Petition for the Wielinskis: Build Them a House, Please

Has anyone asked the Wielinskis if they want to be on TV?

Even though Continental Airlines' insurer will certainly settle with this grieving family, it would be even nicer if the whole Buffalo community got together and built them a new house anyway. Long before the legal dust settles, we can reach out to all of the relatives of the victims in ways large and small.

Be aware that "recipients" on Extreme Makeover have to pay income taxes on the value of the house. In this case it would be the difference between the fair market value of the old house and the FMV of the new house.

I'm all for the public to get involved and assist this family, epically if it makes rebuilding faster, but how come I get the sense that the insurance company will somehow not pay a single penny?

I saw an episode where Extreme Makeover and the neighbors built an elaborate house for a family who has a VERY special needs child (Jeff?) who could not function in a "normal" structure on his own.
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What was built was a very unusual and much needed house based throughout its structure on the boy's needs and also bedrooms for his two disabled sisters.
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That house was what the program aims for--an EXTREME difference.
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Consider that the owner(s) of the house in Clarence Center must have their own adequate insurance coverage plus other major settlements and therefore are not a family in need of anything more than that the media and overly excited bystanders leave them alone now.
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Also, the public should not assume that the family will want to stay where such a tragedy happened to them.
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And, that entire area does not need more spectators watching a TV program doing their own publicity-seeking endeavours.
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The survivors have family and friends of their own they need to be with now. Most of the-world at-large would realize that.
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Before that tragedy, that WAS a quiet neighborhood...
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Besides all that is going on there now, when an elaborate house is introduced into a neighborhood of seniors in older, like-and-kind homes, not only would the taxes skyrocket for the family that lost their home, but also, I imagine the accessors would step up and the tax base would go up for the rest of the neighborhood.

This project seems well-intended, but misguided to me. The airline will most likely compensate them and of course the homeowners have insurance. Leave them in peace and stop trying to make this into more of a circus than it already is.

Well, since the EM-HE folks have to ask the recipients if they wish to have a house built for them - I guess that takes care of that issue.

As far as insurance and the taxes on the property - put the two together - guess that takes care of that.

Now, as far as the land. Who really knows the hearts of these two women? Who knows if the land means something to them, as a living memorial to the husband/father - rebuilding may be the answer - sure, it may seem incomprehensible to some of those who aren't in the family, but it may mean something to them. If not, maybe the Town would do a swap of lots with them.

This is a way our community shows the care and compassion they are known for - far beyond zoning codes, snow and three men in a room.

The final decidion is made by the mother and daughter. At least give them a chance to speak for themselves.

Although we all mourn for the Wielinski family, they are unlikely be the worst off in this tragedy. However, they are likely to receive large checks from Continental, Colgan and their insurance company. This absurd notion, that throwing money and materials at one grieving family, is doing our part to feel good about ourselves.

Among the 49 grieving families, there has to be one family that has not only lost a loved one, but lost their income too. We should do more than skim the headlines, and maybe we'll see the other victims. If all 49 families will be generously compensated, maybe we can look elsewhere in our community to find families without hope or help of any sort, and certainly without a check in the mail. It seems like charity is the legacy we want to add to this story, why not do it right?

The best help would be to pray for all 49 souls, and their families left behind.

It hasn't been a week, this is over the top! It brought to light things like insurance and air line compensation. It should go unsaid that such things will take place. If they don't some place down the line then it gives the public the right to comment on insurance coverage or monetary compensation from the air line. I'm not saying good points have been made, I agree with Colin. It's just TACKY that BRO would facilitate such a conversation.

Why would this grieving family want to be on a cheesy TV show? They will get lots of money from the airline insurance company, their homeowners insurance, and I am sure there will be a class action law suit where they will get more money. There are families who need a new home more than them; who do not have insurance money coming in. These 2 ladies probably just want to be left alone and not on another TV show. Leave these 50 families alone and let them grieve privately.

If I'm not mistaken the Wielinski's had a few girls.

I never understand why people give BRO such grief about posting a story like this. It isn't like all their writers sat around all day writing this thing and thinking it was going to wow the community. My guess is, someone submitted it and they threw it up. This then gives us, the readers, a chance to give our opinion of the idea.

