Bobby and Windy,
All Mississippi casino workers very much appreciate your going to bat for us at the recent gccf meeting. We particularly appreciate your confidence that casino workers will be treated fairly. Since 2010 income was projected to be at or above '07 and '08 levels, the 2010 actual income plus 25% would be a minimum to cover 2010 losses fairly. Since health, seafood safety, and tourism levels will be affected for years, a four to five year final claim amount would be the minimum acceptable in terms of fairness. We also very much appreciate your "trusting everyone that was at the meeting in the Feinberg group." We very much wish we shared your confidence.
My wife and I filed our Emergency claims on Oct 10 in the Jackson County gccf office. We were told that our claims were well and completely documented, among the best that they had received, and that we should expect checks in three to four days. Wrong. Didn't happen.
Then we were told that the system was just backed up a little, and that we should expect checks within two weeks. Wrong. Didn't happen.
We made numerous calls over the next five weeks and were told every time that we were "under review". Wrong. Turns out that we had been denied from the start.
On Nov 9, Mr. Feinberg met with local casino and other business representatives, and, according to a WLOX interview, "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." Wrong. Within the next week and a half, ALL casino claims were denied.
We were told the Interim Claims process would begin immediately after the Emergency Claims process closed on Nov 23. Wrong. The Interim Claims process began 3 1/2 weeks later on Dec 17.
We were told that a staff of attorneys would be available beginning Dec 17 to answer questions about filing and processing. Wrong. They didn't show up for two weeks.
We were told that the Brunini firm was entirely independent. Wrong. They handle work for bp, and were soon replaced by gccf.
Mr. Feinberg states that he is entirely independent. Wrong. Judge Barbieri has ruled otherwise. And, more recently, the only Interim Claim paid, according to Mr. Feinberg, was paid without gccf review and at the direct order of bp.
As published by ProPublica on Dec 14: "Feinberg said that he would post a description of his methodology for evaluating claims online and in every claims office in the Gulf, and said he would release the methodology within the next 10 days. "We will have full transparency," he said." Wrong. Didn't happen. The "proposed" methodology was finally released FORTY days later. The "proposed methodology" is so simplistic and badly flawed, that it couldn't possibly have taken more than two or three days to write. (Please scan the gccf website "Comments on Proposed Methodology".)
We filed our Interim Claims on Dec 20 in the Harrison County gccf office. Again, we were told that our submitted documentation was full and complete. Wrong. Forty days later, the gccf published new requirements for Interim Claim documentation.
We were told that Interim Claims processing would begin immediately. Wrong. Not yet.
We were told that Interim Claims processing would begin in January. Wrong. Not yet.
We were told that Interim Claims processing would begin Feb 1. Wrong. Not yet.
We were told that Interim Claims processing would begin mid February. Wrong. Can't possibly happen. Comments on proposed methodology doesn't even end until Feb 16.
We were told by a gccf-feinbergrozen representative in the Washington office that we probably would be paid within five to fifty days. Wrong. We are now past 56 days.
From our point of view, the gccf, from Mr. Feinberg on down, is, at best, 0 for 15 in truth-telling. We have been alternately so hopeful and so crushed so many times over the last four months, the stress is literally killing us. The gccf processed almost 1/2 million claims in the ninety days from Aug 23 to Nov 23. In the ninety days from Nov 24 to Feb 24, one very suspicious claim only. Thousands of servers and service people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast were treated very generously by gccf in the Emergency Claims process. We ask only the same, and should in no way have to bow down and compromise on "some type of median ground". What was fair for them should be fair for us. This $20 billion does not belong to gccf or Mr. Feinberg. It is not government money we are taking out of each others' pockets. It is not even bp's money anymore. It is money specifically allocated for the recovery, rebuilding, and stimulation of the economy of the entire Gulf Coast region, and should be spent to the very last penny for that purpose. Goodness knows, we all need it. IF any money comes my way, it will immediately be spread throughout the community for car repair, fence repair, roof repair, medical and dental expenses, etc. Every dollar that comes into our area benefits every one of us.
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