FEMA Funds Showing Up At Strip Clubs

Is bumping and grinding really what you were thinking when FEMA decided to put our tax dollars to work? Somehow, I don't think so .... h/t Pundita

HOUSTON -- On the same day that the Houston Police Department announced the formation of a task force to find people abusing or scamming the FEMA and Red Cross debit cards, KPRC Local 2 discovered that some of the money has been spent at local strip clubs.

The cards were given to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina to help them relocate and start their lives anew after losing everything they own. There are no rules on how the money should be spent, but most spend it on the necessities -- food, clothing and shelter.

A manager at Caligula XXI Gentlemen's Club on Westheimer Road told KPRC Local 2 that he has seen at least one debit card used at his club. A woman known only as "Abby" is a bartender at Baby Dolls, another adult entertainment club across the street.

"A lot of customers have been coming in from Louisiana and they've been real happy about the $1.75 beers and they're really nice," she said. Abby could not say for sure which type of card her patrons have been using, but said she doesn't blame them for using federal dollars. "You lost your whole house, then, why not? You might want some beer in a strip club. There are a lot of guys out there that like to do that," she said.

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Comments

[festicles]

You could see this one coming a mile away......

[splashtc]

They get knocked in the head and still don't plan for their future. What are we as taxpayers whose money is being spent suppose to do.

[TheAlamo]

Yep, it's our money, and we don't even get to go to the show!

[coconuttree]

Veteran federal disaster workers say they warned their bosses that Hurricane Katrina would create an epic disaster in the Gulf Coast. But their bosses, political appointees with almost no emergency management experience, didn't seem to share the sense of urgency, a Federal Emergency Management Agency veteran says. http://us.cnn.com/2005/US/09/17/katrina.response/index.html

[disgusted]

I heard that some of the evacuee used the FEMA money to pay for Breast Implants, expensive hadbag,Beer and other things instead of using it to find a place to live. This was on Fox News tonight. Why is FEMA giving out money instead of just giving some kinda of voucher for rent. This is a disgrace that people would use money given to them to help them start a new life and throw it away on crap. I know at the shelters around here these people don't want to help themselves. I see it every day they lay around all day and complain because they have no place to live but yet they have recieved money to get them a place. At this rate these people will still be sitting in these shelter in 6-8 months from now and waiting for the next hand out.It has been long enough for them to try to help themselves it is getting to the point that some of them abusing the system. We have another Storm in the gulf and this one is aimed for where I am what is going to happen when it hits here? Is there going to be help for us if we need it or are all the funds tied up with New Orleans evacuee? There are to many people having to deal with these bad hurricane to just help out one city. It is time that FEMA stands up and tell everyone that gets the money that they need to go get them a place so they can either start over or live there until New Orleans is rebuilt. It is like the welfare line down here everyone sitting around waiting for the next check to come in. This is not a black or white issue this is just plain and simple abuse. There are allot of displaced people that are trying to help themsselve but there is also allot of them wanting the hand-outs.