Orange Beach, Alabama Mayor Blasts BP's Response to Oil Spill Crisis

FromTheOrangeBeachCommunityWebsite via CNN iReports

Today's Town Hall meeting saw Mayor Tony Kennon fired up about BP's poor handling of claims filed by Orange Beach residents. Two citizens told their stories of a lack of response from BP on their claims - one is closing his business and the other is about to lose his home. Mayor Kennon then blasted the attending BP rep saying their positive media campaign has perpetrated a fraud on the American people and calling them "bald faced liars".

Doesn't sound like Orange Beach is too happy with BP. Over in Pensacola, Florida it is another story with their Mayor:

The Mayor met with Governor Charlie Crist, other State and Local Officials and Kenneth Feinberg, Independent Administrator of BP’s $20 billion Escrow Oil Spill Compensation Fund.  “Mr. Feinberg gave the elected officials and the citizens some straight talk about the claims process.  I left the meeting confident that the right person was in charge and the process would work more efficiently to compensate those that have incurred a loss from the oil spill,” said Mayor Wiggins

This difference in attitudes is so striking that we have to wonder if Pensacola's Mayor's confidence in BP and Feinberg might have a little something to do with the fact the Wiggins is up for re-election this November. Skimming for campaign coffer money perhaps Mr. Wiggins?

From one of his challengers for office: 

The Pensacola Mayor candidate and businessman challenged Wiggins to stop “playing nice” with BP and their contractors, and start putting the interests of Pensacola residents first.

“After weeks and weeks of BP’s half-truths, misinformation, and public relations smokescreens, it’s time for Mayor Wiggins and the City Council to take immediate, emergency action to protect Pensacola. It’s been two weeks since the City Attorney presented a plan to ensure that BP and their contractors don’t cut and run on Pensacola. We’ve listened to 52 days of BP’s empty rhetoric, oil is in the Perdido Pass, and our inshore waterways are threatened."

What's that saying?.... Never let a good crisis go to waste.