Vol. 72/No. 38      September 29, 2008

Calero was speaking with workers here about his proposals on how working people can organize to confront the unfolding social crisis in this state resulting from the indifference shown by capitalist officials of both parties in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

“Where is the money going to come from? The government is so strapped now,” asked Felicia Eaton who lives in Houston’s Third Ward, which was severely damaged by the storm.

“Look at the billions the government is using to try to bail out the investment banks and insurance companies. In almost every state they ask working people to make sacrifices at the same time that they pay billions to the bondholders before addressing our needs, the needs of working people,” the SWP presidential candidate answered.

Eaton told Calero that city cleanup crews had come through the neighborhood and removed fallen trees from the streets but left others that had fallen on homes. “A lot of us have come by to help relatives and friends.” she said.

Minutes after getting off the plane here Calero got a chance to see firsthand what working people are facing. There were some 50 storm-related deaths in nine states, 14 in Texas. Thousands of people are in acute need of ice, water, food and fuel. More than 2 million are without electrical power.

Calero was accompanied by three local SWP candidates—Jacquie Henderson for U.S. Senate, Steve Warshell for Congress in Houston’s 18th CD, and Anthony Dutrow for State Senate District 138.

Calero visited a few points of distribution (PODs), which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claimed were stocked with ice, food, and water for up to 5 million long before Ike landed.

“Well before the points of distribution were supposed to close for the day, supplies had been depleted in several of the sites,” said Calero. “In others, I saw the long lines of cars of people trying to pick up supplies.”

“We got some water and ice from the government agencies,” said Jorge Gutierrez, “but that hasn’t been adequate.” Volunteers had gathered to clean up mud and debris left by the storm outside the Luz del Mundo church just west of downtown Houston. “We have pooled together enough to help church members, including some from Galveston,” Gutierrez explained to Calero and Warshell. They worked to clean up the street just a few blocks from the Ripley House distribution site, which closed down early for lack of supplies.

The presidential candidate and supporters also visited a distribution site located near Texas Southern University, a section of the city where the majority of workers are Black. There as well operations had shut down early.

There were at least five confirmed deaths in Galveston, which has a large population of Blacks dating back generations. Many of them live in modest homes that couldn’t withstand the flooding. About 15,000 people were trying to survive in damaged houses.

At a press conference this evening Houston mayor William White complained that the supplies from FEMA to replenish the distribution sites have not been nearly what has been requested. Despite that, he added, the supply centers will be reduced over the next few days as power is returned to parts of the city. “People will have to adjust,” he said.

City authorities here have said that restoring electricity is out of their hands since this service is run by a private company. “We want to remind you that CenterPoint Energy is a private company,” White stated. “They [CenterPoint] must understand that they are the only ones that have the technical ability to get the power restored.”

CenterPoint Energy officials have said it could take more than three weeks to fully restore power to parts of the city.

In response, the socialist presidential candidate called for nationalizing the energy industry and placing it under workers control. “CenterPoint Energy makes decisions on the basis of what is profitable to them. More workers can be hired and resources allocated to get the system back up. With workers committees reviewing the companies financial books we can expose the price gouging done by the oil companies,” he stated.

Thomas Hadden came from Bay City, about 80 miles south of Houston, to help out. He put his chain saw in his truck as he talked with Calero. “I thought I had my vote locked, but I am willing to consider other alternatives. I like the fact that you came here to see what’s happened. I’m going to look at what you have to say,” said Hadden, shaking Calero’s hand and taking a copy of the campaign brochure outlining the SWP’s platform.

Jacquie Henderson and Steve Warshell contributed to this article.
 
 
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