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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Mon Nov 6, 2017, 04:11 PM Nov 2017

Chef Jose Andres And The Trump Administration Are Fighting Over Puerto Rico

Source: BuzzFeed News

FEMA says Andrés is no longer working with them on the island because he's a "businessman" who wanted a contract through 2017. Andrés said anyone who says he was just trying to make a buck "should be ashamed of themselves."

Posted on November 6, 2017, at 10:21 a.m.

Adrian Carrasquillo
BuzzFeed News Reporter

Celebrity chef José Andrés has helped cook and deliver 2.2 million meals in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria flattened the island, at one point cranking out 150,000 meals a day. But while his effort has been loudly praised across the country, the Trump administration, which awarded him two contracts through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been curiously quiet on his efforts as they wound down. That's in part because the administration, which has had a contentious relationship with Andrés, sees a different picture.

An official with FEMA told BuzzFeed News the agency has been disappointed by Andrés' public comments about the paralysis of bureaucracy and pace of recovery. Andrés, the official said, is a "colorful guy who gets a lot of exposure" and "a businessman looking for stuff to promote his business."

"He was very critical of us publicly and we were disappointed he took that approach," said Marty Bahamonde, director of the FEMA disaster operations division. "We had a good working relationship, and we paid him a lot of money to do that work. It wasn’t volunteer work — so we were disappointed in some of his public comments."

The agency acknowledged that only his organization, World Central Kitchen, was able to offer hot meals on the island, but said FEMA could only offer Andrés short-term emergency contracts for two weeks at a time, not the longer-term contract he wanted because that would have to go through a competitive bid process due to federal procurement laws.

Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/chef-jose-andres-and-the-trump-administration-are-fighting?utm_term=.cgQDNNV8O#.qdK3jjEdk

9 replies

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Highlight:

Chef Jose Andres And The Trump Administration Are Fighting Over Puerto Rico (Original Post) DonViejo Nov 2017 OP

Everyone who has been keeping up with this catastrophe BigmanPigman Nov 2017 #1

That's what snake-oil sales creeps do ... Jopin Klobe Nov 2017 #4

i hope they have been able to figure out that they can also, like, mopinko Nov 2017 #8

Who knows...They do not sound like BigmanPigman Nov 2017 #9

'Thanks,' FEMA etc. elleng Nov 2017 #2

The Idiot tRump, every sentient being says ... Jopin Klobe Nov 2017 #3

"He was very critical of us publicly and we were disappointed he took that approach," ... Jopin Klobe Nov 2017 #5

Notice they are not denying his claims, just that he brought them up Angry Dragon Nov 2017 #6

Maybe Jose should cut his staff to just him and another person... forkol Nov 2017 #7

BigmanPigman

(51,593 posts)

1. Everyone who has been keeping up with this catastrophe

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 04:44 PM

Nov 2017

knows how the Moron's admin and FEMA screwed up for weeks and weeks. Even Rachel did a few stories about the Red Cross ship only had 6 beds filled for weeks while the people working on the ship had no patients to look after and were getting pedicures on the ship. Finally someone with a triple digit IQ moved the ship to a dock and then hundreds of people who had been lining up and waiting for help were able to actually get onto the ship...DUH! Move the damn boat closer to the island! Brilliant.

Jose has been delivering meals non stop and without being asked to help. He has done the same thing at other places in the past. He has a good heart. The Moron got pissed off at Jose's remarks that rightly insulted him based on his BS line "Bring your Mexicans and rapists..." The contract between the two for a restaurant in the Moron's building in DC was brought to court and that is why they are giving Jose a hard time instead of thanking him. Everyone in the Moron's admin is corrupted and has no integrity.