We now have the FGA – Free Gas Army.
Everything these politicians touch turns into a giant clusterfuck. You cannot rely on the government, politicians or the police to protect you, care for you, feed you, or provide heat for you. They are incapable and incompetent. The only person you can rely upon is yourself.
Chaos reigns at free gas fiasco
- By MICHAEL GARTLAND and JENNIFER BAIN
- From With POST WIRE SERVICES
- Last Updated: 6:12 AM, November 4, 2012
Free gas came with gallons of chaos.
Thousands of fuel-starved New Yorkers were able to get much needed gasoline from the government at no cost yesterday, but not without a high-octane fit of confusion and double talk from state and federal authorities.
The trouble-plagued giveaway began when Gov. Cuomo’s office announced in the morning that officials would try to ease the post-Sandy gas crisis by giving out free fuel to both “emergency vehicles and the general public.”
The gas was to be dispensed from trucks at five locations around the area — and throngs of desperate drivers showed up to fill their tanks.
ALL OVER A FEW GALLONS: Police bring a disorderly man under control yesterday at a Crown Heights, Brooklyn, free-fuel station where first responders got priority, angering some civilian motorists
The change came after the US Department of Defense — which provided the gas in coordination with the National Guard — said the gas was only for first responders.
A Cuomo-administration source blamed the mix up on the military.
“They told us. We simply conveyed the information provided by them,” the source said. “We had nothing to do with the execution. We didn’t select the sites. It wasn’t our trucks. It wasn’t our people. It’s not our fault.”
Cuomo’s office took the offer off its Web site later in the day.
“Right now, they’re not supposed to be for civilians at all — just the emergency-responder vehicles,” Wing said.
Nevertheless, many civilian drivers were able to continue filling up at free stations at Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Freeport, LI. At a location in The Bronx, civilians were barred from getting the fuel.
Nevertheless, all those stations were barraged with gas seekers.
“I just hope the National Guard and the cops can keep all of these people under control,” said Jennifer Jenkins, 29, as she waited on line at a fueling station in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
The Crown Heights facility had three lines — one for first responders, one for pedestrians and one for cars. The lines for cars and pedestrians armed with Poland Spring bottles and gasoline containers stretched four blocks.
The National Guard watched over two tankers there and doled out fuel on a first-come, first-served basis.
At first, the police weren’t going to let people with containers get gas — just cars — but all the fuel-starved eventually were served.
“The guidance is to get gas to first responders, but we’re also pushing regular people through,” admitted Captain Terry Benson of the National Guard’s 69th Infantry Regiment.
But regular people like Belaniel Daley were fed up.
“I’ve been at the front of the line for 2 1/2 hours and now they want to move the tanker and they’re just giving to the first responders, who I’m sure are getting gas for their family and friends,” said Daley, 45. “I need this gas to get my kid to school.”
Cuomo also noted yesterday that 8 million gallons of gasoline and other petroleum products are now available — and 28 million more are on their way.
Meanwhile, more yellow cabs in the city stopped picking up passengers because filling-station gas tanks are parched. One expert estimated that only 5,000 of the city’s 13,237 cabs are currently running.
Elected officials in both New York and New Jersey said they’d push for laws requiring gas stations to have generators to supply fuel in a similar crisis.
“This whole generator issue needs to be addressed,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer.
In New Jersey, tensions simmered on gas-rationing lines. The rationing, which went into effect at noon yesterday, allows drivers with license plates ending in an even number to buy gas on even-numbered days, and those with plates ending in an odd number on odd-numbered days.
sangell says:
And what did anyone expect to happen when you announce 10 gallons of free gas to the first 1000 people who show up? Especially in that community! I saw a photograph of people standing in line with 5 gallon office water bottles! Suuure they have a car, Suuure they have a generator. Imagine what happens when its their turn and some soldier refuses to put gas in a water bottle with no top.
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4th November 2012 at 10:39 am
Loki says:
“Elected officials in both New York and New Jersey said they’d push for laws requiring gas stations to have generators to supply fuel in a similar crisis.
“This whole generator issue needs to be addressed,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer”
.
The idiocy of our society is displayed by this having to be a law. In a thinking society, standby generators at gas stations would have been SOP when it became cost effective about forty years ago.
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4th November 2012 at 10:40 am
Davos says:
Definition of a moron: Take the most sought after commodity, open only a few locations and make it free and expect things to work out well.
Oh, and after you announce free shit for the free shithead totally inept and unprepared army, then inform the masses that first responders get it first.
What could possibly go fucking wrong?
