinberg who is administering some $20 billion in BP oil claims will take a hard look at the casino workers in South Mississippi. The casino workers are a big part of our tourist industry. There are thousands of them working in the coast's 11 casinos. Many of them work as dealers or work in one of the many casino restaurants.
So when the oil spill news made national headlines and coast tourism took a big drop last summer, the paychecks of many of these workers dropped as well. A lot of casino employees depend on tips to help round out their income. If there are fewer tourists coming to the coast, it would stand to reason that the tips would decrease as well.
Claims should not be systemically denied just because someone works at a casino. If a casino employee can show their income has dropped this year, then we believe they should be considered for some payment.
This is not about greed or trying to get something for nothing. These are legitimate claims being made by thousands of Gulf Coast families that are trying to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. Everyone who has been impacted by the oil spill should be eligible to receive some compensation. To leave an entire group out of the process is just not right.
That's our opinion, we would like to hear yours. Email your thoughts to editorials@wlox.com, or post your comments below.
David Vincent
WLOX-TV General Manager
WLOX-TV General Manager
©2010 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
news of the day...
We had a long meeting today with the top three people at one of our Gulf Coast GCCF offices. At this point, we believe that they are all solidly on our side as far as getting "casino" claims approved for final payment. These are input people, not decision-making people, but their support is very important. They will definitely have the ear of the decision-making group coming in later this week. There was some scepticism early, but presentation of the Bill Mulvey first draft and the letter from our General Manager seemed to turn the tide. This group recommends waiting a few more days before submitting final claims, so that we can interact with the new group of advisors coming in. We will be checking daily with the office to ascertain when this will be. Earlier in the day, a representative from another Gulf Coast GCCF office also recommended waiting. He said that we will be receiving packets in the mail outlining our options in "10-14 days". This will be an automatic mailer for all those who have filed for emergency claims.
There was a meeting among co-workers last night. One gentleman has produced a very compelling chart comparing his '08, '09, and '10 bi-weekly paychecks. He shows a sharp decline instead of increase for "tourist" season, and a return to normal when the blow-out was capped. We charted our own checks for this year and show similar results. We intend to present all of this to Bill Mulvey, our new liasion to GCCF. There is no time-line yet, but we will be pressing hard for timely resolution.
There was a meeting among co-workers last night. One gentleman has produced a very compelling chart comparing his '08, '09, and '10 bi-weekly paychecks. He shows a sharp decline instead of increase for "tourist" season, and a return to normal when the blow-out was capped. We charted our own checks for this year and show similar results. We intend to present all of this to Bill Mulvey, our new liasion to GCCF. There is no time-line yet, but we will be pressing hard for timely resolution.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving...
All offices we correspond with will be closed for the long holiday weekend. We will enjoy Thanksgiving off with the family for the first time in sixteen years. Geaux Saints! Also off Friday for the Iron Bowl.
Looks like more interesting stuff will be happening with the GCCF in the next week or two. We will be back in the saddle Monday poking, prodding, and riding herd on this whole mess. Hoping we may yet get ahead of the curve.
Best of luck to all and Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, give thanks and give food. There are a lot of hungry people in our area.
Looks like more interesting stuff will be happening with the GCCF in the next week or two. We will be back in the saddle Monday poking, prodding, and riding herd on this whole mess. Hoping we may yet get ahead of the curve.
Best of luck to all and Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, give thanks and give food. There are a lot of hungry people in our area.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
first draft to Bill...
The following is the first draft of a letter to GCCF liasion, Bill Mulvey. We have sent it to Mississippi Casino Operators Asociation Executive Director Beverly Martin and to Mary Jo Woods, Special Assisstant Attorney General, Mississippi Attorney General's Office. We expect to hear back from them next week. With improvements, we will send it on to Bill after the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving!
Any discussion of "casinos" claims must begin with why they were categorically denied in the first place. Overall quality of the group would be next, followed by the most efficient way to determine validity.
1. We are given to understand that denial began with the notion that the casino industry was "unaffected" because casino revenue was up for a five-month time frame.
The MCOA has shown that the revenue/time frame figured that each casino was up an average of $87,000/month. Casino revenue is about 2/3 slots and 1/3 table games. +$30,000 table games divided by 30 days = $1000/day. $1000/day divided among 100 dealers/day = $10/dealer/shift. We deal many thousands in action over eight hours. +$10 over many thousands is totally insignificant to tips. Eliminating the miniscule increase, there must be other factors affecting tipped employees' income.
Our casinos are experienced marketers, sensitive enough to different economic indicators to stay ahead of the curve. When a downturn is indicated, a number of procedures kick in. Many more coupons and promotional chips are sent out. These are counted as revenue when they are played. A house with $100,000 per time frame last year may show $105.0 this year from $95.0 actual plus $10.0 promotional. Fewer real dollars, lower tips.
Casinos constantly work to implement attractive game variations that increase percentage. This drives more revenue from fewer players. More revenue, fewer players, fewer tips.
BP oil clean-up people filled the hotels for these same months. They were, for the most part, inexperienced gamblers with loose money. Winners tip more, non-winners tip less. Revenue up, tips down.
The real challenge for all of us here is to completely put aside this first notion and view our people with totally new eyes.
2. Honesty and Integrity
The Mississippi Gaming Commission conducts extensive background checks before issuing a gaming badge. Licensed casino employees must have an absolutely clean record to begin with. Any hint of impropriety can result in job loss, no questions asked. Any one of a number of misdemeanor offenses can result in loss of gaming badge. Most badged employees have many years of experience living very clean lives.
After Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies came in and hired literally thousands of casino employees to train as adjusters, processors, input, and office people. Why? Because we are known for our integrity, honesty, intelligence, and dependablity.
No one here is asking for anything more than we have actually lost. Thousands of Table Games dealers, using a hundred different methods are all coming up with very similar loss numbers. Almost all are within the $4,000 - $8,000 range. Very statistically significant.
