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...
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