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4th November 2012 at 10:47 am
sangell says:
I don’t know that station owners would necessarily see it that way but I agree gas stations are vital infrastructure and if you have to mandate they have back up power for their pumps as a condition of being allowed to sell fuel that would not be an unreasonable use of government power. The same might be said for stores selling meat and dairy products. I was shocked to see some large chain groceries having to dispose of their refrigerated inventory in the aftermath of power outages. Back up generators are not that expensive as compared to having to dump thousands of pounds of meat, ice cream and other refrigerated goods. Heck, one day of post storm price gouging and you’ve paid for the generator.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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4th November 2012 at 10:58 am
TeresaE says:
1. Is there any proof that electricity is the major problem? Seems to me that the problem is there ISN’T ANY FUCKING GAS. Electricity at the pump wouldn’t magically fix that.
2. Asking the government to force a private business to spend tens of thousands of dollars will accomplish three things; 1- Will deplete savings, or be the straw, on the small independents. Banks will only loan to the little guys at predatory interest rates. The smallish chains (where the same family/group own seven or eight stations) will be slaughtered especially in light of the upcoming requirement of insurance on all employees. 2 – The big chains will get nearly free money from their bankster, CONgress and Wall St buddies. They’ll be ok, maybe sell a store here or there to help fund it. 3 – Our choices will shrink, our opportunities will shrink, the rich will get richer, same as it ever was.
Oh yeah, forgot a fourth, and important, thing, THERE STILL WOULDN’T BE ANY FUCKING GAS.
Why is it people continuously think the same government that can’t maintain a flat piece of road can FIX anything? Why do we think that PUNISHING the little guy while enriching the elite will somehow produce enough crumbs to actually help us?
Go ahead, help push through one more fucking law, one more fucking regulation, one more fucking tax, one more fucking savior, one more fucking fix.
Go right ahead. Enjoy the ass-screwing your getting. You are asking for it, over and over, in a million ways.
Help us mommy & daddy gubment, help us!
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4th November 2012 at 11:17 am
ecliptix543 says:
I’d be tee-totally fucked with that whole even/odd license plate thing.. my plate is all letters. Guess I could sneak around the old fuckers’ part of the neighborhood and pilfer plates from Alzheimer’s victims, who likely wouldn’t notice anything once I return the plate the next night. Rotate targets and I could probably get gas a couple times a day, every day…
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4th November 2012 at 11:37 am
ron says:
No giant water pumps in the subways and no backup generators for gas stations.At least the gas stations would have gas for them.I guess folks there dont think ahead about things.Reminds me of all the people living below sea level during Katrina and they didnt even own a blow up raft.
Good luck to all these folks as it well snow soon.I did see some folks getting food together and handing it out.was nice to see.
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4th November 2012 at 11:51 am
IndenturedServant says:
“Elected officials in both New York and New Jersey said they’d push for laws requiring gas stations to have generators to supply fuel in a similar crisis.
“This whole generator issue needs to be addressed,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer”
What a bunch of bullshit! Any smart business man would know that having a backup generator to pump fuel out of your tanks is just good business. Hell, you could even jack up the price to the legal limit.
Make it a fucking law?? Give me a break. That same line of thinking implies that the govt should have fuel depots to provide fuel to citizens in emergencies.
The longer the human species exists, the dumber we get! It is hard to have sympathy for people who REFUSE to help themselves.
I_S
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4th November 2012 at 12:43 pm
Roysyl says:
The demand for free goods/services will always exceed the available supply. Why haven’t people realised trying to to meet the demands of the FSA will result in insolvency and the final outcome of egalitarianism, rigor mortis.
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4th November 2012 at 1:27 pm
Thunderbird says:
Keep the politicians out of it… they have no common sense; nor do they have a clue as to what to do.
In all this chaos with desperate people acting out of desperation and the local government obviously not prepared for such a large demand on their limited resources, the only remedy is to declare martial law in the areas affected and let the military restore order in the street and set up distribution points.
People are failing to realize that the most important objective is not to give everyone who wants it free gasoline; but rather to make available food, water, and a warm place to stay. Work, school, and transportation are secondary concerns right now.
I am speaking from experience having gone through three natural disasters caused by an 8.2 magnitude earthquake and two super typhoons.
The first concerns are food and water. But the roads have to be cleared so distribution points can be set up in the neighborhoods for food and warm blankets, and water trucks brought in for local service throughout the community. It is self evident that only the military has the capacity to do that because the local government sure is not doing it.
Does anyone hear any of the politicians calling for this? Probably not because they don’t have a clue as to what to do.
Work and school for the children are secondary concerns right now. So no one needs to be driving around until food & water are getting to the people and the streets are secured from looters and bad elements. Only the military can do this at this point. Obviously the local governments can’t do it; and it shows.
In my book the president should have his butt off the campaign trail and get busy doing his job. We have an overwhelming natural disaster going on with desperate people roaming the streets; going hungry, without water, and without toilet facilities. All these rooster politicians can howl all they want about conditions but what are they doing about it? NOTHING!!! Now people can see them for what they are…all talk and no action.
Get the military in there and get the job done.