3. GCCF has already established a very efficient method to determine eligiblity.
Comparing '08 and '09 W2's with '10 income, projected from nine months of pay stubs, is a very simple and efficient way to establish loss. When "casinos" claims are evaluated by these GCCF parameters, they will prove to be the most accurate and well-documented group the GCCF has received on the entire Gulf Coast. This is a matter of simply evaluating with the same eyes as others before, not requiring any more burden of proof than has been required from any previously paid groups.
We must note that claims here have been paid for grocery stores, convenience stores, landscapers, trucking businesses, beauty salons, retailers of building materials and furniture, laundry services, electricians, plumbers, and cleaning services. These groups are down largely because our casino employees, a major economic engine of the Gulf Coast, have been down. If these groups have shown a direct link to the oil spill, then certainly we have as well. We are all inter-related. We can't imagine what burden of proof they have provided that we have not. Guests come here for ultimate hospitality; beaches, fishing, spas, casinos, golf. Our casinos are built on or over the water. Oil is under us, and on our beaches to this day. Two comparisons are appropriate. New Orleans servers have been paid generously, though they are more than fifty miles removed from oil or beaches. Atlantic City casinos are suffering because they offer nothing but gambling. We succeed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast because of the synergy among all hospitality businesses. To pay one and deny another is simply unconscionable.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
calls, visits, emails...
We started yesterday morning with the two emails included in yesterdays blog. Mid-morning we received a phone call from Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association. She continues to work very hard for all of us. She has been in touch with Bill Mulvey by both email and telephone. Bill Mulvey is the new "liaison" between Mr. Feinberg's office and the GCCF in charge of managing continued handling of "casinos" claims. He has asked for further information about the nature and validity of our claims. Ms. Martin continues her remarkable work and is collecting as much pertinent information as possible to forward to him.
Yesterday afternoon we visited our local GCCF office to try to check out rumors having emanated from there. We spoke with both an office representative and a supervisor. They continue to provide very little hard news. They did confirm that all "casinos" claims were categorically denied without individual review. They did confirm that the reason that Mississippi claims overall have been so statistically skewed toward denial is that we have such a high percentage of "casinos" claims having been categorically denied. They did confirm that what Mr. Feinberg had to say about casino claims being treated equally with tourism claims had not been implemented in a manner timely enough to prevent our tidal wave of denials. They had nothing to say about pending "interim" payments.
On the positive side, they did mention "maybe more emergency advances". They also said that "next week" they will have more information on what our next steps may be. Apparently a new lawyer team will be on hand to work on this for us. The supervisor told us that they "will answer all my questions next week". We certainly look forward to the opportunity to clear up this mess.
Yesterday afternoon we visited our local GCCF office to try to check out rumors having emanated from there. We spoke with both an office representative and a supervisor. They continue to provide very little hard news. They did confirm that all "casinos" claims were categorically denied without individual review. They did confirm that the reason that Mississippi claims overall have been so statistically skewed toward denial is that we have such a high percentage of "casinos" claims having been categorically denied. They did confirm that what Mr. Feinberg had to say about casino claims being treated equally with tourism claims had not been implemented in a manner timely enough to prevent our tidal wave of denials. They had nothing to say about pending "interim" payments.
On the positive side, they did mention "maybe more emergency advances". They also said that "next week" they will have more information on what our next steps may be. Apparently a new lawyer team will be on hand to work on this for us. The supervisor told us that they "will answer all my questions next week". We certainly look forward to the opportunity to clear up this mess.
Bay St Louis rally...
Congratulations to our co-workers of Bay St Louis for presenting an excellent, high-profile rally on behalf of all Mississippi casino workers. It is important that we show that we are honest people of integrity who are being taken advantage of. It's important for the Coast and all of Mississippi. Well done. Thank you.
Monday, November 22, 2010
letter to the editor #1 (11/22)
GCCF statistics...
The GCCF statistics that should be most important to all Mississippians are as follows, and are taken from the GCCF website as of November 20.
Considering resolved claims in thousands, Alabama has had 22.5 paid, 7.7 denied, an "approved" rate of 75%. Florida has had 46.7 paid, 12.6 denied, 79% approved. Louisiana has had 43.8 paid, 27.4 denied, 62% approved. Since the Mississippi Gulf Coast is right in the middle of our neighbors, with whom we share very similar cultures, economies, and effects of the oil spill, we should be very similar to Alabama and Florida. Or at least somewhere in the middle of that 62-79% window. However, Mississippi has had only 11.7 paid with 13.2 denied for a very dismal 47% approval rate. This stinks of more than spilled oil and rotting seafood. We have filed 45.6 claims total, Alabama 58.4, and Florida 132.9. Yet both actually show fewer overall claims denied than us. It does not take a professional statistical analyst to see that this is WAY out of whack. Mississippi is being badly discriminated against. Alabama has been paid almost 400 million, Florida almost 700 million, Mississippi less than 200 million. This is an issue that should concern every Mississippian. That missing 200 million+ would significantly boost the whole coastal economy, and would be a great boost to state income tax revenue.
Our civic leaders should be outraged, and should be actively working to correct this horrific imbalance on behalf of every Mississippian.
letter to the editor #2 (11/22)
Response to Nov 21 editorial "Feinberg needs more than 90 days"
We agree that the GCCF task is impossibly large to complete within 90 days. We are not sure why any claim submitted with "no documentation" would ever be accepted in the first place. They surely would have no hope of being paid, and serve only to gum up the works. We agree that the most vocal critics are among the ranks of casino employees, and for good reason. Somehow, the whole casino industry was initially labeled as an "unaffected industry". Consequently, every claim with the word "casino" in it was categorically denied. "Additional attention" may not be the best description of what is needed now. Real estate people have had very complex issues of figuring actual and projected losses, requiring the special task force. Many individuals' "restaurant" and "tourism" claims on the Coast have been generously paid, with much less documentation than casino workers'. Casino workers have generally not had difficulty documenting their lost earnings. Many have submitted W2's from '08 and '09 and nine months of pay stubs from '10, exactly as the GCCF requires, and should be the simplest to figure. A great many are clearly projecting a modest loss. What is needed here is to be removed from "unaffected industry", reopened, and to be treated as fairly as so many less documented claims from the restaurant and tourism industries. We know that some casinos have restaurants both casino owned and contract leased. We find that, even though everyone works under the same roof with the same group of guests, contract employees are being paid while casino employees are being denied.
