Below is an e-mail I received yesterday from the FL Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services. These bozos don't care about anything but the bottom line. I fail to understand how anyone in their right mind would swim in or eat anything out of the Gulf of Mexico right now. Toxic oil is still spewing out of the well. Toxic chemicals have been used to break up the oil. The Gulf of Mexico right now is nothing more than a toxic stew, and the main concern of the Gulf States is lost tourism dollars. And the people swimming in the Gulf and eating the seafood may wonder 10 or 20 years from now why they're dying of cancer and other medical anomalies and/or why their children are born with unusual birth defects.

We know BP doesn't give a damn about us, but in case any of you haven't caught on yet, neither does the government. For the past two months, I've been trying to get BP to pay relocation expenses, as I live right on the Pensacola Gulf Coast, but in spite of the fact that BP has more-than-sufficient medical documentation to pay my claim NOW, which will cost them a lot less than later on when those with similar medical problems (severe allergies, compromised immune systems, etc.) suddenly develop COPD or worse, BP still DYSFUNCTIONALLY drags its feet on paying my claim.

Instead of paying claims and actually doing something to help human beings (saving oily pelicans and turtles is nice, but how about saving the humans, too!?), BP and the government throw good money after bad and run false advertising (blatant lies) about how fast and how many claims have been paid, how fast and how many claims will be paid in the future (which proves the first lie), how safe it is to eat seafood out of and swim in the Gulf of Mexico, when it makes more sense to stop wasting money on intelligence-insulting propaganda and use that money to PAY CLAIMS!

And now, the first tropical storm of the season is gaining strength in the Caribbean, and what do we hear in the media?? More lies about how a storm will not spew oil and toxins all over our communities. Since when is hurricane-damage prediction an exact science? It's not and never has been.

This morning I again spoke with adjuster Charles Billbe, who states he is nothing more than a middle-man, passing information along to BP. And what is BP's VP in charge of claims, darryl.willis@bp.com, doing instead of paying claims or responding to citizens such as myself? His smiling mug is on television bragging about how many claims have been paid and stating that all claims WILL be paid, yet he returned a Read E-Mail Receipt to me, but lacks the common courtesy to respond. HE JUST DOESN'T CARE, AND NEITHER DOES THE GOVERNMENT! The Federal government refuses to issue Letters of Priority Entitlement (LOPES) to citizens such as myself who need to relocate, an act of humanity which is very easy to do, yet they refuse. If they really cared about us and really want to help, this would have been done already. This is part of disaster response, so why hasn't it been done?

The media isn't covering this issue either. They're so busy covering pelicans and turtles they forget about the Gulf Coast's most vulnerable citizens, the disabled, seniors, and those such as myself with severe allergies and compromised immune systems who NEED to leave--NOW!

This morning after another useless conversation with Charles Billbe, I called (713) 323-1671, the Deepwater Horizon Incident Response Center, and someone with the Coast Guard took my name and number and said someone with BP would call me (yeah, right, I've heard THAT before), and that if no one did I could call them back. THIS IS NOTHING BUT A TYPICAL DYSFUNCTIONAL RUNAROUND.

Our DYSFUNCTIONAL government is corrupt with corporate money! The system is broken! Enough is enough already!

And then to make matters worse, last night on CNN Larry King ran a 2-hour celebrity telethon to raise money for the Gulf. Contributors can donate to wildlife causes or United Way. Has anyone else out there ever received any help at all from United Way!! United Way is nothing more than a clearinghouse--a referral service. I called in to the telethon and was given this United Way number to call, 866-404-5826. I called THAT number and was told to call 211 or (850) 595-5905, which is First Call For Help. I left a message, but no one has yet returned my call. I also sent an e-mail, but that has not been responded to either. SO WHERE IS ALL THIS CELEBRITY MONEY GOING, WHO'S DECIDING WHO GETS IT, AND WHY ISN'T IT GOING DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT? More DYSFUNCTION!

It's time for outrage, people!! Continue boycotting BP, don't swim in the Gulf, don't buy Gulf seafood (take your vacations somewhere safer), and inundate (hourly, if need be) BP and the government with phone calls and e-mails demanding NO MORE STALLING ON PAYING CLAIMS, ESPECIALLY CLAIMS SUCH AS MINE FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS WHO NEED TO RELOCATE! Every time I step outside I cough, my eyes burn, and my throat stings. Some people are more sensitized than others--THAT'S WHY THEY NEED TO MOVE OUT OF HERE!

Carol Tucker, MA
Pensacola, FL 32507

----- Original Message -----
From: CSNewsletter
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 7:55 AM
Subject: Florida Consumer E-Newsletter - June 2010 Edition
June 2010:  View the Online Version

Dear Friends:

News coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been extensive, and rightly so. This is a major event, and everyone is deeply concerned about its impacts on the region’s environment, wildlife and coastal tourism. As a State of Florida official, obviously I am deeply concerned about these impacts as well.

