Burnt Orange Report

"I can honestly say that his dedication is a reflection of the spirit of Barbara and her entire team, not as a political campaign, but as decent, caring Texans."

"His new prize - A Texas Democrat bumper sticker placed on the built in shelf between a collector barbie and a teddy bear - above the basketball. Home Sweet Home. A Place to Lay His Head and a Place to Vote."

Not as a political campaign? Maybe not but this is definitely political propaganda and just as offensive as Perry and Strayhorn and just about every other politician trying to get political mileage out of human tragedy. Shame on all of them. There are quite a few Texans, both Democratic and Republican and quite a few who have had enough of both Democratic and Republican politicians in this state and their "pandering" to the special interests, who have decided the best way to help the New Orleanians is to help them by taking them into their hearts and in some cases their homes. Not just Barbara Radnofsky.

"Please join me in New Orleans for Mardi Gras."

Ruffin reflects the spirit of the survivors. And they are survivors. "Thank you and let us return the favor when you come to New Orleans next time."

And I bet they will, too. Ruffin in particular. I bet he starts his own little "Gumbo Zone" where it belongs. In New Orleans.

Robert has tirelessly given of himself and his time. He has given of his time as an angel and a chaplain.

Ruffin has asked me about politics in the area because he and many others from New Orleans are furious at the inebtness of the goverement response. They are concerned citizens who want to exercise their right to vote.

Ruffin and many others are finding connections here which are similar to those they shared in New Orleans. Guess what? Politics is one very import connection for them. He identifies as a Democrat from Louisiana and wants to work in the party here as he did in New Orleans. He wants to know he can belong, and make a difference in his fate. I was proud to register him to vote this morning. So, I say more power to the men and women who have been displaced for registering to vote and speaking their minds!!!

Excuse me but if he's registered to vote in Lousiana, how can he register to vote here in Texas?

You're not excused. Any U.S. citizen not on probation or parole can change their voter registration at any time to vote using their new address. The deadline is October 11 to register to vote in Texas for the November election.

Maybe you should spend less time on BOR criticizing and commenting on nearly every single post and get out there and do some actual work. If you don't know the basics about voter registration then that's your damn problem.

I just now found my 14 year old son Ruffin Jr. alive in Batesville, Arkansas. I am very happy after finding my son, and one of my daughters who had been looking for me, but I have not been able to talk to her yet.

I told Mister Robert about my son today, and he and his friends got on the internet and found him today in the town where Mister Robert was born.

Ruffin Junior is starting to play football in Arkansas, and that stress will come off him now. He was happy to hear from me and know I was ok too. He was in the Convention Center in New Orleans, but I could not find him there even though I tried.

I need to call my sister and let her know I found him. I hope he can come visit me here some and I can go there and visit him too.

I found my other daughter in Mississippi tonight as well, so all my stress is off me too and I can sleep now.

I thank God we are alright.

Thank you all very much for helping me here in Asutin.

The previous comment was transcribed by me from Ruffin's dictation, and posted at his request.

I did not change any of his words, but the typos are my own responsibility.

When Ruffin mentioned his son to me in the car today as we ran errands, I told him to tell Robert about the siutation so we could start the search. Of course in all the excitement and confusion today, I forgot to mention it myself. I had no clue the results would be so fast and so good. I am sitting here with tears of joy running down my face as I type this.

I asked a question. Thanks for your usual civil answer. The indication was Ruffin was moving back to New Orleans. So he votes here, then goes back to New Orleans? Next question. Is everyone at the Red Cross handing out voter registration cards? Or are just certain Democratic, and no doubt Republican, campaigns handing them out? Although I do wonder how successful the Republicans are unless they're handing them out to the "overprivleged" ones moving temporarily to Dallas. And don't assume I don't "do work" but definitely assume it's not for Chris Bell. But you're more than welcome to take up the slack. Someone ought to do a poll on BOR and see what percentage he gets here. And what percentage John Sharp gets. And what "anyone but the above" gets.

I'm glad Ruffin found his family. And glad a lot of others are finding theirs as well. The politics aside, again, Texans really did extend themselves. And I hope the tragedy works out for all of them in the end. Many felt they "escaped" more than Katrina. And some did. For those who want to find a better life in Texas, I hope they do. But "gumbo zones" still belong in New Orleans.

