Put the Blame for Harvey Disaster Assistance Mess Where It Belongs - On Greg Abbott

[TexasTowelie]

An excellent Texas Tribune report details the ongoing failure of Republican leaders in Austin to efficiently and effectively manage $4 billion in federal funds to help Texans whose property was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey way back in 2017. Nearly five years after the storm, Texans are still waiting for relief.

Greg Abbott is the head of Emergency Management response for our state. It’s Abbott’s duty to make sure Texans are safe and secure… before, during, and after a disaster.

Greg Abbott handpicked Land Commissioner George P. Bush to manage the $4 billion that congress sent Texas in disaster preparedness funding following Hurricane Harvey. He did so despite common knowledge in Texas political circles that Bush and his staff are subpar and have done a terrible job running the General Land Office since he got there.

So, What Happened?

Abbott has completely bungled the administration of the $4 billion in federal funds for Harvey recovery. Abbott and Bush steered hundreds of millions in aid disproportionately to affluent, inland counties at less risk of natural disasters, while cities like Houston have been hung out to dry.

Read more: https://lonestarproject.net/2022/05/16/put-the-blame-for-harvey-disaster-assistance-mess-where-it-belongs-on-greg-abbott/

[Grokenstein]

1. "Bungled" suggests incompetence.

I'm inclined to lean towards "deliberate maladministration," "corruption," or even "arrogant evil."

[Lonestarblue]

4. You are correct. Deliberate channeling of money to more white, Republican areas.

Houston is heavily Democratic with a large share of the state’s black population. I’m sure Abbott and Bush deliberately steered money to those who vote Republican. It’s what Republicans always do.

[tanyev]

5. Yep, that was my first thought while reading the article.

The word "bungled" also offers a presumption of good intent, while the results strongly suggest otherwise.

[flying_wahini]

2. I will have to look it up somewhere but didn't Abbott spend a lot FEMA money

On something completely unrelated?

[SergeStorms]

3. He's probably spending the money....

paying (or not paying, some would say) the Texas National Guard to guard the border from invading lizards and such. They're not doing much else, and they're sick of it.

There's thousands of ways a mismanaged state like Texas could spend the money.

[czarjak]

6. Grifting Greg