[FoCHAT] The Missing Policy Link? Sort of

Thu Oct 26 17:23:42 EDT 2006

Laura,

You can add the "f" to the end of the url.
Please let me know if you find a date on the document.

Deborah
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: laura lebon 
  To: fochat at thinknola.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:49 AM
  Subject: Re: [FoCHAT] The Missing Policy Link? Sort of

  I tried clicking on the link, but my browser says that the page has been removed or something.  Did anyone else have the same problem?

  Laura

  ----- Original Message ----
  From: K.C. King <k0c0king at gmail.com>
  To: fochat at thinknola.com
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:29:36 PM
  Subject: [FoCHAT] The Missing Policy Link? Sort of

  The mystery document is entitled:

  Substantial Changes and Clarifications
  to Action Plan Amendment No. 1 for FY 2006
  CDBG Disaster Recovery Funds

  It is located at
  http://www.doa.la.gov/cdbg/dr/plans/Amend1-RoadHomeClarification-Approved.pd
  f 

  This was pointed to by the following page:

  http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/drplanarchive.htm 

  which in turn was linked from:

  http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/dractionplans.htm 

  I haven't been able to find the policy statement for seniors and mitigation
  on these pages put it is promised "soon" in the attached response from the
  program

  Does anyone thing this satisfies the a reasonable standard of transparency?
  I sure don't.

  These are the data we may have to use to conduct our appeals to low ball
  appraisals.

  K.C. King
  5919 Pratt Drive
  Mr. King:

  The information you seek can be found at http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/dractionplans.htm  

  Please be advised that there are several policies which have been recently updated.  The revised policies will be posted to the LRA site in the very near future.

  Elizabeth Hill

  The Road Home 

  www.road2la.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: K.C. King [mailto:k0c0king at gmail.com]
  Sent: Sun 10/22/2006 6:00 AM
  To: inquiry
  Subject: 

  Sirs,

  I have sent the following message to the Governor regarding the deplorable state of the Road Home program as a whole.  Nothing is written down nor is it provided to those citizens directly affected.  

  I am also attaching an email exchange with Mr. Ernest Legier.  While I applaud his promptness and candor in responding the message from his superiors is unacceptable.  

  The program’s primary concern seems to be to avoid defrauding the government – a noble goal which I support – but how about defrauding the public?

  Thank you for bringing this to the program leadership’s attention, 

  Konrad C. King

  5919 Pratt Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122

  (504) 232-6110 

  P.S. The press release in question is a release dated the 19th of October regarding changes in mitigation grant rules which as of the 22nd of October, does not appear on either the Road Home or LRA website.

  Governor,

  The fundamentals of conducting the public's business are woefully missing from the Road Home program.  There are no written policies or procedures just outdated marketing brochures and web FAQs.  Press releases with critical changes for homeowners are not posted days after their release date.  The outdated plan mentions an appeals process but there is no defined process let alone a written set of policies or rules to appeal..  Not only does this condition expose the program to defrauding beneficiaries, it is also makes the program substantially opaque.

  Since this is advertised as your program, I can only presume these unconscionable practices are under your close supervision.  Having attended a number of sessions and talked with a number of the Road Home staff I can tell you that ordinary citizens are rapidly losing trust in the program and the state above and beyond their Katrina and Rita hurricane losses.  Please direct the program to observe the fundamentals of a government of laws by writing down their policies and rules and making them available to those directly impacted,

  Thank you, Konrad King

  Good afternoon Mr. King,

  I am attending meetings at headquarters today.  While here, I posed your questions to my superiors.  The response is a follows:

  The best place for the general public to get policy answers is the road home website’s FAQ (frequently asked questions) section.  This site is updated periodically in order to ensure current responses. Currently, there is no place where the general public can view an actual policy or procedure manual.  

  If I can be of further assistance please let me know.

  Ernest P. Legier Jr.

  Eastern Regional Manager

  (504) 584-1674  Office

  (504) 655-5528 Cell

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: K.C. King [mailto:k0c0king at gmail.com] 
  Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:44 PM
  To: Legier, Ernest
  Subject: Source of Approved Road Home Policy?

  Mr. Legier,

  I attended your presentation at the K&B center on Wednesday, Octorer 18th.

  I asked the question regarding the written sources of current policy that is being implemented by the Road Home program.  Your response was that you didn’t know and would respond to a email question.

  I am sure you will agree with me that even for “grunts in the trenches” written policy is a first and enduring foundation.  We are a nation of laws not verbal, deniable gossip and laws that aren’t written are not laws.

  Everything I have heard from Governor Blanco and Walter Leger is that the Road Home program will be transparent and fair.  I hope you would agree that the envisioned transparency must begin with having written policy, rules and  procedures and are dated as to their effective date.  I also hope you would agree that such writings would be broadly available in paper and electronic forms.  The electronic forms should be available on the program’s web site.  

  I realize that the program has focused on easily understood marketing brochures which are of great value but, in my view, do not replace the need for the actual “law”

  Thank you for your consideration, 

  K.C. King

  5919 Pratt Drive, New Orleans , LA 70122

  k0c0king at gmail.com

  (504) 232-6110

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