We agree that the GCCF task is impossibly large to complete within 90 days. We are not sure why any claim submitted with "no documentation" would ever be accepted in the first place. They surely would have no hope of being paid, and serve only to gum up the works. We agree that the most vocal critics are among the ranks of casino employees, and for good reason. Somehow, the whole casino industry was initially labeled as an "unaffected industry". Consequently, every claim with the word "casino" in it was categorically denied. "Additional attention" may not be the best description of what is needed now. Real estate people have had very complex issues of figuring actual and projected losses, requiring the special task force. Many individuals' "restaurant" and "tourism" claims on the Coast have been generously paid, with much less documentation than casino workers'. Casino workers have generally not had difficulty documenting their lost earnings. Many have submitted W2's from '08 and '09 and nine months of pay stubs from '10, exactly as the GCCF requires, and should be the simplest to figure. A great many are clearly projecting a modest loss. What is needed here is to be removed from "unaffected industry", reopened, and to be treated as fairly as so many less documented claims from the restaurant and tourism industries. We know that some casinos have restaurants both casino owned and contract leased. We find that, even though everyone works under the same roof with the same group of guests, contract employees are being paid while casino employees are being denied.
We do not question Mr. Feinberg's honesty. However, The Sun Herald quoted him as saying "we have paid casino claims", yet found only six out of 900 having been paid. From a WLOX interview with him on November 9, "The goal, according to Feinberg, is to make sure casino workers are considered just as fairly as others in the seafood and tourism industry. "What we have to make sure of is that individuals are treated fairly, consistently," Feinberg said. "I'm here to pay claims, not to deny claims." The following week saw a tidal wave of denial letters to casino employees, with no one that we know of having been paid. Where is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
The first 90 days have been an abject failure for Mississippi as a whole and casino workers in particular. The real question is whether we still have any hope at all for the next thirty days?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
hopeful rumors...
Here are things we have heard second or third hand. We will continue to make calls and visits, and send more emails to confirm. My colleague who organized our rally got a phone call very recently from the State of Mississippi Attorney General's office. The AG representative said that they were now taking up our cause (which should be all of Mississippi's really). We have heard that elected officials in Alabama are now pressing for better treatment for their citizens, too. It all helps. More importantly is that we have heard the following information from two different sources, taken from direct conversations with gccf representatives at the local claims offices. Supposedly, since all "casinos" claims were in a category already declared an "unaffected industry", they could not be moved or reopened until they were all returned "denied". Make any sense? Who really knows at this point? But, again supposedly, they can all now be reopened somehow and reevaluated. An associated rumor says this should be completed and paid before the end of the year. Very heavy rumors indeed.
We have a lot of work to do in a short time. The final day for filing emergency claims is this Tuesday November 23. Strongly urge anyone not having filed to do so quickly.
Again, many thanks to Anita Perez of the Sun Herald for first opening up this news and Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association for lobbying Mr. Feinberg so effectively. Senator Roger Wicker has offered to help. Now, thanks to the Mississippi State Attorney General for fighting for us.
We have a lot of work to do in a short time. The final day for filing emergency claims is this Tuesday November 23. Strongly urge anyone not having filed to do so quickly.
Again, many thanks to Anita Perez of the Sun Herald for first opening up this news and Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association for lobbying Mr. Feinberg so effectively. Senator Roger Wicker has offered to help. Now, thanks to the Mississippi State Attorney General for fighting for us.
lotta new stuff...
The elevator ride continues. The Sun Herald web site reported today that the Justice Department is urging "greater transparency" about the claims process. We have been strongly pushing for this, and have used the term "stone-walled" several times. In an Associated Press article by Harry R. Weber,
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Round 2...
We have had a tidal wave of denial letters in the past week. Now we are really wondering about Mr. Feinberg. On Monday last, he told us that we would be treated the same as all others in the "tourism" and
"restaurant" groups. However, the opposite seems to have happened. We know of at least one casino on the Coast where all servers working in contract restaurants have been approved and paid generously, while all servers in casino-owned restaurants have been, again, 100% denied. WTF? We are all working at the same property and dealing with the same guests. And, still, no answers at all from gccf.
We are continuing to work all of our contacts to try to find out how this travesty happened.
We will, of course, be filing a final appeal. We are very concerned that simply resubmitting the same information will get us only the same result. We have been told by phone people at the gccf 800 number that finals are judged differently than emergency claims. However, they are unable to tell us how or why our emergency claims have been denied, or how we can change our information to help us more likely enjoy a positive result. At this point, this is looking like a very strong class action.
"restaurant" groups. However, the opposite seems to have happened. We know of at least one casino on the Coast where all servers working in contract restaurants have been approved and paid generously, while all servers in casino-owned restaurants have been, again, 100% denied. WTF? We are all working at the same property and dealing with the same guests. And, still, no answers at all from gccf.
We are continuing to work all of our contacts to try to find out how this travesty happened.
We will, of course, be filing a final appeal. We are very concerned that simply resubmitting the same information will get us only the same result. We have been told by phone people at the gccf 800 number that finals are judged differently than emergency claims. However, they are unable to tell us how or why our emergency claims have been denied, or how we can change our information to help us more likely enjoy a positive result. At this point, this is looking like a very strong class action.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
waiting again...
Our local power company had our neighborhood out for repairs several days ago. When they turned us back on, we experienced several great surges. Pop, out went the cable box, and, Pop, out went the modem. Happily, the computer itself seems unaffected. Gotta get a bigger surge protector. Also, we have to wait for a new modem to arrive in the mail. Hate losing our window on the world. Really hate not being able to check our claim status the usual four times a day. We do have new hope with Mr. Feinberg asking Beverly Martin to send him names and claim numbers of casino employees. We certainly hope to be reviewed with new eyes and in a timely fashion. Still, there is no way for us to check on it. Very frustrating. We do enjoy a good roller coaster ride, but only live, not mentally.
