Gas shutoff to shelter for homeless vets with unpaid bill

[wicket]

LINK

KeySpan Energy shut off the gas today at a shelter in Roxbury for homeless veterans because the nonprofit had fallen $9,000 behind on its bill.

The utility sent a work crew with a police escort to Veterans Arms on Humboldt Avenue this morning, according to Ralph Cooper, the shelter’s executive director.

"We got behind," Cooper said in a telephone interview. "I know we paid them over $2,000 last month, and I thought that we had worked it out."

A spokeswoman for KeySpan did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The 15-year-old shelter has 10 single rooms that houses predominantly Vietnam-era veterans. They share a common kitchen and bathroom. The shelter plans to hold a press conference this afternoon to publicize its plight. Without gas, residents will not have hot water for showers or cooking.

Cooper spoke about the shut-off from Washington, where he said he was attending a conference about fund-raising techniques for homeless veterans. His frustration with KeySpan was evident.

"Give the veterans a break," Cooper said. "It's not like we are not paying them."

[villager]

1. man, the only job of police is to protect the ownership class, isn't it?

They were willing to help cut off the gas to homeless vets?

[wicket]

3. I'm glad we don't get our gas from Keyspan

What heartless assholes :grr:

[Occulus]

22. WRONG!

It's only their job to protect you if you own enough.

Case in point: me, about ten years ago. Someone I knew stole my old 8-bit Nintendo, 8 games for that, my N64, six games for that, and all controllers. I paid new, retail value for all that stuff.

When I quoted the value of the items stolen- and while in posession of a signed 'note' (yes, this guy was THAT dumb) from the person saying they 'borrowed' all of it- the detective I talked to told me "oh, it's probably not worth that much".

But... I paid retail value. I had the receipts, even (well, not for the really old stuff, but it's a cinch to find out what it cost me new).

No dice.

Detective Spencer of the Kalamazoo Police Department: I'm still waiting for you to get back to me and tell me you've at least questioned the guy I told you to question, who took half my personal home entertainment. You did take posession of the note he wrote and signed- did anything happen beyond that, or is over $600 worth of 'stuff' just petty to you?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. How heartless is that?

And we're supposed to be a caring, compassionate nation?

Yeah,...well,...

[porphyrian]

4. That's how this administration supports our troops.

It's fucking treason.

[nam78_two]

5. That is so sad.nt

[EFerrari]

6. I can't find contact info for them.

:(

[wicket]

7. I found some info here, hope this is right:

LINK

Veterans Benefit Clearinghouse,
Hartford Manor, 6 Hartford Street, Dorchester: 18-room SRO
173 Humboldt Ave., Roxbury: 10-room SRO
Contact: 617 541 8846

:hug:

[EFerrari]

9. Ha! How did you get it?! It sounds like the admin offices

are in D.C. I'll try that one. :toast:

[wicket]

10. I googled homeless vet shelters & Roxbury

:D

Let me know if you have any luck!

:hug:

[EFerrari]

12. You must have a better google than I do. lol. n/t

[EFerrari]

8. So, I left a message at The Globe with one of the reporters.

Let's see if she returns the call.

:kick:

/oops

[wicket]

23. Keep us updated!

:yourock:

[EFerrari]

11. Donations for this shelter can be sent to:

Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse
38 Dudley Street
Roxbury MA 02119

[partylessinOhio]

13. $9000 for Halliburton would be like nothing. I feel they should pay the bill

and make a generous donation.

Congress should also increase the funds for veterans. If they have to raise taxes to do it, so be it.

[Javaman]

14. Damn it anyway, crap like this breaks my heart.

what the fuck is wrong with this country?

I'm sending them a check, it ain't much but it's something.

[philosophie_en_rose]

15. Very sad. The power company should be ashamed.

They agreed to take payments, accepted $2000, and still cut off service. Very wrong.

[wicket]

16. So wrong on so many levels

:(

[myrna minx]

17. This is an outrage! n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

18. Sorry but after paying Bandar Bush there is no money in Washington

to help out those vets.

EDIT...better luck next war!

[wicket]

19. kick

:kick:

[EFerrari]

20. kick

[Recursion]

21. Jesus F. Christ! Why don't they just kick a bunch of puppies while they're at it?

Seroiusly, this and the woman on a ventilator who died... wtf is going on here?

[wicket]

24. kick for the vets

:patriot: