Dear Editor, This is in response to the article in the Cedar Key News concerning funds
for the reconstruction of the "Big Dock" at Cedar Key which was
damaged by hurricanes last year. I had written previously that nothing was being done and that our government was failing us, I stand corrected, thank you for the
new information. I hope Governor Bush signs the funding bills passed by the
Florida legislature with the help of Representative Kendrick, and Senator
Argenziano. However, $200,00 is not nearly enough money to fix the dock as it may be
necessary to replace it completely. We also need federal assistance with
this project. It is my understanding that Fema had previously refused to
fund any of the repairs to the "Big Dock". This was at the same time
that Fema sent $31 million dollars in payments to residents in Miami-Dade County
for damage from Hurricane Francis even though the storm never hit Miami-Dade
County.
It was reported in the May 19, 2005, Washington Post, that the reason that
the money was sent to Miami-Dade was for political purposes. "Homeland
Security sources said FEMA`s efforts to distribute funds quickly after
Frances and three other hurricanes that hit the key political battleground
state of Florida in a six-week period last fall were undertaken with a keen
awareness of the coming presidential election ", as reported in the
Washington Post.
We all expect politics to play a major role in government funding. Our last
member of congress, Karen Thurman, was a member of the appropriations
committee in congress. Thurman was always there to help us with legitimate
needs. Our new member of congress, Ginny Brown-Waite needs to help us with
Fema. The repair of our dock is critical to the economic survival of Cedar
Key. It serves tens of thousands of Florida residents as well as visitors
from all over the country as a recreational facility.
The FEMA funding for the Cedar Key Dock will be a good test to see if we
have someone in congress who can help us when we sincerely need help. If
FEMA has $31 million for Miami-Dade County which didn`t even get hit by a
hurricane, then they can find some funding for our community which actually
suffered a loss.
The yellow tape across the entrance to the dock makes it look like a crime
scene. If Miami-Dade can receive millions and we get nothing, it really will
be a crime. Sincerely, Mike Segal | 