Kafka and Hurricane Sandy

I can understand the author’s impatience and frustration in dealing with his local authorities, and especially with building codes that seem to be in conflict with each other. We have renovated two houses, and “the kids” are in the middle of a project now, so I know what it can be like. There are rules and regulations that must be followed. The guy at “plan check” doesn’t have authority to make exceptions, and obtaining a variance is a slow process.

It is hard to believe that he didn’t know he would need a permit to do a large amount of work on his house – even repair work. This is normal everywhere and there is good reason for zoning and codes and permits. After a major disaster, when thousands of projects suddenly need to be done all at once, procedures could be streamlined, and codes could be relaxed a bit. They could let the “letter of the law” slide a little, but everything still has to substantially meet the “intent of the code” or there are likely to be quality and safety issues later. (Two terms we learned to use while in the process of getting a variance)


What I can’t understand is the hatred and malice expressed in some of the comments to this article. It is fine to be opposed to state or local policies, but wishing harm on people who have already suffered a tremendous blow, well, what the fuck is wrong with people?

For example: “I'm sorry but I have absolutely no sympathy for you whatsoever. This is the state you live in. In complete honesty, I hope this story repeats itself in every state that was affected by Sandy.
...

I am glad this happened to you. I slept well last night knowing justice is hiting the same people who want to take rights away from the rest of us.”