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Thursday, October 8, 2009
[h1]Chaos erupts at Cobo as thousands jockey for aid[/h1] [h2]6 injured as long lines of Detroiters waited for chance to get fed help to pay their bills[/h2] [h4]George Hunter, Charlie LeDuff and Santiago Esparza / The Detroit News[/h4]
Detroit -- The lure of federal cash assistance for needy Detroit families sparked pandemonium Wednesday at Cobo Center, as hundreds of city residents pushed, jostled and trampled others in a rush to apply for the aid.
In a scene that spoke volumes about the despair of one of the nation's poorest cities, about 50,000 Detroiters descended on downtown to pick up 5,000 applications in hopes of enrolling in a federal program that pays a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to low-income residents to help pay rent and utilities.
In fact, some 60,000 residents applied for the aid over two days, although the city will only be able to help about 3,400 families.
Wednesday's line stretched for blocks and before the process could be completed at least six people were taken away by ambulance, 150 police were called to the scene and the city stopped distributing applications before noon.
The mayhem seemed to reflect the desperation of a city in which one in three lives in poverty and 28.7 percent are unemployed. Others said it was exacerbated by rumors the government was literally handing out cash. It wasn't.
Karen Dumas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Dave Bing, acknowledged the rumors, calling them "totally untrue." Dumas added: "There is a process."
Walt Williams, 51, arrived at Cobo before sunrise to get a good spot for the 10 a.m. opening of the doors. "This morning, I seen the curtain pulled back on the misery," a bewildered Williams said.
"People fighting over a line; people threatening to shoot each other -- is this what we've come to?"
Police said no one was believed to have suffered major injuries in the scuffles.
Detroit received $15.2 million from the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program that helps pay rent, utility assistance and security deposits for families with incomes of less than $35,500. In Detroit, that's 58 percent of the households, states the U.S. Census.
Federal relief programs have sparked huge lines in other states, such as New York. But Wednesday's chaos over the program was unique to Detroit, said Andrea Mead, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Mead said she isn't aware of any similar incidents in the 535 cities, states and counties that got the grants through her office. She said HUD is sending more staffers to Detroit to help the city sort the applications.
"It really speaks to the need right now," Mead said.
On Tuesday, more than 25,000 applications were snapped up in less than three hours at Neighborhood City Halls, making the corridors of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center nearly impassable.
The city had moved the program to Cobo Center on Wednesday, hoping the cavernous facility could accommodate the need.
It didn't.
People in wheelchairs and others using canes were leaned on by other applicants too weak to stand. Some complained people were going through the crowd, snatching applications. Amid the pushing was a constant din of screams from people insisting they be let inside.
LaTanya Williams, a 32-year-old Detroiter, quickly filled out her form because she said "people are stealing them."
"I am hoping to get any help that they will give me," she said. "Everybody needs help."
After the applications ran out, some scam artists were selling photocopies of the originals for $20 each. They were doing a brisk business, even though the white original forms state clearly on the bottom: "Do not duplicate -- Must Submit Original Application."
Volunteers from the city of Detroit Planning and Development Department eventually handed out yellow photocopies themselves. Intended as temporary assistance to avoid homelessness, the stopgap help will be doled out after private agencies hired by the city ensure applicants meet program criteria.
"I'm not even sure the government will accept those applications," said volunteer Pam Johnson. "But it's almost like they had to pacify people. There was almost a riot. I mean, they had to call out the (Detroit Police) Gang Squad. I saw an elderly woman almost get trampled to death."
Kelley Turcotte, a Detroit dishwasher, was near the end of the line outside Cobo. The 27-year-old with a newborn son said he is only squeaking by financially.
"I hope the government sees this and realizes the city needs a lot more help than they are giving," Turcotte said.
Luis Irizarry, 35, drove from Flint for the chance he could get assistance, but found out only Detroit residents are eligible. He said it was a shock to see this many people in need.
"This is ridiculous," Irizarry said.
Tony Johnson came at 5 a.m. Johnson has not found a job in three years.
"There's no peace 'cause there ain't no jobs," he said.
Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Firefighters Association Local 344, was looking down from his office window across from Cobo.
"This absolutely is representative of the struggling middle class in America," he said. "We've been betrayed by the government, Realtors and those who've got. The promise has been broken."
Detroit News Staff Writer Christine MacDonald contributed.
This is disgusting. Detroit has a 20%+ unemployment rate and they have 65,000 people waiting inline for 25,000applications and a chance to be one of the the 3,500 people to get "help"? The state of Michigan has received $3.7 BILLION already in stimulus moneyand created 407.32 jobs (Decimal figures represent part-time jobs Jobcreation). The Gov. of Michigan claimed last week claimed that the new minimum wage has INCREASED the "standard of living". For whom?
This hurts me as a Black man to see my people come flocking like sheep and wait in line in HOPES of getting a handout.These people need jobs, not a hand out. Is a hand out going to change their life? Is it going to change their situation? They are just going to be waiting forthe "next one".
Nationally, it was estimated that $2.2 Billion was spent to create a little over 30,000 jobs and cost $72,408 per jobcreated. (JobCreation)
[h1][/h1][h1]Detroit Backpedals On Cobo Chaos[/h1] [h2]50,000 People Line Up At Cobo Hall Wednesday For Homeless Help[/h2]
POSTED: Wednesday, October 7, 2009
UPDATED: 6:00 pm EDT October 8, 2009
[table][tr][td] http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/21228518/detail.html#
[/td] [/tr][/table]
DETROIT -- The city of Detroit turned away thousands of people who lined up Wednesday for a chance to receive stimulus money set aside for homeless and low-income residents.Now, city officials are trying to backpedal from the chaos that ensued, refusing on-camera interviews with Local 4, trying to explain how a rumor about the president giving away $3,000 in stimulus money spread thoughout the community and created pandemonium outside the Cobo Hall.The scene grabbed national attention when 50,000 people lined up and fights broke out as people clamored to get to the front of the line. The crowd snaked around downtown and created a safety hazard, forcing the Detroit Police Department to shut down the entire process."People were getting upset and fighting," said Detroit resident Rolawn Smith. "They were knocking elderly people down, cursing, just everything.
It was really chaotic down here and I was really scared."DPD called in its gang squad and the Salvation Army Disaster team for backup.The city said it will be looking into why the event got out of control and how they can control the crowds if they ever have an event of this scale.Residents were really in line to get an application for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program stimulus money.Detroit was granted $15 million in stimulus money to help residents pay bills and their rent or find temporary housing for the homeless.
More than 20,000 applications were handed out Tuesday at six neighborhood city hall locations. Residents had one last chance to get an application Wednesday at the Cobo Hall, but after only two hours of opening its doors, the city ran out of forms.
The city intended to distribute 5,000 forms Wednesday.The applications were free of charge but city officials said scam artists were selling copies for as much as $20 a piece.Officials said a copied application is not valid. Authentic applications are either yellow or white with a blue box at the bottom.All competed applications should be mailed into the city. Send the applications to Detroit Planning and Development Department at 65 Cadillac Square, Suite 1400, Detroit, MI 48226.The city extended the application deadline one more week to Oct. 14.
Officials: Food Stamps Swapped for Booze, Viagra
Friday, October 09, 2009
By Staff, Associated Press
Detroit (AP) - Viagra and pornography are not staples on the government's food stamp list. But authorities say a Detroit store supplied them during a series of illegal deals.
Federal prosecutors filed fraud charges this week against three people who worked at Jefferson's Liquor Palace.
The alleged scheme worked this way: Food stamp recipients would get cash from the store in exchange for swiping larger amounts off their electronic cards. The store would then be reimbursed by the U.S. Agriculture Department.
But in some transactions, the government the store provided informants Viagra, liquor and porn in exchange for swiping about $2,000 off food stamp cards.
The government says fraud at the store topped $130,000 over 2 1/2 years. The store is closed.
Come on, man.
To the younger crowd. Self sufficiency is key. Education is key.
"Too much of what is called "education" is little more than an expensive isolation from reality"