I agree with anyone who said it is a stupid idea and we should just let them quietly move on with their life and the $$ they are undoubtedly going to get from the insurance company and the airline.

To trash BRO for posting articles is about the dumbest thing I can think of. It isn't the news, it is a local community-based blog that allows us to connect with what is going on around us, and that includes some pretty poorly thought out activities such as this. So criticize away for the idea, but don't shoot the messenger. Just my opinion.

I think the sentiment behind this proposal is very appropriate and thoughtful. Reading this, what occurs to me is that this might make a great project for Habitat For Humanity, because folks in the community could actually help build the new house. If I wasn't so notoriously dangerous with any kind of hand tools, I'd consider volunteering.

I wouldn't want to live in a house built on a site where 50 people tragically died.

Are there refugees of Rwanda in need of a Buffalo area home? Perhaps EMH could build one in tribute to Dr Alison Des Forges who perished in the crash. EMHE was in search of a home-needing family in WNY before the crash occurred. They might renovate a home in honor of any of the victims.

This assumes the Wielinski's are not interested.

Can someone explain to me why this is actually a good idea?

They DID have homeowners insurance, right?

What will the show hosts talk about while building the house? How they're spooked by the ghosts of the 50 people who died RIGHT THERE?

Maybe they can "drop" the house onto the site with a crane?

Does the family even want to live there anymore? And what does the family think of all this TV stuff anyway?

To all the naysayers - it's up to the family - at least allow them to have the option to choose for themselves.
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As far as rebuiling on the same lot - why not? If I had to consider it, I might just do so - to be close to what my entire family had together for so many years - and in memory of my husband/father.
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But - it's true - it's up to the family - and no one's opinion or crass remarks have anything to do with a charitable thought or action.
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Positive action is better than sitting on one's duff and complaining any day.

Besides, 45,000+ people have had an opportunity to sign.

How is a petition to build a house on the site of an accident where 50 people died and have a reality show exploit the grieving family who lived there who happened to lose a husband & father "positive action?"

45,000+ morons signed THAT petition.

People think that by signing that ill-conceived petition they are being "positive". It's ludicrous.

45,000 Lemmings...How sad for them to be trying to force a TV Reality show onto their grief. Also to assume that the family is poor and has no insurance. As to the house being built on that site, not going to happen. Silly people.

"GOOD MORNING WIELINSKI FAMILY!!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OJcZ_m6dc&NR=1

its very likely that there will be a settlement check, or insurance check, or whatever.

however, i also know that this petition is an earnest and honest attempt by people to help others. no one signing the petition has anything to gain. certainly, calling these petition signers names is completely uncalled for.

understanding that, there are many other very deserving people in WNY, and it is likely that this opportunity would have a greater impact on another family whose needs will go unmet.

frankly, the decision is ultimately for none of us to decide, and is none of our business.

The family just said this morning that they DO NOT WANT another house built on the site.

http://www.wben.com/Wielinski-Family-Wants-Crash-Site-To-Remain-Untouc/3882191

Please do not sign this petition.