Thanks again to Connie Penuel for organizing our beach rally last Monday. Very timely. It made for very good press coinciding with Mr. Feinberg's local meeting. Many thanks to all who came out. It was handled very cleanly and professionally. Our general manager, much to his credit, has told us that our right to peacefully rally will be respected by him and our company.
We are approaching a week out from the first list of names and numbers having been sent to Mr. Feinberg. Looking for the FedEx truck any day now... Will definitely be nice to see the first five or six checks come in.
Thanks again to Connie Penuel for organizing our beach rally last Monday. Very timely. It made for very good press coinciding with Mr. Feinberg's local meeting. Many thanks to all who came out. It was handled very cleanly and professionally. Our general manager, much to his credit, has told us that our right to peacefully rally will be respected by him and our company.
We are approaching a week out from the first list of names and numbers having been sent to Mr. Feinberg. Looking for the FedEx truck any day now... Will definitely be nice to see the first five or six checks come in.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
opportunities...
Wish to share an email I received from Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association.
"Can you have the casino workers send me their claim numbers, please? Mr. Feinberg asked if I had them, today, but I did not. I want to get them to him asap.
Thanks,
Bev"
I did warn her that she might be taking on a task far larger than she had originally thought. Apparently Mr. Feinberg is taking this very open-mindedly and very seriously. Am definitely recommending that anyone with a legitimate bp claim, pending or denied, email Beverly Martin with your name, your claim number, and, perhaps a brief note of thanks for her help.
Connie Penuel and I tonight celebrated together our joint projects having such a serious impact on our Gulf Coast economy.
---Beverly Martin"
Executive Director, Mississippi Casino Operators Association
"Can you have the casino workers send me their claim numbers, please? Mr. Feinberg asked if I had them, today, but I did not. I want to get them to him asap.
Thanks,
Bev"
I did warn her that she might be taking on a task far larger than she had originally thought. Apparently Mr. Feinberg is taking this very open-mindedly and very seriously. Am definitely recommending that anyone with a legitimate bp claim, pending or denied, email Beverly Martin with your name, your claim number, and, perhaps a brief note of thanks for her help.
Connie Penuel and I tonight celebrated together our joint projects having such a serious impact on our Gulf Coast economy.
---Beverly Martin"
Executive Director, Mississippi Casino Operators Association
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
results...
Our campaign efforts have borne fruit. We started two weeks ago with two "letters to the editor". Anita Lee of the Sun Herald interviewed us on a Wednesday afternoon. Her great front page story was published on Thursday 10/28. Beverly Martin, Linda Hornsby, and Bobby Moak joined the battle in Mary Perez's Friday article. The Mississippi Business Journal reported as well. We have emailed our Governor, our Senator, and our Representative. We have exchanged emails with our Mississippi Casino Operators Association, the Sun Herald, and WLOX. We have had very productive meetings with Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the MCOA, and David Vincent, General Manager of WLOX. Our compatriot, Connie Penuel, organized a powerful and very timely rally on our behalf.
Two weeks ago, we were dumped in the ditch two miles back. Today, we are on the front burner.
This huge change could mean a possible 10-20 million dollar impact for our Mississippi Gulf Coast.
We are, by no means, out of the woods yet. We would all like to see some "casino" claims being paid. As previously reported by the Sun Herald, with less than half of "casino" claims checked, six were "paid" and almost nine hundred were still "denied claimant".
Still, we are now light years ahead of where we were two weeks ago. WLOX reports, "The goal, according to Feinberg, is to make sure casino workers are considered just as fairly as others in the seafood and tourism industry." We are about to get a whole new look through "new eyes".
Anita Lee, of the Sun Herald, deserves a Pulitzer Prize for bringing this into the light. Again, millions of dollars are at stake here for all of us on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Thank you also, Mary Perez and Stan Tiner. Beverly Martin, Executive Director of our Mississippi Casino Operators Association, has stared down the bull and opened his eyes. Wow. Krystal Allan, thank you for absolutely top notch reporting and editing. Thank you, David Vincent and Brad Kessie for listening.
Mr. Kenneth Feinberg, thank you for visiting us. Thank you for a new ear.
---Brad McDonald...
Two weeks ago, we were dumped in the ditch two miles back. Today, we are on the front burner.
This huge change could mean a possible 10-20 million dollar impact for our Mississippi Gulf Coast.
We are, by no means, out of the woods yet. We would all like to see some "casino" claims being paid. As previously reported by the Sun Herald, with less than half of "casino" claims checked, six were "paid" and almost nine hundred were still "denied claimant".
Still, we are now light years ahead of where we were two weeks ago. WLOX reports, "The goal, according to Feinberg, is to make sure casino workers are considered just as fairly as others in the seafood and tourism industry." We are about to get a whole new look through "new eyes".
Anita Lee, of the Sun Herald, deserves a Pulitzer Prize for bringing this into the light. Again, millions of dollars are at stake here for all of us on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Thank you also, Mary Perez and Stan Tiner. Beverly Martin, Executive Director of our Mississippi Casino Operators Association, has stared down the bull and opened his eyes. Wow. Krystal Allan, thank you for absolutely top notch reporting and editing. Thank you, David Vincent and Brad Kessie for listening.
Mr. Kenneth Feinberg, thank you for visiting us. Thank you for a new ear.
---Brad McDonald...
Monday, November 8, 2010
Rally Monday morning...
Rally Monday morning 10am-1pm at the Lighthouse in Biloxi to express solidarity about being GCCF "denied claimants". Parking will be in the lot on the south side of Hwy 90, and up and down the beach if needed. It's a great location for many reasons. Our Lighthouse has long been the actual and symbolic beacon for our Gulf Coast. This rally will shed light on the great injustices being done to Mississippi by bp and the GCCF. Across the street, our new Visitors Center is nearing completion. This represents how equally dependent we all are on tourism and each other. It's right on the beach, where tar balls are still being cleaned up, and within sight of casinos whose employees are being discriminated against by the GCCF. This is one of our highest traffic areas with highest visibility, and a great backdrop for media coverage. The rally has been well-organized on short notice. Mr. Kenneth Feinberg will be in town for a private meeting with Gulf Coast business leaders on Monday to discuss our Coastal economy. Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association has the casino employees' fight at the top of her agenda. We can only hope that the GCCF mind is not already rusted shut.