People that think it is a bad idea to bring the military in to handle this can go pound sand. I’ll bet that not one of those against this idea is suffering from this disaster; or has ever lived through a natural disaster of this magnitude. Let them become the ones suffering and you will see them sing a different tune.
President Obama you have a job to do that is much more important than campaigning. Get too it. People are suffering. The longer this goes on the more damaging things are going to get.
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4th November 2012 at 1:49 pm
Stan says:
Is cuomo a liberal democrat?
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4th November 2012 at 1:51 pm
Bought Giant Pump says:
[...] [...]
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4th November 2012 at 3:20 pm
chiefdarkcloud says:
The problem as I see it is that there are too many chiefs and not enough braves. If you had ONE man or ONE woman (either of which would need a BIG set of balls) IN CHARGE of the entire relief effort as a sort of ‘unquestioned DICTATOR’ then most of the bullshit would immediately go away. This person could ‘over rule the mayor, the govenor, the labor unions, etc. The miscommunications and the chain of command differences between the different agencies involved only multiplies the incompetence ! This ‘relief efforts dictator’ would need to have an unquestionable ‘one phone call’ authority for ANYTHING deemed needed by him or her – buldozers, generators, water, industrial heaters, fuel trucks, water, sanitation services, portable housing, electricity workers, National guard, you name it ! If you needed something this man or woman could and WOULD get it to you faster than ASAP ! This is how you get things done in an EMERGENCY ! You are in a war zone and need to TRIAGE the place !
Remember the earthquake in Hati a few years ago ? Well the incompetent fucks in charge of relief efforts sent such things as shoes in the first planes that landed in Hati right after the devistation. What they REALLY needed was tents and beds to set up emergency hospitals, generators, water, surgical supplies, morphine, antibiotics, sanitation supplies and lots of doctors to tend to all of the many many persons severly injured in that quake. Many people had crude amputations performed with no anethesia and in barbaricly unsanitary conditions.
How can such incompetence exist in the world today ?
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4th November 2012 at 3:58 pm
Thunderbird says:
chiefdarkcloud: Not only not enough braves but too many statutes to follow. Remember, these people operate under statutes; they don’t think for themselves. The military cuts right through statutes. They operate under the Uniform Code of Military Justice; not The Uniform Commercial Code UCC. This is a big difference.
Government is incompetent in these type of emergencies because their hands are tied by statutes and regulations. Look what they had to do to get ships into New York full of gasoline using foreign crews. They had to suspend the Jones Act. I’ll bet that was done by executive order.
When I hear what Mayor Bloomberg and New Jersey Governor Christi is doing and saying they both remind me of buffoons in a three ring circus making up their act as they go. I hear the latter is trying to enforce gas pricing and rationing only to further disrupt the free market ability to do the distribution of gasoline; while the former is blowing hot air in a delusional air he thinks is really doing something.
Let the military do it.
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4th November 2012 at 4:49 pm
Stucky says:
People with license plates consisting of only letters buy their gas on “odd” days.
I actually like the system. It does solve ONE and only one problem. Gas lines were a lot shorter today. It was weird, though, seeing police cruisers at every open gas station ….. kicking out people with the “incorrect” license plates.
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4th November 2012 at 5:39 pm
Administrator says:
Stuck
They’re preparing you for the FEMA camps when you will stand in line for food, showers, and shitting.
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4th November 2012 at 6:10 pm
taxSlave says:
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”
― Groucho Marx
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4th November 2012 at 6:19 pm
Davos says:
Teresa: +1 !!
The fucking morons thing gas stations pump gas from the ground. They couldn’t differentiate between supply & delivery of supplies. They wouldn’t know an inventory supply chain if they tripped over one.
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4th November 2012 at 8:25 am
Dorkus Maximus says:
Just finished my morning walk with a couple of the liberals that I work with
They knew nothing of the free gas debacle. They knew next to nothing of the gas shortages. They knew very little of this conditions people in Staten Island are dealing with. They only knew about the amusement park that’s under water. No shit.
They did know, however, all about the difficulties Obama voters were going to face in getting to the polls. They were quite worried about this isse.
This is the bubble of ignorance that the liberal MSM creates. Without this bubble of ignorance, Obama wouldn’t stand a chace.
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4th November 2012 at 11:51 am
Tricia Kaleski says:
DEMOCRATS, democrats, and more democrats…The more people vote for these scumbags, the more they will get reamed in the ass. The EPA mothballed gasoline holding facilities and refineries on Long Island and many areas of the Northeast. It is the EPA and enviro nazis of the democrat party choking off our lives and oil supplies.
This mess would have never happened without purposeful removal of gas and oil sources by the whacko nuts who hate oil.
Until the public in all of America gets it through their thick heads that democrats do not care about anyone or anything EXCEPT their POWER, we will all suffer after being raped repeatably by their egotistical, obnoxious, pompous and arrogant tactics. 0bama is all of this and more rolled up into one big ass mistake America!.
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4th November 2012 at 2:35 pm