Staten Island
#StatenIsland is starting pt for the NY Marathon.Running by the freezing, hungry people waiting for rescue? Really?
— martha maccallum (@marthamaccallum) November 2, 2012
And precisely WHY I tell everyone to be prepared to fend for yourselves for DAYS and NEVER, EVER RECOMMEND ANYONE GIVE MONEY TO THE RED CROSS:
10 emergency response vehicles now en route to Staten Island loaded with comfort kits, snacks, shelf stable meals, water (11.1.12) #Sandy
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) November 1, 2012
NOVEMBER FIRST ?!?!?
They have all the money and ALL the resources in the world and their FIRST foray onto the borough is in RESPONSE to the borough president lighting them up on national TV.
Despicable.
Big Blows, Humanity...or the Lack Thereof, Media | tree hugging sister | 
November 2, 2012 9:40 am
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Most overrated ‘humanitarian’ organisation in the country.
I’m very disturbed by these reports, but I lean more towards the NYC government being the problem than the Red Cross.
Yes, the ARC should have already been in Staten Island, and other locations, on Day One. This is shameful, at least on a par with the post-Katrina non-response by the State of Louisiana in New Orleans.
But the non-government organizations (which is what the Red Cross is) takes their lead from the lead jurisdiction.
Which is the Government of New York City, who appears to have their collective head up their collective a$$. CANCEL the stupid marathon. It is LESS IMPORTANT than the lives and welfare of the people.
Bloomberg is an idiot of monumental proportions.
At least, the NGOs are supposed to follow the lead jurisdiction. Maybe the Red Cross finally told NYC to take a flying leap at a rolling doughnut, and went out to care of business.
One can hope, because it sounds like the only chance for NYC to recover is to ignore the idiots and lefties (yes, I repeat myself) running that place.
Good news: Decency and common sense remain alive and well in NYC“>Well, thank goodness that decency and common sense remain alive and well, even in NYC.
Bloomberg hasn’t managed to stamp them out. But it’s not for lack of trying.
.
I’ve ranted here before on how the ARC royally screwed San Francisco after the 89 quake. I came into work this morning and there’s an email from corporate – they’ve set up a matching gift program to help victims of Sandy. And can you guess what organization they are supporting? Yep – American Red Cross. I immediately emailed them asking how I can do a matching gift through the Salvation Army. No response as of 4 pm. Things that make ya go grrrr…
Yeah, what JeffS says “Good news: Decency and common sense remain alive and well in NYC“” – or maybe a bit more cynically… “All the negative press forced Bloomy to make a SANE decision.”
Oops. Pardonez moi. I do believe my cynicism is showing.
I don’t know if it ws decency and common sense that made them cancel. More like the enormous amount of very bad pr they were getting. Some of the NYC bigs starting moving to the other side of the street and it fell apart.
Oh, and – more on topic, and with a nod to Julie, give to the Salvation Army. Past experience. They were here after Charlie – before ANYONE else. (Not everywhere – but they WERE in the worst-hit spots). Those of us in the less (relatively) damaged areas didn’t get their help (or anyone else’s till the city gov kicked in 4 days later, and sent ice) — mind you, the flattened needed it a lot more than we did. But, it occurred to me then (and does again) – if more people gave to them, they could get to the really needy (their specialty) and the REST of us too? And I’ve been giving since.
Ahem — full disclosure time. I give to the Salvation Army, not to the Red Cross (I refer to the national organization; I do give to the local chapter). Because Kathy is spot on.
I’ve never been in a position to need help from the ARC or SA, but I’ve worked with both on other matters, and I much prefer the Salvation Army.
I volunteered for Red Cross, many long years ago – and they did – and still do – a lot of good. But in those many long years, the bureaucracy has take over a bit too much.
And their fundraising seems to focus on disaster. Understandable, because that’s when they’re in the news, but it still makes me wince.
I see a lot more “give to Salvation Army” around disasters too, but it’s usually from people like you and me. That doesn’t make me wince.
I third (or fourth) the “give to the Salvation Army.” I have known people who’ve gone through problems who said the Sallies were there earlier, and with more useful help and less bureaucracy. One person who spoke positively of the Salvation Army didn’t have anything too positive to say about that other group you’re discussing….
I was glad to hear that because a friend of my family when I was growing up was in the Salvation Army, and I wanted to be able to think highly of them.