The Ugly Human Side of Sandy

Bucit

Bucit

New Member
Mar 12, 2010
3,144
St. Petersburg Florida
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2005 280 Sundancer
2004 SPD-104 Achilles w/ 8hp Yamaha
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That's horrible, frustration is no excuse for that behavior. Normal people are one disaster away from becoming savages and most aren't prepared to handle a disaster situation. Its easy to blame but difficult to be accountable when the chips are down.
 
We've had lots of these guys sleeping at our firehouse/substations and using the showers, etc. as not all of them had a place to clean-up and sleep (aside from their trucks).

I've met guys from Illinois and Canada who are working in my home town (which got really slammed) and I can tell you that they are all working their butts off to get the Island going again. They did not deserve what's was rumored to be strong-arm treatments from the union(s) -- much less a physical beating from a frustrated homeowner. I am neither pro-or-con union, but we who were dealing with this mess needed all the resources we could get ASAP and needed to pull together.

When I've also seen them at the local Dunkin' Donuts, I bought them breakfast (I could care less that they are getting paid really well) and will do so again until they leave.

After seeing them firsthand clear trees for our fire trucks and ambulances to get through and also getting my electric going again after a week and a half of using my generator, I am appreciative of their efforts!

BTW, I count myself lucky compared to others. My boat fared OK as I hauled it the Saturday before the storm and it was 30' up in a rack when it blew though. My house lost some fencing due to a tree that took out two houses behind me when it came down. I have one friend who lost his boat (submerged), and three others with heavy damage which may be totalled. Three other friends of mine had their basements and first floors destroyed as they were on canals or not too far from the bay. Another lost his house in Breezy Point when it was washed off its foundation.....

:smt038
 
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I had some friends who worked for Trump a few years ago and they had to be careful when entering and leaving his place so the union guys didn't see them. They said they were threatened a few times before. I think these guys need to get over it and accept the help so NY came get back to normal as quickly as possible.
 
This is so wrong, I heard Sea Side Heights in NJ turned down help because the helpers were non union workers. What is wrong with people, and they wonder why NYC has a bad rep.
 
That is just inexcusable! I hope that SOB is holding a plugged in toaster while standing in a bathtub full of water when his power comes back on!!

electrocution2.gif
 
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connie garcy said:
This is so wrong, I heard Sea Side Heights in NJ turned down help because the helpers were non union workers. What is wrong with people, and they wonder why NYC has a bad rep.
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I don't believe this is true... There are no union requirements here. They will take all the help they can get... There are many volunteers from all over the country, and no help is being turned down. The access to the barrier islands is restricted, for safety reasons. Most assistance is being provided to the main land. There may be some trouble with organizing all the support groups and individuals. The big problem we have seen is there are many displaced people who will not be able to return to their homes for months. My girls tell me that some of their friends at school, who lived on the barrier islands, have no home to return to. I am not a big fan of building home near the ocean. IMO there should be no federal subsidy for flood insurance and if people choose to live near the ocean they should have to pay the market rate for commercial insurance...
 
connie garcy said:
This is so wrong, I heard Sea Side Heights in NJ turned down help because the helpers were non union workers. What is wrong with people, and they wonder why NYC has a bad rep.
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Connie as a former NYC resident "The Island of Long" is not New York City!! That being said I hope they find this guy and ship him to the Nearest Correctional Facility to bunk with "Bubba"!! And it Doesn't have a "Bad Rep"!!
 
Bugsy24 said:
Connie as a former NYC resident "The Island of Long" is not New York City!! That being said I hope they find this guy and ship him to the Nearest Correctional Facility to bunk with "Bubba"!! And it Doesn't have a "Bad Rep"!!
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I am also a former NYC person and I feel for these people. But to people who are not from the city all they know is what they hear. I know from listing to people from the Cental NY, they want nothing to do with the city. I am always defending NYC an telling them what a great place it is. But what was done to this guy was wrong regardless of were it happened. Rod, I am glad to hear the truth about Sea Side. My cousin has been living in Toms River for 36 years and he was one of the lucky ones, he almost lot his house by 3 inches, but watched his cars float away.
 
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bring back Ronald RayGuns. unconsionable what is going on.
These guys are here to help
ron
 
As a current union brother of the iron workers down in nyc I would wish for nothing but bad things for whomever did this. Yes I will fight for my union but would absolutely not fight against people who are willing to leave there families to come help people who have lost everythjng. Absolutely disgusting. Hope he rots.
 
Bucit said:
Was this due to union workers pissed off that non union workers were there to help or just angry Ny'ers taking our their frustration on anybody that came along? Very sad to see that somebody who travels a great distance to help out with the restoration/rebuilding of NY get treated like this.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/20078392/2012/11/12/lakeland-electric-worker-attacked-in-new-york
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We are a powerline contractor that employs IBEW(International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Union lineman. We are based out of Michigan, and were first dispatched to Albany, NY and then to Long Island to help restore power in Sandy's aftermath. We have been working along side both union and non union contractors for the past 2.5 weeks to help put Long Island back together. When we heard about this gentleman getting beaten we were only three miles from that particular town. It spread through the lineman network like wildfire. At no time was there any mention of this being between union and non-union workers but rather a malitious, criminal act, most likely done by some angry person without power. Our men were very saddened and angered that this happened to a fellow lineman, union or not. God speed to all of the unfortune families, that have lost everthing from this disaster. Words cant discribe the distruction this storm caused and continues to cause. For all of our CSR brotheren, my heart goes to all of you that have lost your homes and boats. I couldn't imagine!
 
He was attacked Friday night outside a restaurant, after he and his crews had been putting in 16 or more hour days. It's hard work, helping to restore power. And for the most part, he said, people were gracious and thankful for all of their efforts.

Suddenly, a man yelled-out to him from his black BMW as he drove up to where they'd parked their Lakeland Electric trucks.
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Sad to read....

EDIT there was more to the story.
 
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Wayne, did you have a head injury as a child?
 
Wayne, that is a good question and without being there a hard one to answer. Then again who knows what else a person like that is capable of. ie; pulling out a weapon. I would guess that the rest of the crews were not immediately available so this a-hole pulled a quick attack and fled like a coward. I did hear they now have the bastard in custody. Hope he gets what's coming to him.
 
EDIT. Todd posted the whole story on what happened.
 
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I pulled this from the local News12 page:


Suspect arrested in assault of utility worker in East Meadow
(11/14/12) EAST MEADOW - Nassau police confirm that they have arrested a suspect in connection with an attack that left an out-of-state utility worker hospitalized.
John Applewhite, 34, of Florida, was walking into a restaurant in East Meadow with his crew when, according to police, Thomas Libretto, 34, of Levittown, got out of his car and punched Applewhite in the face. Applewhite suffered a black eye and a broken jaw. A fellow utility worker was bitten by the attacker before the man sped off.
Applewhite, who has since returned to Florida, says that despite the ordeal, he feels sympathetic for the storm victims and that many only had kind words for him and his fellow utility workers.

I hope that POS gets what he deserves!!

BTW: Wayne, if you read this his buddy did jump in then got bit. Apparently the coward ran away immediately after. What a LOSER !!


Here is another link to the story:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...and&id=8884988​
 
BTW: Wayne, if you read this his buddy did jump in then got bit.
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The news jerks should of put that in the first reported story. :smt021


I'll edit my other post. :smt001
 
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