[News] Evacuees Spend Relief Money At Strip Clubs

[Kevlar281]

Some Evacuees Spend Relief Money At Strip Clubs
HPD Sets Up Task Force To Find Debit Card Scammers

POSTED: 4:33 pm CDT September 15, 2005
UPDATED: 5:13 pm CDT September 15, 2005

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.

The wife of the manager of another strip club told KPRC that her husband has seen patrons from Louisiana offering Red Cross and FEMA debit cards, but she declined to reveal the club's name.

Other strip clubs contacted by KPRC Local 2 would not confirm or deny that they are seeing the debit cards used by customers.

The FEMA and Red Cross cards have few restrictions, but some evacuees have gotten into trouble when they tried to get additional cards.

Police are going undercover as evacuees to keep their eyes on those who get in line more than once.

"There may be some individuals who use some false identifications or providing false information on the forms, so we're targeting those persons also," said Lt. Robert Manzo, with the Houston Police Department.

Officers handed out a warning that falsifying government documents could result in a 20-year prison sentence.


Copyright 2005 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I have mixed emotions about this because who knows how much is actually being spent. I mean as hard as it is to believe a lot of fraternity men at my school go for the no cover, free buffet, with the purchase of a $1.75 longneck. Strip clubs are about the cheapest lunch in Houston but I don't think people making donations had this in mind when they found it in their heart to donate to relief efforts.

/edit: forgot to comment

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by Kevlar281
....but I don't think people making donations had this in mind when they found it in their heart to donate to relief efforts.

/edit: forgot to comment

Part of the reason that my parents aren't giving to Red Cross. They don't know where the money is going. If they are going to give and help they want to know that it is going directly to those in need of necessities... not a night out on the town.

PS... just to add, there's a church nearby who is taking in some evacuees and they are donating directly to the church.

[valkyrie]

I can't even imagine what kind of person would judge someone for going out to have a drink after he or she might have lost EVERYTHING -- home, work, possessions, pets, LOVED ONES -- for crying out loud, who freaking cares how they're spending the money?

[James]

I agree with Val, I would have been mainlining the alcohol if possible

Originally posted by valkyrie
I can't even imagine what kind of person would judge someone for going out to have a drink after he or she might have lost EVERYTHING -- home, work, possessions, pets, LOVED ONES -- for crying out loud, who freaking cares how they're spending the money?

[UKDaisy]

Maybe they just read James' dating advice

[Honeykiss1974]

As with ANYTHING, you will always a have few people trying to get over - no matter how foolproof you try to make it.

I'm sure the majority of evacuees are using their money to rebuild their lives. No need to stop giving over this.

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974

I'm sure the majority of evacuees are using their money to rebuild their lives. No need to stop giving over this.

Exactly. It's the same with the welfare system. There are some who abuse it but the great majority use it to help maintain a liveable income.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
As with ANYTHING, you will always a have few people trying to get over - no matter how foolproof you try to make it.

I'm sure the majority of evacuees are using their money to rebuild their lives. No need to stop giving over this.

That's how I see it - I'm still glad I gave and wish I could have given more.

If that's the way a small portion of these people want to spend the money, so be it.

[Lindz928]

I remember the Red Cross lady saying on the news that the Red Cross cards cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, or firearms. But, of course they can just go to the ATM and get cash to buy these things.

Honestly, yeah I suppose they can spend the money however they want... But I would be bothered to think that my donation is going to help someone get smashed or possibly buying drugs. I don't think that is what any of us intend when we donate money.

It goes along with the story about some woman using her debit card to buy a Louis Vuitton purse.... I'm sorry, but that bothers me. Is there really nothing better that she could use that money for?

I'm not saying that people need to be TOLD what they can and can't spend this money on.... But is it too much to ask to show some consideration to the people who have donated their hard-earned money to help you rebuild your life?

[gpb1874]

i have a friend who's husband is a red lobster manager. he had a large group of evacuees who came in and ordered a crap load of food and drinks and announced to the entire restaurant that they were from NO and were using thier new card on this. i can't blame them too much for buying a good dinner, but did they really have to announce to everyone who they were? and they also said they didn't tip the waiter b/c they were poor NO evacuees and the waiter should consider it charity work. come on people! they have been shown decency and respect so THEY need to show a little too!

[Tickled Pink 2]

^^^^^

You know what, I have children. And if they had gone through 5 days of hell - seeing dead people float by, watching people die in front of them, bleeding women having miscarriages - but still standing in bus lines afraid they'd loose their places, no bathroom facilities, no food, water, etc... then I might have thought to take them this one time to a restaurant so that they can have some feeling of normalcy again. And may have to apologize to the waiter for not having the $$ to tip right now (even though I would hope that he'd have the decency not to expect one...). I don't know if there were children there, if this was the case or if they were tactful, embarrassed, or whatever. Perhaps they were tactless in how they did it. We all can think - the best thing would be to spend the $$ in a more thrifty way, but after a terrible experience like that people respond in different ways. The point is - once you donate - just be happy in your own heart that you know that you did what you thought was best. If you don't have $$$ to contribute, or feel like someone will abuse it - donate items instead.

[Rudey]

The poor are too stupid to know what to do with their money.

Hate them, pity them, love them.

-Rudey

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by valkyrie
I can't even imagine what kind of person would judge someone for going out to have a drink after he or she might have lost EVERYTHING -- home, work, possessions, pets, LOVED ONES -- for crying out loud, who freaking cares how they're spending the money?

F*ck the beer, I'd be doing straight shots of Grey Goose.

Honestly, I've seen so many articles like this (evacuees spending money on strip clubs! alcohol! Louis Vuitton!) and it's like . . . whyyyy do people care? Ninety-nine people out of a hundred are spending it rationally, so why do we need to freak out if a random lady is buying an LV with her evacuation money?


Besides, that LV purchase might not be as stupid as it sounds . . . if she takes care of it, that's an investment.


(As a server, though, you better be tipping me. WTF, not expecting a tip from evacuees? If you can afford to go to a restaurant, you can afford to tip. I don't get why people don't understand that most servers, especially at chain restaurants like Red Lobster, DO NOT GET PAID WAGES, so tips are all they make . . . You not tipping = us working for free. So no matter how "poor" you are [I don't consider anyone poor if they're going to a sit-down restaurant], you better be leaving a tip. You can't afford a tip? Go somewhere you don't need to leave one.)

[alphaxikt]

There was a memo at Pottery Barn (where I work), and it gave us instructions on how to process the Red Cross and FEMA debit cards if anyone wanted to spend them in our store. Granted, I live a loooong way from the Gulf Coast and it was a company-wide memo, but I just remember thinking that if I was homeless/foodless/jobless I would NOT be shopping at Pottery Barn or Williams-Sonoma. I'd go to Target or Walmart and buy $2000 worth of stuff that would actually help me start over.

[ZTABullwinkle]

Just to go along with the crazy things bought with relief cards....

A couple of days after the FEMA debit cards were handed out (but before the practice was stopped), there were reports of a couple of purses bought at louis Vuitton. (I have no clue if I speeled that right....)

All I could think is the people walking around going, "I'm homeless! But don't I have a great LV purse?!?"