New Orleans residents reacted with outrage yesterday to The Post’s revelation that Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks had failed to deliver on a promise to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Folks in the Big Easy flocked to nola.com, the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s Web site, to vent.
“This was not and will not be the last example of victimization of the people of New Orleans by those allegedly raising funds for Katrina victims,” wrote a commenter using the name “rhettswife.”
“There should be a close examination of all funds raised for Haiti relief also,” she added. “Let these two political hacks be questioned immediately by the federal authorities.”
“Hereonearth” posted: “Like they didn’t know that this was going on . . . PLEASE!!!!”
The Times-Picayune picked up the Post exclusive about New Yorkers Organized to Assist Hurricane Families (NOAH-F) — which is now under investigation by federal prosecutors.
The Post first reported that the group had handed out just $1,392 of roughly $31,000 in donations collected to aid people devastated by the 2004 disaster, according to the group’s financial filings.
Tracked down by The Post, Louis Rainey, the man chosen by Meeks to identify families that needed help, said the money that the Queens Democrat had promised never arrived.
“These people came down here, sold a good story and didn’t deliver,” said Rainey, who was head of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
“We didn’t get the funds. We never got a dime.”
Another nola.com commenter wrote: “What do you expect from politicians? I’ll bet they are both lawyers, too! Dayum Dems just as bad as Republicans. We might actually find them to be worse.”
Someone going by the name “secdef” wrote: “If any fraud or misappropriations went on, then prosecute and throw their behinds in jail.”
And in a slap at Meeks and state Sen. Malcolm Smith, a NOAH-F co-founder, “hellhouse” wrote: “Just two more sharks.”
Meeks’ office, meanwhile, claimed the lawmaker was also seeking answers.
“Congressman Meeks is very concerned about the allegations presented and wants to get to the bottom of this situation,” read a statement from his office. “Congressman Meeks fully intends to cooperate with the US Attorney’s Office.”
Rainey told The Post that he gave Meeks adviser Candace Sandy a list of some of the families in need but that the money never arrived.
Contacted by The Post, Sandy said she would get a comment from the congressman, but she failed to respond to subsequent e-mails or phone calls.
Meeks has been under fire since The Post first raised questions about money received by NOAH-F.
The group’s treasurer and the fund’s administrator both said they couldn’t account for how the money was handed out.
NOAH-F was established by the nonprofit New Directions Local Development Corp., which was co-founded by Meeks and Smith, also a Queens Democrat.
Both have said the spending was dictated by an independent board.