KellyUSA will be home to thousands of Katrina refugees

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 2 September 2005 | Sheila Hotchkin and Tracy Idell Hamilton

[Racehorse]

Beginning today, they'll move into Buildings 1536 and 171 at KellyUSA, a military base-turned-civilian business park on the Southwest Side.

Seeking temporary homes for at least 25,000 refugees, the Texas governor's office called Mayor Phil Hardberger on Thursday morning. The mayor agreed to host part of that group.

Within hours, city street-cleaning trucks vacuumed debris from the quarter-mile-long Building 1536, which once stored aircraft components, shipping materials and weapons. Public works employees ground down bolts sticking up from the floor.

[. . .]

It's possible San Antonio will receive more people than it can house in the KellyUSA buildings, Hardberger said.

If that happens, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has confirmed that space can be made in the smaller buildings surrounding the SBC Center, although probably not the arena itself or nearby Freeman Coliseum

[Racehorse]

Texas Hospitality:

Housing the refugees will cost money, some of which eventually will be recouped through federal disaster aid, insurance and other means.

But, the mayor said, if the city has to advance the money "to keep these people treated in a kind and dignified manner, we will pay that."

[mtbopfuyn]

And in two weeks they'll be on welfare, their kids in our schools getting free lunches, not able to pay their medical bills, demanding free housing, and shooting at our policemen.

[shadeaud]

Houston and San Antonio stepped up to the plate with open arms for these poor people..............Where's Austin in all this? Austin, the liberal mecca of the Lone Star State. It seems fine for the likes of Cindy Sheehan and her cronies to make an appearance in the capital, but not one displaced hurricane victim.

[stevio]

Won't anybody think of all the illegals that they will be displacing!

[reformedliberal]

Actually, that may not be sarcasm.

I heard an official in Houston yesterday say that they are trying to find work for people and he mentioned day labor. They are soliciting employers for jobs and matching them to people in the shelters. The first thought I had was that suddenly there may be Americans willing to do the jobs illegals have been doing.

This may be a life-changing experience for some people and perhaps for America,.

[stevio]

Hmmm. When one door closes, another opens. We could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

[reformedliberal]

I've been watching this morning's news reports of the relief effort.

I wonder if breaking up the generations-old structures of the NO welfare class will mean any changes for the generations to come? I have noticed that there are many reports of entire extended families being rescued together.

I am wondering what happens after those who have pooled their benefits together forever are going to react when they are broken into smaller units and dispersed into totally different situations. Obviously, strong extended families can be a wonderful resource in most cases, but sometimes, it can also act to keep people from changing.

Just one small example: what effect does it have on children to go through this trauma, to experience other places, other people, other culture? Will they have changed role models?

Everyone seems to have expected that the USA could always cope, the government could always pay for the 10% who are incapable, for whatever reason, of being self sufficient, could rescue everyone every time. Maybe realizing this is not reality will change the *welfare mentality*. I am seeing and hearing both dignified, quiet pride and disgusting self-pity as the media interviews the survivors. I am also seeing many intact families and many fathers holding children, comforting wives and in general, acting admirably. I am hearing many people missing showers and baths more than food.

This is a dynamic situation, as most are.

[stevio]

I hope it's a wake-up call to all of us. One poster on another thread stated how thin a thread society really hangs by. In the end, we're all in this together.

[this_ol_patriot]

And in two weeks they'll be on welfare, their kids in our schools getting free lunches, not able to pay their medical bills, demanding free housing, and shooting at our policemen.

Shoot wait till the gang bangers get hold of the naive local kids, "you ain't seen nothin' yet." The ones from NY City ruined many small towns in NE PA this way.
My hometown in fact.

[ContemptofCourt]

Yeah...you're right...we just just leave them in the pasture to die....

FR makes me sick sometimes.

[Strutt9]

"Houston and San Antonio stepped up to the plate with open arms for these poor people..............Where's Austin in all this? Austin, the liberal mecca of the Lone Star State. It seems fine for the likes of Cindy Sheehan and her cronies to make an appearance in the capital, but not one displaced hurricane victim."

Liberals only know how to blame Bush and give empty sympathy. Very busy blaming Bush Administration.