“...good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.” - Albert Camus
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If you can't get past that quote with a clear understanding, then please DO NOT read further because you will only continue to contribute to a greater problem.
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What I have to say here is done with some measure of intelligence, respect, empathy, and pity...
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This event... this tragedy... this is a life-altering event that will forever change the lives of family members, spouses, sons, daughters, partners, lovers, friends, anyone surviving the loss of a loved one involved in this crash. NO ONE can debate the upheaval of lives in the wake of a devastating incident such as this one.
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What many of the well-intended comments here suggest is that we take those people, who are in IMMENSE grief, put them on a TV show, rebuild a home, and feel better about ourselves for doing so?
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Imagine this: Your husband, your wife, your child… someone you love and care-for deeply has just died. One moment, they were sitting in the aisle seat, or maybe a window seat – then, suddenly, they dropped out of the sky for reasons they cannot know. Their last few moments filled with panic, confusion, fear… then that was all. The light of their lives extinguished. Wreckage. Flames. Chaos. You’re a survivor and you’re brain is telling you to imagine this. You can’t wrap your brain around it.. You can’t BEGIN to comprehend not having that person in your life… The emptiness… the longing… the grief… the sadness… an unrelenting storm of thoughts and feelings. You will not understand this – or how you feel – for a very long time.
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People care. They want to show their caring. They feel for you, see your mourning,… but they cannot understand. They cannot stand in your place. Your home is destroyed, you barely get out alive. Someone’s missing from your life now… Someone you loved and cherished and could not imagine living without… GONE… in less than a minute… People want to help you in any way they know how… they don’t know how to show it. It’s awkward. It’s strange. They know they can’t replace your loved one, but they want to help… they imagine they feel your grief… they grieve for themselves… for their own death… or the death of their own loved one.
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And now… what’s this? Cameras! TV personalities! Interviews. Newspapers. Articles. News networks… Now they want to build a new home for you – on the site of your grief… Where people’s lives have ceased forever.
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And, you…. You just want to grieve… to try to make sense of the void in your life.
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Black Rock Advocate: Since there will be NO shortage of money (from Continental Airlines) with which to rebuild the Wielinski's home (wherever they want it), WHY should they need a bad reality show crew to help them with the effort? Do the survivors really need the cathartic experience of being interviewed by some reality TV hack in order to come to terms with the sudden death of 50 human beings IN their house? No. Do they really need camera crews in their face 12 hours a day (ever?)

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It makes NO sense for the Wielinski's. None. But possibly it makes sense to other people who fancy having a reality TV show being shot in the area. (I guess...)

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If the house simply burned up or had a giant block of ice fall on it, I'd say - fine. As it is, the producers of the show wouldn't touch the idea of building a show around the tragedy of 50 instantaneous deaths from a crashed plane in a million years. They-won't-touch-it.

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Mark my words, genius. They won't even consider it. What this campaign proves is how clueless people are in this area.

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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6908369&page=1

Interesting to see what people outside of Buffalo think about the idea.

The AlbrightKnox already had this program on monuments to multiple death tragedies planned for tonight, which might shed light on the situation:

@ 6 pm
Pre-Film Talk: In the Wake of Tragedy
After multiple tragic deaths, artists are often called upon to create meaningful monuments to those who have been lost—examples will include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and memorials to the Holocaust. With Curator of Education Mariann Smith.

@7 pm
Film: The Sweet Hereafter, 1997. Directed by Atom Egoyan (112 minutes).With Special Guest Editor Susan Shipton
Director Atom Egoyan received an Oscar nomination for Best Director and won the Genie Award for Best Canadian Film for The Sweet Hereafter, which addresses the aftermath of a tragic school bus accident in a small Canadian community. Special Guest Editor Susan Shipman will introduce the film and answer questions from the audience following the screening.
FREE for Members / $4 for non-members

The media has turned this tragedy into a circus and we should all leave these people alone and give them the privacy to grieve.

As of yesterday, and after Mrs. Wielinski and her family have stated they do not want a house rebuilding, I guess Extreme Makeovers DOES want the circus tents to go up in Clarence!
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Does that mean that EM is soooo impressed with themselves because of that online petition that they do not intend to back off?

Whatever. Thank you.
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EXTREMELY SERIOUS MISINFORMATION:::
While the goings on at EM are no longer important:::::::::::::

what is important is that WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO CHANGE ANY MEMORIAL MOMENTOS AND PLAQUES,the public needs to act quickly and PLEASE, REALIZE that there were FIFTY-ONE victims in that plane crash...THAT IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS MISINFORMATION.

And,,,I did read that EM article carefully. What I stated falls under the category of "they don't comment on casting matters".

Please stop the callous statements.
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Crisa is correct in the fact that 51 souls were lost. One of the passnegers would have given birth in May and the child was already identified as a boy.

50, 51, whatever.

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I can predict with certainty that EM will never visit Clarence Center to build a house.

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Reality TV show producers may be morally bankrupt but even they know that a show resultant of the loss of 50 lives is not something they can sell to their sponsors.

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A 5- or 6-month unborn baby boy is not a "whatever".
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All the rush to commit to names on Flight 3407 monuments listing names must include that precious little boy.
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Another lady was printed in the local newspaper today showing concern about that baby being included. Her article involved the love that must be felt by the little boy's existing family.
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What is needed now is for his family to give him a name 4 or 5 months sooner than he was due to be born.