I am also concerned about misconceptions that are circulating about the safety and availability of Florida seafood. Because of these false impressions, our state’s commercial fishing industry has suffered a severe economic blow. I hope that by setting the record straight we can provide consumers with a clearer picture of the current situation and ease their apprehension.

First, Florida seafood products are safe and plentiful. They have not been affected by the oil spill. The majority of the Gulf of Mexico is untouched by oil, and our commercial fishermen continue to harvest products from these clean waters.

Second, we are continually monitoring water samples off Florida’s coast. If and when Florida waters are impacted by the spill, we will take immediate action to close the waters to commercial seafood harvesting. We would never jeopardize consumer safety by harvesting and selling any product that was not safe and wholesome.

Third, our commercial fishermen take great pride in the quality reputation that Florida seafood products have earned. Quite frankly, Florida seafood is something special -- and we would never put any product on the market that would tarnish that hard-earned reputation.

I hope that you will return delicious Florida seafood products to your table. Shrimp, oysters, blue crab, grouper, clams -- and all the other many fine seafood products that we harvest -- are safe and plentiful.

And, if you would like to come to Florida to enjoy that seafood meal, we would love to have you visit. Not only would our commercial fishermen thank you, but our hotel and restaurant workers would be most appreciative as well.  For more Florida seafood information and recipes please go to www.FL-Seafood.com.

Sincerely,
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner
Be the First to Know

Seafood lovers who are confused about the availability of Florida seafood products due to the Gulf oil spill can now get daily updates about the ongoing commercial harvest.  The Department has implemented a new toll-free hotline at 1-800-357-4273 to provide consumers with current information about the status of Florida's open and closed fishing harvest areas, the availability of seafood varieties, and general pricing information.

Florida Seafood and a Healthy Diet

Florida is the best place to find fresh, locally caught seafood with over 80 different seafood varieties to savor.  Florida’s seafood industry is dedicated to supplying wholesome, nourishing and affordable seafood products. You will enjoy the premium quality and superior taste when you choose Florida seafood from our local waters at restaurants and seafood markets displaying the Fresh from Florida or GO NATIVE! logo.

Seafood Safe Handling Tips

Purchase seafood last and keep it cold during the trip home.

Keep raw and cooked seafood separate to prevent bacterial cross-contamination.

After handling raw seafood, thoroughly wash knives, cutting surfaces, sponges and hands with hot soapy water.

Marinate seafood in the refrigerator; discard used marinade to avoid bacteria from raw juices.  For basting, reserve a portion before adding raw seafood.

Mislabeling or substituting fish species is illegal. Grouper has been a prime target for species substitution. For more information, go to www.FL-Seafood.com. If you believe a lesser-value fish has been substituted for grouper or other seafood has been mislabeled at a seafood retail store or supermarket seafood counter, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety at 850-245-5520. If substitution occurs at a restaurant, contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol"
To:
Cc:
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 3:20 PM
Subject: Fw: BP Claim #6866124161731

Mr. Willis:
 
PLEASE RESPOND. I NEED MY CLAIM SETTLED ALREADY!!

Carol Tucker, MA
Pensacola, FL 32507

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol"
To: "Willis, Darryl K"
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: BP Claim #6866124161731

Mr. Willis:

I received your Read E-Mail Receipt, and I appreciate that, but I cannot stress to you enough the urgency of settling my claim so I can move forward with relocation. Please respond.

Carol Tucker, MA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Willis, Darryl K"
To: "Carol"
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 2:22 PM
Subject: Read: BP Claim #6866124161731

Your message

To:      Hayward, Tony EXT; Willis, Darryl K
Subject: BP Claim #6866124161731
Sent:    Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:33:08 +0100

was read on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:22:02 +0100

----- Original Message -----
From: Carol
To: tony.hayward@bp.com​; darryl.willis@bp.com
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 11:33 AM
Subject: BP Claim #6866124161731

BP now has even MORE medical documentation than before supporting my claim for relocation expenses which is now two months old. The oil is here, and I can smell it, and when outside for only a short time, I become short of breath and cough for hours. I live alone and have no family. My only income is from Social Security Disability, and you should be ashamed of yourselves for refusing to pay my claim as soon as you received it, knowing full well that I have severe allergies and am immunocompromised.

You are shooting yourselves in the foot, as every day I am forced to remain here increases BP's liability. I need this claim settled, and I need it settled NOW!

Yesterday I again spoke with Adjuster Charles Billbe who states BP is dragging its heels on paying my claim for relocation expenses because they're afraid if they pay mine, they'll have to pay everybody else's. THEY SHOULD BE PAYING "EVERYBODY ELSE'S!" But they should definitely be
paying relocation claims for the disabled FIRST AND FOREMOST!

Your behavior and lack of compassion certainly proves you care nothing for "ze small people." (I couldn't even believe my ears when I heard that, and neither could any other Gulf Coast residents.)

Please stop stalling and settle my claim IMMEDIATELY!

Carol Tucker
Pensacola, FL 32507