Categories
Small Business Funding

Biden raises alarm on disaster loan program running out [Video]

President Biden is urging Congress to approve more funding for disaster relief programs as states like Florida begin the long and costly process of recovery following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.In White House remarks, Biden called on lawmakers to approve more funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, offering aid for small businesses to rebuild.”It’s going to take several billion dollars. It’s not going to be a matter of just a little bit,” President Biden said Thursday. “Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business.”Biden isn’t alone. Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott echoed Biden, suggesting lawmakers return before the election to address disaster funding, particularly with the SBA. So far, there’s been no indication from House and Senate leadership on taking action until after the election.”FEMA needs to be fully funded, the SBA needs to be fully funded, the and the Department of Agriculture and any other federal agency that does disaster relief,” Scott said. However, with recovery underway, FEMA insists it has enough money and manpower to help storm victims and their immediate needs.”We’ve done multiple catastrophic events like this in the past. That’s why we have a layered approach to our staffing, and we plan for this,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “We moved resources from some of our non life-threatening, open operations to be able to support what was going to potentially be needed in Milton.”FEMA is also assuring that other immediate needs, including $750 in disaster payments, will be the first of many in federal assistance.”That is the first type of assistance that people impacted by a storm like this can get access to for upfront things they might need, like food, water, diapers, etc.,” FEMA acting Director of Response and Recovery Keith Turi said. “After that, there are opportunities to get additional assistance.”In addition to his remarks, President Biden called out former President Donald Trump for spreading misleading and false claims about the government’s response. Trump criticized the federal government in a speech Thursday, saying a lot of people, especially those in North Carolina, suffered “unjustly” after Helene.Biden told reporters Trump should “get a life” and that he does not plan on speaking with him about the misinformation.At a separate event, Vice President Harris also touched on the issue, saying the claim that support will only go to certain people based on their political affiliation is “just not accurate” and that federal and local governments are working hand-in-hand.Following an afternoon briefing, President Biden will give an update on the federal government’s response to hurricanes Milton and Helene Friday. Vice President Harris will attend virtually.

Categories
Small Business Funding

Warnings of price gouging on Balloon Fiesta tickets [Video]

If you’re looking to buy Balloon Fiesta tickets, be wary of where you’re getting them. One man found he was paying double the price of what they should be. With thousands coming for the event, the president of the International Balloon Fiesta, Judy Nakamura, said they try to make this as accessible as possible and to be wary of tickets that are above $15. On Tuesday, a viewer contacted the Target 7 tipline saying he bought two tickets for $70. He found those tickets in an online search, looking up Balloon Fiesta tickets, and was sent to an online third-party website. “It’s very unfortunate. It’s not something that we approve of, particularly because we try to make sure tickets are affordable for people to get into Balloon Fiesta,” Nakamura said. “You never have to worry that we’re going to run out of space. We have over a 70-acre launch field out here. There is plenty of room to accommodate people who want to come to balloon fiesta.” There are three places you can buy tickets: on their website, outside the park at the ticket booths and the Balloon Fiesta gift shop.”We do not condone ticket resellers; we don’t sell batches of tickets to anyone else to sell the tickets for us,” said Nakamura. However, price gouging has happened for other big events around town. In May, a similar ticket price changes targeted the New Mexico Ballet Company. Target 7 learned they weren’t alone. Opera Southwest and the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus also said patrons were overcharged for tickets. Our legal expert, John Day, said there’s not many people can do. “You can scalp tickets to high school events, other cultural events pretty much anything you want and it’s not illegal,” Day said. “A lot of other states have made laws that make that illegal, but New Mexico is not one of them.” Day said in New Mexico, ticket scalping is only illegal for college athletic events. General admission prices are $15, and children 12 and under are able to get in for free. When you pay online with a credit card or at the booth, there will be a $1.50 charge.