Anita Lee of the Sun Herald on Friday reported "Feinberg responded through a representative, 'We have paid casino workers...'". Oh, Really? She also reported that a review of fewer than half of the Mississippi claims listed on the GCCF website shows 895 casino claims have been denied, with only six paid. We venture to say that tipped servers in non-casino restaurants have been paid in the opposite ratio. We have on good authority that not all of their restaurants filed claims or showed losses. We are obviously all interdependent here, and have all suffered the destruction of a potential banner year in all of our industries.
Of the 20 billion that bp pledged to rebuild our Gulf Coast, 18 1/2 billion remains. Mr Feinberg, Write that check!
Anita Lee of the Sun Herald on Friday reported "Feinberg responded through a representative, 'We have paid casino workers...'". Oh, Really? She also reported that a review of fewer than half of the Mississippi claims listed on the GCCF website shows 895 casino claims have been denied, with only six paid. We venture to say that tipped servers in non-casino restaurants have been paid in the opposite ratio. We have on good authority that not all of their restaurants filed claims or showed losses. We are obviously all interdependent here, and have all suffered the destruction of a potential banner year in all of our industries.
Of the 20 billion that bp pledged to rebuild our Gulf Coast, 18 1/2 billion remains. Mr Feinberg, Write that check!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
sad to think...
Sad to have to think of GCCF and Mr Feinberg as the opposition. This is akin to some in our culture teaching kids that the Police are our friends, and some teaching kids to beware of the Police. Which is it here? bp spends millions in the media to state that they are "making things right" and will be here until things are "made right". And yet, every day we are hearing about legitimate casino worker claims receiving denial notices, either on line or in the mail. How wrong is that?!? It is our thought at this point, bp must want to corner all casino employees. No emergency claim money forthcoming. MAYBE, final settlements being offered in low-ball amounts, hoping that we will accept, signing away our rights to join class-action later. Aren't we the main economic engine of the Gulf Coast? HELP!!!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
much happening...
Today was hopefully a very productive day for our "casinos" "denied claimants". We talked with Executive Director of Mississippi Casino Operators Association, Beverly Martin, on the phone for about a half hour. Later we stopped by the MCOA offices and discussed the upcoming meeting with Mr. Feinberg for most of two hours. She has heard from many of us, and has been hard at work organizing talking points for the Monday meeting. We covered a lot of ground together preparing for her to present our most convincing arguments for including rather than excluding "casino" claims. She is really on our side and will be spending most of the weekend bunkered in preparing for battle. (Please forgive us, Bernie, you can have her back soon, we hope.) This meeting had been set up quite a while back, but it looks like the agenda has been updated. Cross your fingers. It will be a private meeting with Mr. Feinberg and twelve local business leaders. We know that included will be the Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association, two casino executives, and eight others. No elected officials will be included, apparently at the request of Mr. Feinberg. Apparently, no media will be allowed, either.
After meeting with Ms. Martin, we stopped by WLOX. We spoke briefly with News Director Brad Kessie, and at length with General Manager David Vincent. These good fellows obviously cannot take sides, but they have asked that we keep them informed of news. Dave Vincent and I had what I felt was a very productive and informative discussion. Brad Kessie mentioned to me that there has been a permit issued for a public gathering on Monday in the area of our Lighthouse. Heads up. Might be big...
The main obstruction here seems to be that GCCF (Feinberg) wonders that if casino revenues were up, how could tips be down? The first and most obvious reason to me is that our hotels were largely filled with bp boat people and clean-up people. Glad as we are to have had them here, they were not very smart gamblers and not very good tippers. Revenue up, tips down.
Consider this, our Coast casinos were reportedly averaging revenue up about 90,000/month each. That's about $60,000 slots and $30,000 Table Games. $30,000 divided by 30 days = $1000/day. $1000/day divided by 100 dealers = $10/dealer/shift. We have pointed out that if we deal blackjack for eight hours, we are handling many thousands of dollars in action, and a ten dollar more or less win over eight hours is totally insignificant to tips. There are obviously other factors involved. See above. We have information that some local restauranteurs have reported no losses, yet most of their staffs have been paid on loss of income.
All we ask is a fair look. GCCF stats still show that Mississippi has filed 10,000 fewer claims than any of our neighbors. Yet, of resolved claims, we are now being denied at almost 50%. Next closest is Louisiana at 30%. Perhaps we should still all move to Florida, 13% denied. Florida has had paid almost as many claims as we have totally filed, and has had denied only about half as many as us. And we're right here on the front lines of the blowout! Mississippi 40.0 filed, 9.4 paid, 9.1 denied; Florida 108.0 filed, 39.0 paid, 5.9 denied. Really?
After meeting with Ms. Martin, we stopped by WLOX. We spoke briefly with News Director Brad Kessie, and at length with General Manager David Vincent. These good fellows obviously cannot take sides, but they have asked that we keep them informed of news. Dave Vincent and I had what I felt was a very productive and informative discussion. Brad Kessie mentioned to me that there has been a permit issued for a public gathering on Monday in the area of our Lighthouse. Heads up. Might be big...
The main obstruction here seems to be that GCCF (Feinberg) wonders that if casino revenues were up, how could tips be down? The first and most obvious reason to me is that our hotels were largely filled with bp boat people and clean-up people. Glad as we are to have had them here, they were not very smart gamblers and not very good tippers. Revenue up, tips down.
