Congress sees room for improvement in FEMA

The lack of disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina were "a failure of the public sector," said Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) in a hearing. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met to discuss how disaster relief went after hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said that while there were major improvements in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), some aspects of the response were not good enough. She said that 1,000 of the poorest citizens were put on buses with no idea where they were going before Hurricane Gustav hit. She said that FEMA and the Red Cross were unprepared for a "large-scale disaster."

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said that preparations for Hurricane Gustav were an improvement on Hurricane Katrina. She said that 97.5 percent of the population evacuated New Orleans this year while only around 90 percent were evacuated before Katrina. He also said that New Orleans was repopulated only four days after the disaster. However, he did mention that the city ran out of supplies that FEMA was supposed to provide including water and food. He said the United States was still playing "Russian roulette" with the lives of its citizens in the New Orleans region.

Deputy FEMA administrator Harvey Johnson said that Hurricanes Gustav and Ike posed "a worst nightmare scenario." Johnson said the response by FEMA as well as state governments restored the confidence of U.S. citizens in disaster relief.

Tattered cake, rainbow leis mark Social Security's 73rd birthday

"You cannot make a program that works for everyone only work for some Americans", said Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). She attended a protest, which was held outside of the Republican National Headquarters in Washington D.C, to celebrate Social Security's 73rd birthday.

Protesters were greeted by Republican National Headquarters employees handing out rainbow leis, referencing Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) decision to vacation in Hawaii in the thick of campaign season. Protesters rallied across from the headquarters until greeted by Norton, who led them across the street where she gave a short speech blasting Sen. John McCain's strategy to privatize Social Security. Afterwards, she joined the crowd in signing "Happy Birthday", and cut a tattered cake that was filled with holes to represent what the protesters feel are holes in Social Security's coverage.

Washington D.C.'s Shadow Senator Paul Strauss attended the protest as well, attempting in vain to deliver a birthday card signed by protesters to the Republican Headquarters. However, he was met with locked doors and security guards. The senator also caused several interns and other employees to run away as they made their way to the locked doors when he tried to pass the card to them. After several attempts, Strauss accepted defeat, saying "well at least there's more cake for us!"

Photography not allowed in Union Station?

The Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee held a hearing on the private management of Union Station, where Chairwoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said that Union Station is a national landmark building and one of the largest rail stations in the world. She explained that public transportation in Washington, D.C. has reached its highest levels in fifty years, and Union Station is the busiest stop on the city's Metro line. Because of this, and because of the station's large size, Norton explained that there have been many difficulties in its management.

The most current problem faced at Union Station involves its photography policy, or lack there of. Erin McCann, a private, amateur photographer, testified before Holmes Norton and said that Union Station has always been an "unfriendly" place to photographers. McCann said that instances have occurred in which photographers have been harassed, told incorrect policies by misinformed station officials, and even been threatened with arrest for "daring to take a simple snapshot of a national treasure." In almost every incident, she explained, a guard or officer had wrongly told a photographer that Union Station is private property and photography is not allowed.

McCann, herself, had been stopped twice in the last three months while photographing in the public areas of the station. After the first incident occurred in February, McCann began talking with officials from Union Station to try and figure out what the actual photo policy is. Six months, dozens of conversations, and a congressional hearing later, she said she still has yet to receive a definitive answer.

David Ball, the president of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, said he was embarrassed to not have a real photo policy, especially when the problem should have a very simple answer. Bryant Chambers, the assistant general manager of Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc., was also at the hearing and explained that his organization is in charge of the development management of Union Station, and oversees all contracted services, including security, cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. Chambers said that he was aware of the emails and conversations taking place between McCann and members of Jones Long LaSalle, Inc., and that McCann was correct in saying that there was too much confusion concerning the photo policies. Chambers said that photo standards were improperly enforced and that he personally redrafted a standard to make it clear that photography is definitely allowed and welcome in the Union Station building.