After a three hour one-on-one meeting with representatives from a cross section of coastal businesses, Ken Feinberg boards a jet and heads north, leaving folks in the south keeping their fingers crossed he is a man of his word.
“Mr. Feinberg is always very gracious, however I think this time he is trying to go the extra mile and commit to doing some things financially. I have to take him at his word once again that he’s going to do that,” says Chris Nelson with Bon Secour Fisheries.
This meeting was different. This time Feinberg brought a task force of accountants to help address claims issues.
“We discussed assumptions about the future the damage that has been as a result of the spill and I think it went well at least from my perspective,” says Feinberg.
Alabama’s coastal communities have been very vocal when it comes to criticizing the claims process. Hopefully the meeting today has calmed some of those concerns at least for now.
“Alabama has been a sore point. This area has been an area where there has been a good deal of constructive criticism leveled at the GCCF. I don’t like that,” says Feinberg.
A cross section of coastal businesses like restaurants, real estate, retail shops, laid their concerns and questions on the table. It will be up to Feinberg to make sure that’s not where they stay. “I’m now trying to look forward and see what has to be done to satisfy these businesses and make sure the economy in this area of Alabama is protected and that is what I intend to do.”
See video here: http://www.wkrg.com/gulf_oil_spill/article/feinberg-returns-with-task-force/1203033/Dec-02-2010_7-03-pm/