Consider this, our Coast casinos were reportedly averaging revenue up about 90,000/month each. That's about $60,000 slots and $30,000 Table Games. $30,000 divided by 30 days = $1000/day. $1000/day divided by 100 dealers = $10/dealer/shift. We have pointed out that if we deal blackjack for eight hours, we are handling many thousands of dollars in action, and a ten dollar more or less win over eight hours is totally insignificant to tips. There are obviously other factors involved. See above. We have information that some local restauranteurs have reported no losses, yet most of their staffs have been paid on loss of income.
All we ask is a fair look. GCCF stats still show that Mississippi has filed 10,000 fewer claims than any of our neighbors. Yet, of resolved claims, we are now being denied at almost 50%. Next closest is Louisiana at 30%. Perhaps we should still all move to Florida, 13% denied. Florida has had paid almost as many claims as we have totally filed, and has had denied only about half as many as us. And we're right here on the front lines of the blowout! Mississippi 40.0 filed, 9.4 paid, 9.1 denied; Florida 108.0 filed, 39.0 paid, 5.9 denied. Really?
Friday, November 5, 2010
critical meeting...
emailed the following this morning to WLOX General Manager David Vincent and others...
David Vincent,
Monday marks a very critical meeting for the future of our Mississippi Gulf Coast. Many millions of dollars are at stake for our economic future. Mr. Kenneth Feinberg will be here to meet with local and state officials, specifically concerning the handling of thousands of bp claims from casino employees. As we here all know, casino employees are a large and important part of our Coastal economic engine. We have happily already seen electricians, plumbers, cleaners, and many more paid emergency claims. It's pretty obvious that the reason they have come up short is that we have come up short.
We are all very happy that bp paid many boat people and clean-up people to come here and work. These delightful people have been very much appreciated. Here are some differences though. Many rooms were paid full price, instead of having been comped, increasing casino revenue. Most boat people had little gambling experience. Generally, they lost more and tipped less. Revenue up, tips down.
Speaking of our very sacred 1st Amendment, free speech is easily bought by those with billions, and hard won by those with a cause. Thank you so much for looking out for us.
Thanks again,
meeting with Mr. Feinberg...
Monday, 11/08, Mr Feinberg will be here on the Coast for a private meeting with local, and hopefully, state officials about our casino claims. This is our best chance so far, by far, to get our claims recognized as legitimate and to have them all evaluated properly. We have a number of local powerhouse people working for us. Beverly Martin, Executive Director of our Mississippi Casino Operators Association is working hard for us all. Linda Hornsby, Executive Director of our Hotel & Lodging Association will be there as well. Bobby Moak? Not sure yet. We are working hard to try to be there to give voice to the person on the front lines.
And, oh by the way, as of November 4, 49% of our (Mississippi) resolved claims have been denied. Louisiana 29%, Alabama 19%, and Florida (for gosh sake no oil) 12% ! ! !
Congratulations to our brothers who appeared on WLOX News Wednesday evening outside the LeMoyne Blvd office of the GCCF. Very humanizing. Very courageous for featuring your families and how much this has really damaged us all. This is exactly the message we are trying to send to Ken Feinberg. Hey, we are people here, and we have been hurt by this! Great work, guys!!!
And, oh by the way, as of November 4, 49% of our (Mississippi) resolved claims have been denied. Louisiana 29%, Alabama 19%, and Florida (for gosh sake no oil) 12% ! ! !
Congratulations to our brothers who appeared on WLOX News Wednesday evening outside the LeMoyne Blvd office of the GCCF. Very humanizing. Very courageous for featuring your families and how much this has really damaged us all. This is exactly the message we are trying to send to Ken Feinberg. Hey, we are people here, and we have been hurt by this! Great work, guys!!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
working for insurance companies...
This is going to be short and sweet... After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a number of insurance companies looked first to hire hundreds of casino workers. Why? Because we have security clearance. Also, because we are a mature, honest, hard-working group of people. We have recently forwarded these thoughts to Beverly Martin in hopes that she will carry them to Mr. Kenneth Feinberg.
communications...
Seems to be a lot happening. Over the last six days, GCCF is still denying MS at double the rate of any other state. Of course, this insane flood of baseless claims is really gumming up the process for the rest of us. I have heard back very productively from Dave Vincent, General Manager, and Brad Kessie, News Director at WLOX. Brad Kessie asked if I knew anything about a protest outside the LeMoyne Blvd GCCF office scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. I told him I had not. Just want to let everyone know that WLOX is very interested. And if you have solid info, please share it with them. (and with us, too!)
Has anyone else noticed a significant increase in bp television and print ads the last few days? Mr. Feinberg's Public Affairs director, Amy Weiss, has been very busy indeed.
We have further emailed Beverly Martin. Hope to hear from her soon.
Has anyone else noticed a significant increase in bp television and print ads the last few days? Mr. Feinberg's Public Affairs director, Amy Weiss, has been very busy indeed.
We have further emailed Beverly Martin. Hope to hear from her soon.
Monday, November 1, 2010
bp ad on local television...
There was a bp ad on WLOX this morning at 8:30. More smoke-screen. We have written twice before to WLOX, no reply. Here is the letter we sent this morning to Dave Vincent, General Manager:
Dave, First, thank you for your inciteful editorial comments. We try to watch at least one WLOX news cast every day, as well as attend your website. This morning, Monday 11/01 at 8:30am, your bp commercial featuring Pete Boyd felt very wrong, given bp and GCCF's statistically abberant treatment of Mississippi claims. We hard-working and self-reliant people of our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast have filed fewer claims than any of our neighbors, yet are being denied at incredibly greater rates. As of yesterday morning, AL, FL, and LA were being denied at an average of 13%. Mississippi's claims were being denied at 40%. These are percentages of claims having been resolved. GCCF publishes stats daily. I believe Pete said something like "...bp helping all kinds of people". I am sure you must be aware that any claims related to casinos seem to be denied categorically. Perhaps they are being reviewed still, but GCCF website information offers conflicting information. "GCCF Program Statistics", "Mississippi Claims Details Report" shows every "casino" related claim to be "claimant denied". The GCCF 800 number tells us that we have not been denied, but, then, why does it indicate so on their website? Further, if we are still being considered, we are finding ourselves totally stone-walled regarding any time frame for resolution. Friday's Sun Herald front-page article reported that State House of Representatives Gaming Committee Chairman Bobby Moak, Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association executive director Linda Hornsby, and Mississippi Casino Operators Association executive director Beverly Martin are all contacting Kenneth Feinberg on Mississippi's behalf. We fervently hope that WLOX will fight for us all, as well.
If there is any way I can contribute further, please contact me. We try to publish info daily at http://www.casinobpclaims.blogspot.com/.
People on our side...
There are now some very influential people on our side. Friday's Sun Herald article featured some powerful people who will probably make a big difference in Mississippi's case with bp oil-claims. Please read it on the Sun Herald's website. Look it up under "business", then "casinos". Beverly Martin is executive director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association. Linda Hornsby is executive director of the Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association. Bobby Moak is the State House of Representatives Gaming Committee Chairman. This morning, we have sent emails to each thanking them for their involvement on behalf of the State of Mississippi. The letters are very similar. One follows:
Beverly Martin,
Can't thank you enough for your Sun Herald interview regarding oil-claims not being paid. And for your getting involved with Kenneth Feinberg on our behalf. Hopefully, with your help, and that of Linda Hornsby and Bobby Moak, he will get the point we are trying to make. He and Amy Weiss seem to be out of touch with some of the realities of economic conditions on our beautiful Gulf Coast.
What is most disturbing to me is that Mississippi claims are being denied at a so much higher rate than our neighboring states, though we have filed far fewer claims than any other. These stats are published daily by GCCF. Also disturbing is that we are being stone-walled in our efforts to get a time frame on claim reviews from GCCF. We really do need to know something soon.
Our letter to the editor, which was quoted in the Thursday article, was published in it's entirety in Sunday's paper. The numbers are a few days old. They change daily, with Mississippi being denied at higher and higher rates.
If there is any way I can contribute further, please contact me. We try to publish info daily at http://www.blogger.com/.
bp ad in the paper...
The Sunday October 31 Sun Herald included a full-page ad from bp on 5-A. Please find it and read it if you can. Totally smoke-screen stuff. We did write a letter to the editor commenting on it. Hope it runs.
Sunday's Sun Herald features a full page ad for bp. Really? This ad is entitled "Making This Right". Sadly, it is about a restaurant in Louisiana. This restaurant is glad that bp paid clean-up people to come to their area. Really? Beyond the "...come down..." quote, this is obviously all bp propaganda. They say that they have supported businesses, and we do appreciate that. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, bp's boat people filled casino hotels, but mostly with little play at the tables. bp says that they have kept local businesses open. Really? Open? But how many dollars have been lost, how many jobs have been lost, how many tips have been lost, and how many hours have been cut back? Consequently, many hourly and tipped employees (including casinos) on our own Gulf Coast have been severely skunked. Of course we are a great place, ready to welcome people when they "come down." But, please, this ad tries to camouflage the very serious economic damage that bp has done to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
As of this morning, the GCCF website shows Mississippi with a bp claims denial rate of 40%, while our three neighbor states, AL, FL, and LA are being denied at only 13%. Who is stomping on Mississippi and why? Are any of our elected officials pitching in on this? Can we please hear from Gene Taylor and Haley Barbour before the election next Tuesday?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Casino BP Claims
Newest information from our end: Sun Herald just now published a "letter to the editor" several days after it was presented. Newest figures show that Mississippi has filed only 37,000 bp claims, 5.8 denied for a denial percentage of 40%. Of the resolved Mississippi bp claims, 40% are denied. AL, FL, and LA combined have a denial rate of only 13% WTF?
We have sent new emails to Gov. Haley Barbour and others
Will be back with more soon.
We have sent new emails to Gov. Haley Barbour and others
Will be back with more soon.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Casino BP Claims
Ok, Folks, the very excellent reporters of our own Sun Herald have really gotten behind this thing. Anita Lee and Mary Perez deserve huge credit from all of us. I'm sure most of you know that Friday morning's paper featured a front-page article about new state-wide involvement. "State House of Representatives Gaming Committee chairman Bobby Moak said he'll go to bat for casino employees whose oil spill damages claims were denied." He's written to Feinberg on our behalf. The same Feinberg lack-of-response drivel has been printed on the Front Page two days in a row now. This whole thing has appropriately taken on a great momentum of it's own. Michael Cavanaugh, a Biloxi casino attorney is speaking up on our behalf. Linda Hornsby, director of the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging association will meet with Mr Feinberg to explain the impact of the blowout, very knowledgeably talking numbers. Very importantly, Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association is also scheduled to meet with Feinberg. She makes an extremely intelligent, informed, cogent, and very much appreciated argument on our behalf. Hopefully, after the elections, Gene Taylor and Haley Barbour will help us out, too. No word from either of them so far, even though we are a huge bloc of votes.
You know, the buzz I'm hearing is that hundreds of us have come up with an income shortage of about $6000-$8000 for this year. We are not a conspiracy, guys. We're all independently coming up with very similar numbers. Shouldn't that be apparent to the GCCF? Or, wouldn't that be apparent if our claims were actually worked instead of being categorically denied?
Looks like we may have this ball rolling in the right direction. However, time is short. This is all supposed to be wrapped up before November 23. Don't really see how that's going to happen. New claims seem to be outstripping resolved claims daily by about four to one. There is some talk about GCCF opening a special program to look at claims for casino folks. Let's hope. Please stay in touch. Let's share all the info we can.
Many heartfelt "Thanks" to Anita Lee, the first to break this news, Mary Perez, Stan Tiner, Beverly Martin, Linda Hornsby, Michael Cavanaugh, and especially Bobby Moak for going to bat for us...
You know, the buzz I'm hearing is that hundreds of us have come up with an income shortage of about $6000-$8000 for this year. We are not a conspiracy, guys. We're all independently coming up with very similar numbers. Shouldn't that be apparent to the GCCF? Or, wouldn't that be apparent if our claims were actually worked instead of being categorically denied?