Too bad you are so cynical and so off base, BS. Those of us who know the people involved are able to read this for what it is, a straightforward and uplifting report. But even if I didn't know the people personally, I wouldn't jump to all the bizarre conclusions you do.

Ruffin, as I said tonight, I am absolutely thrilled you have gotten your own place and have gotten in touch with you son.

I don't think it's off base. There is this "get out the voter registration cards" agenda at work here. I think that's off base. Way off base.

I've been in Houston working with two churches who contacted me and asked me to help them find apartments and/or houses for people. Including some for people on Section 8 who are encountering some problems here. I'm not concerned with whether I can get them registered to vote here. I'm concerned with getting a roof over their head. I'm also not on BOR or any other blog "tooting my horn" over it. I would add that not one person I've worked with has asked about voter registration. Most want to get back to New Orleans. And vote there. Voting is not high on their priority list at the moment however. It wouldn't be on mine either.

Cynical? You bet. Everyone is blaming "the other guy, the other political party." Both parties are to blame. For allowing levees to sit there in New Orleans for almost 15 years from what one woman told me like time bombs waiting to go off. You know what else? Not everyone is as optimistic as Ruffin. Quite a few of them are just as cynical as I am.

I am glad you are helping with the Section 8 situation, which has indeed been a special challenge. Here in Austin we had the fortuitous circumstance that an elder center had just been completed in East Austin which accepts Section 8. Veronica and about 100 of her fellow New Orleanians will be lcating there. You will be pleased to know that when I reviewed the prospective lease with her, the complex was including an amendment in each lease to allow early termination in the event a return to New Orleans becomes feasible for the individual.

Veronica herself, who is 78, does not plan to return, and will settle here. She istypical of many of the elderly with whom I have worked, especially those without significant family connection, who simply want again to have roots. Her place in New Orleans was in the most affected area and it would be long before she could return. Liz, on the other hand, lived in a less impacted area of town, and wants to return as soon as possible, though I am afraid it will take much longer than she expects for her place to be ready for her return.

While you may not have seen as much political interest among the Survivors in Houston, the Austin Convention Center is blocks fromthe State Capitol, which has been a focal point among many of the survivors here. Frequent visits to the Austin COnvention Center by such political leaders as Governor Perry, Vice President Cheney, and our two Senators yesterday, have generated much discussion - though not nearly as much as Sandra Bullock's daily accessibility working as a red cross volunteer distributing drinks and snacks to those in the lengthy FEMA lines.

I hope you will distribute the TIDR information included in the original post, as this group is committed to helping equip our new households with necesities. I have worked with many excellent church and community leaders here in Austin, but many of the Survivors are quite simply falling through the cracks, especially those who express no religious preference or for some other reason have not become connected with volunteers at the shelters. The mentally challanged, the single men and the elderly have been somewhat underserved in particular.

As a volunteer Chaplain, I have endeavored to connect with these folk, as have several of my fellows.

Please feel free to connect any whom have particular Section 8 challanges with the Harris County Bar. Many of these folk also facing significant legal issues in other areas, especially in Social Security.

Thanks for your willingness to invest in the survivor community.

BS, we'll run a poll here on BOR. I'm just trying to find a good way to do it without it being stacked by either campaign.

"Please feel free to connect any whom have particular Section 8 challanges with the Harris County Bar. Many of these folk also facing significant legal issues in other areas, especially in Social Security."

I will do some followup this week. My experiences with HBA and Volunteer Lawyer's Association, however, has never been real encouraging with regard to helping the "underprivileged" and "legally disenfranchised" so maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. It's not much better in other cities around the country either.

"The mentally challanged, the single men and the elderly have been somewhat underserved in particular."

With regard to the mentally challenged and the elderly, it's often the people who need the most who get the least. As for single men, church groups tend to cast a wary eye on single men. Assuming they must be gay if they're single. As if being gay is basis to deny help. Which sadly they do. I know of one volunteer who suggested a young man be told to contact the AIDS Foundation. She not only assumed he was gay but that he had AIDS. Fortunately someone else intervened and found him an apartment and rent money and referred him to someone at U of H. He turned out to be a student at Tulane who was married. His wife was killed in a car accident about a year ago. All that one volunteer heard was that he was single. He was "wiry" as us older people say. And so "obviously" gay to her for some reason. Thin is in. Unless you're a single man. We have come a long way in this country. We have a long way yet to go.