Craigslist Ads Gouge Storm Victims: $700/Night Outrage!

We don't always choose where we live.

One could say the same about people in tornado alley, or Californians in earthquake areas, or people on the flood plains.

Some people just grew up there, have jobs there, have family there, inherited a home there, etc. etc.

Everybody lives somewhere.

This. Why can't more people understand that?! It boggles my mind.

Everybody may live somewhere, but just like Californians expect that at some point there's going to be an earthquake, people in this area would have to expect that due to circumstances, things may happen there as well.

It's like with Katrina... anyone who's stupid enough to live BELOW sea-level, on the beach, is asking for natural punishment.

It's natural selection on a large scale.

Things can happen anywhere. Anywhere in the US, there is some risk of something. Anywhere in the world, for that matter.

In the past, I've had to live in some unsafe, crime ridden areas, due to work and lack of funds.

It's just not always possible to move.

Well of course something can happen anywhere, look at the earthquake that happened in Virginia last year...completely unexpected. However, some locations carry more risk than others. Someone living right next to a river or stream has to understand that they have a greater risk of flooding than someone that would live in the desert.

You are never, ever , ever going to do away with greed and
cruelty in totality, no matter what economic or political
system you have.
However, we can preserve the Freedom
to produce better choices and more humane people.
What if we took all of our resources and focused them
on figuring out how to make Freedom work.
Capitalism in its present form is obviously not Freedom friendly.

Those prices are NORMAL for some areas.

People dislodged by Superstorm Sandy in New York state saw some dandy deals on Craigslist—like a 1-bedroom apartment for a "mere" $700 a night, the New York Post reports. "Escape the hurricane in a luxury 1-BR with full power and Internet," the ad read. "Stay in style and comfort until the power comes back on." If that seemed high, area hotels were renting rooms for $500 or $600 a night.

[link to www.newser.com]

Alternative is to have the non-preppers sleep in street, FEMA shelters, or what?... $700 sounds reasonable to let strange people in your home

After reading this story which btw I find deplorable, not because they are charging the outrageous fee they are charging, but because they shouldn’t morally. If I was an owner of a motel or a hotel near this situation, I would have advertised rooms for a reduced rate or even free in some cases with children. Now don’t get me wrong it’s not because I feel they should be given a free ride, but instead of gauging these people the owners of these business have missed out on capitalizing on National Free publicity do to their kindness instead of their GREED!!! If they would have taken the opposite approach to this situation they would get far more business in the future than what they will make in this short time they are gauging.

My Opinion of course.

Well let's consider if they charged what we could agree upon as "reasonable" (something the majority could afford). The renter would have a nightmare on their hands because there would be HOARDS of people with the ability to rent; it would be chaos. A thousand people showing up at your door with a hundred bucks pleading GIVE ME.

You charge more because there is LESS supply and considerably MORE demand. It's the only way you could sell something in that environment. The renter may profit from the situation; however, the person renting the room is also winning considering they have a place to stay, etc.

Does that sound harsh? Yes. But the alternative would be for the masses all fighting over a single room because they have a few nickles to their name.

"Oh but that's why the government / an unbiased objective beneficent arbiter of hand outs should be in control." Really? I'd rather roll the dice that I could be the guy with 700 bucks. That seems more reasonable than praying to God the government gives me the hand out.

You sound like a good person. I wonder how you view Obama's handling of Sandy versus Bush's handling of Katrina?

I feel both of them have done a terrible disservice to this country and should hang their heads in shame at the pain and agony they have caused many millions of people throughout the world. To know you are killing innocent people throughout the world without a care in the world is not about politics, it’s about pure evil intent. These times we live in have nothing to do with religion, politics, or money, it is caused by evil men & women; doing evil deeds. It is evil people vs good people, and before you bashers start screaming religion, I am an atheist.so good luck with that.

Interesting...an "atheist" appealing to a moral conscience where none should exist. Strong survive then?

It's like with Katrina... anyone who's stupid enough to live BELOW sea-level, on the beach, is asking for natural punishment.

It's natural selection on a large scale.

anything gos..huh? friggen gougers..

While it doesn't surprise me that people are taking advantage of this and trying to screw people, it's so sad.

If I lived in the area and had an apartment, of even an extra room, I would GLADLY help a family out - FREE, esp if they have kids. I have 3 boys and would be devastated if we lost everything.