Government Disaster Funds Sent Elsewhere “We Refuse to Be Sacrificed”

JOHN BEARD

As a former member of Port Arthur City Council from 2003 to 2012, I witnessed Hurricane Rita in ’05, Ike in ’08, Gilbert, Humberto and as a regular citizen in 2017, Harvey. And I saw a very consistent pattern in the way funds were distributed to help the people that needed help most. A study that was done showed that of all the cities in Southeast Texas that were adversely affected, next to Houston, Port Arthur was the most extremely, severely affected. Why? Because of the disparity of people who are, number one, economically disadvantaged, which is two-thirds of the city’s population of 57,000, with a poverty rate that approaches between 27, almost 30 percent. And because of those factors and the fact of where we are located on the Gulf Coast, the impact was magnified and much greater.

But let’s fast forward to just very recently, because it was discovered in the second round of Harvey funding that neither Houston nor Southeast Texas received any money. $1.2 billion—none of that money came here. We were excluded. And that was done intentionally by the State of Texas, by the General Land Office.

But we still ain’t got $1.2 billion. So what happened? I was contacted by some friends of mine that work in the environmental justice space. And they asked me, Texas Housers asked would I be willing to sign on to a letter of complaint to HUD? And I said, “Is pig pork? Most certainly I’m going to do that.” Because of the fact and reasons that I related to them about those other storms. You know, Port Arthur has been impacted in 17 years by 5 major hurricanes and at least an equal number of smaller ones.

Seventy percent of those funds were to go to low-to-moderate-income communities, but you know what our friends did that we elected, that sat at the table? Here’s what happened. And if you live there, I’m sorry to pinpoint you, but the truth shall set you free and it’s what’s real, it’s factual. Bevil Oaks, a city just north of Beaumont, a lot smaller than Port Arthur, received more money per capita than Port Arthur did. Bevil Oaks’ economic statistics are as follows: average income in Bevil Oaks, $77,000; average income in Port Arthur, $35,000; average home value in Bevil Oaks, $145–150,000; average home value in Port Arthur, $60,000. Yet Bevil

Oaks got more money per capita than Port Arthur did, who, next to Houston, was the most severely impacted by Harvey. That is disparity.

And when you look at the fact that Port Arthur is largely a city, as was read earlier by Mr. Garcia, largely made up of people of color. And I’m remiss if I don’t say this too—we ask about African American and Latinx inequality, but I must give homage to my brothers and sisters who are the original people here, because we all on occupied territory, and we need to give them their credit, because they suffer too, but they don’t get seen or heard. But they’re working on that just as we are.

But once again that inequity and that disparity of spending caused this letter to be sent to HUD and in response HUD sent the GLO [General Land Office] a letter and they sent us a letter saying, “Of all the things you claimed, we checked them out and they are true.”

Now, the county judge didn’t do that. But I am not saying this because he’s running for reelection. Mayors in our various cities didn’t send a letter. City councils in our various cities did not send the letter—a simple letter. But a little old community-based organization made up of folk like yourselves and people who are just everyday folk got together, sent a letter, signed onto it and froze that money. $1.2 billion, y’all.

We’ve got to speak up. And we got to say enough and no more; “We refuse to be sacrificed” is what we say in Port Arthur.

John Beard Jr. worked in the oil industry for 28 years and is today the Founder, Chairman, CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network fighting for health and safety protections in an area teeming with refineries, export terminals, petrochemical plants . . . and cancer.

I moved here from Florida and my son had a really bad accident. And they wanted to railroad him and charge him for vehicle homicide, and, you know, and it was an accident. Well, years later come to find out that someone else pulled in front of him. And anyone knows that, anybody that’s in ongoing traffic, you know, the person pulling in is the problem.

But it was a—long story short, everybody here kept telling me, “Have him take the plea. You’re not—.” I said, “No, we’re gonna go to court.” Why would you not? They threw it out, but it’s like, but so many people locally kept saying, “Take a plea,” and it seems like that’s the standard here is to take a plea. My son had me, you know, but there’s so many other people here that just don’t have that connection or knowledge.

In terms of how do we deal without Spanish skills? Just friendly, you know; Tejas, we’re the friendly people, remember? Or at least that’s what we learned in Texas history, but, you know, something that fundamental, right? We just treating out—reaching out to someone like a human being. We have a tendency when we help people, we approach them with “This is what I can do for you.” No, that’s self-serving. You ask them: “What can I do for you? How can I help you?” Be a civilized human being.

We have several community meetings each week, one is the City Council meeting, the other is the Commissioners Court .You need to go to those meetings and they have a period where you can speak out and ask questions. Those persons who are with the City Council and Commissioners Court, you elect those folks.

They also have telephone numbers and email addresses; if you don’t see them there or can’t get to the meeting, write them an email or call them on their phone, because your question, your concern, is what drives the City Council and the Commissioners Court to address and have funds and put on the agenda. And you’re not in it alone; there are organizations out there where you can find your answers.

Dedicate a portion of the “Beaumont Enterprise” several times a week to communities that ain’t represented. Show people that you care about them. You’ve got to remember: we live in a traumatized community. People of color have been traumatized from the Civil War to date. Jim Crow, new Jim Crow, you name it, the trauma is there. And that trauma has created distrust. You have to become a member of the human race and be concerned with everyone just as much as you are concerned about yourself. And if you can’t do that, then you need to take a close look and check of yourself and make an assessment. Anybody can serve; all it takes is a heart full of love and the desire to make a difference.