Looks like we may have this ball rolling in the right direction. However, time is short. This is all supposed to be wrapped up before November 23. Don't really see how that's going to happen. New claims seem to be outstripping resolved claims daily by about four to one. There is some talk about GCCF opening a special program to look at claims for casino folks. Let's hope. Please stay in touch. Let's share all the info we can.
Many heartfelt "Thanks" to Anita Lee, the first to break this news, Mary Perez, Stan Tiner, Beverly Martin, Linda Hornsby, Michael Cavanaugh, and especially Bobby Moak for going to bat for us...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Casino BP Claims
OK, Guys and Girls, here's whats new. The Sun Herald made our BP-GCCF situation headline news today. Good. Even better, the online site has over 200 "Comments" following the article. Very interesting reading, and very good to see such amazing interest. There have been calls to "organize". Seems to me that it would be even more powerful if everyone would individually write or call any of those who might be able to help. We've included emails for some of these people on previous posts. Here's a new one: Amy Weiss, who's public affairs firm represents Feinberg. She was quoted in today's paper with some pretty nonsensical stuff. "It's an issue of proof of damage." and "...casinos depend less on the beach and Gulf than some other industries do." Wow. Really? How much proof of damage are the servers, cooks, and dishwashers in New Orleans submitting to be compensated up to $25,000? Credit the Mississippi Business Journal in Jackson for reporting that. Looks like the Business Journal picked up the story from the Sun Herald. We can all thank Anita Lee, Mary Perez, and Stan Tiner of our local paper for making this front page news.
Here's most of my email to Amy Weiss:
Here's most of my email to Amy Weiss:
"Amy, PLEASE read this personally. We are hard-working, self-reliant people in Mississippi. We have filed fewer BP claims than any other state in our region. Yet we are being denied at a statistically abhorrent rate. Our four Gulf Coast states have all been damaged economically, and our economies are all interrelated. Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana's resolved claims are running at single digit percentage denial. Today's figures show Mississippi claims being denied at over 30%.
Today's newspaper piece quoted "...proof of damage." and "...casinos depend less on the beach and Gulf than other industries do." The Mississippi Business Journal reports that servers, cooks, and dishwashers in New Orleans are being compensated, and with no beaches at all. Of course, we are all equally dependent on our beautiful Gulf. Our main industry here is hospitality and tourism. Guests come here for the great combination of beaches, fishing, golf, and casinos. If you will please read the headline piece, and maybe check the GCCF website, you will see that many, many claims being paid have nothing directly to do with the beach or the Gulf. The point here is that we have all been damaged economically.
BP has committed a certain amount of compensation to help rebuild all of our economies. Let's look for ways to get this thing moving forward. Any money that comes in to perhaps thousands of households on our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast will directly be spread across thousands of service and retail businesses who have been hurting for some time.
HELP! ---(signature)..."
Oh, yeah, her address...
Amy Weiss, Principal, Point Blank Public Affairs, http://www.pointblankpa.com/
5309 Cushing Place, N W
Washington, DC 20016
office: 202-203-0448
fax: 202-237-2692
Casino BP Claims
Hey, Folks, lots of news today, hopefully mostly good. A Sun Herald reporter, Anita Lee called me today in response to my letters to the local newspaper. Because of our emails, she had spoken to Kenneth Feinberg on the phone today to discuss our huge disparity of payment rates for Mississippi. Ken told her that it was because of our lack of documentation. Really? Hey, Ken, lack of documentation goes into the "lack of documentation" file, not "denied"! She ran the numbers and called him back, but has been stone-walled. The better news is this: now when I click "Check Claim Status", no longer do I get "under review", I now get a completely new message "Claim Under Detailed Compensatory Review". I have just spoken (4:30am CDT) with a GCCF representative in Ohio who assures me that our claims are actually back in action. Hopefully, Ken has seen the light, and we will be recognized as a driving force in our Gulf Coast economic engine. Look for Anita's story in the Sun Herald Thursday 10/27.
According to the GCCF website, there were over 20,000 new claims made overnight. There were about 2500 more paid and about 2500 more denied. Good news, bad news? I'm thinking that with twenty new and five resolved that these people are back-logging really fast. What the heck is going to happen between now and their announced November 23 deadline for "final offers"?
We are having some trouble dealing with the accuracy of the GCCF website. Here's why: every states' stats are OK except Louisiana's (imagine that!). LA's total number of claims went up, but their "Paid" went down! How does that happen? Mississippi is still being treated WAY worse than our neighbors. Mississippi's denial rate now shows at over 30%. Our three neighbors combined are denied at 8%. Maybe we should all move to Florida, which had very little oil and are being denied at only 4%.
Hey, let me know if you you have any new info. We've gotta get our local leaders going on this...
Haley Barbour: governor@governor.state.ms.us
Gene Taylor: http://www.taylor.house.gov/
Fox News: newsmanager@foxnews.com
Sun Herald: calee@sunherald.com (Anita Lee)
Sun Herald: letters@sunherald.com
WLOX: agiardina@wlox.com
According to the GCCF website, there were over 20,000 new claims made overnight. There were about 2500 more paid and about 2500 more denied. Good news, bad news? I'm thinking that with twenty new and five resolved that these people are back-logging really fast. What the heck is going to happen between now and their announced November 23 deadline for "final offers"?
We are having some trouble dealing with the accuracy of the GCCF website. Here's why: every states' stats are OK except Louisiana's (imagine that!). LA's total number of claims went up, but their "Paid" went down! How does that happen? Mississippi is still being treated WAY worse than our neighbors. Mississippi's denial rate now shows at over 30%. Our three neighbors combined are denied at 8%. Maybe we should all move to Florida, which had very little oil and are being denied at only 4%.
Hey, let me know if you you have any new info. We've gotta get our local leaders going on this...
Haley Barbour: governor@governor.state.ms.us
Gene Taylor: http://www.taylor.house.gov/
Fox News: newsmanager@foxnews.com
Sun Herald: calee@sunherald.com (Anita Lee)
Sun Herald: letters@sunherald.com
WLOX: agiardina@wlox.com
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