Unbelievable. Sadly, the banks must be paid says our fearless leader. That from a man who has stiffed creditors all his life and who can't even get a loan from an American bank. Just when you think he can't say anything more heartless and cruel.
3
The lousy response is just one of the many tentacles of the disaster that is Trump and Trumpianism. Hatred yes. Braggadocio yes. Help? Hell no!
5
Thanks to commenter Barry Dubin:
"Trump defaulted on a 33 million loan on his Puerto Rico golf course via one of his many bankruptcies."
No wonder he doesn't want to help. He's already taken his cut.
5
From the Washington Examiner: "Sen. John McCain urged the Trump administration on Tuesday to reconsider its decision to not issue a waiver of the Jones Act to allow more fuel and other supplies into Puerto Rico as the island recovers from Hurricane Maria." Trump's refusal to suspend this post WW I law is intensifying this crisis for Puerto Rico. FEMA and other aid groups can only do so much.
5
In times of crisis, you know who your friends are.
A crisis may pass but memories die hard.
New York has your back Puerto Rico - always and forever.
Stay strong. Godspeed.
6
Perhaps the President would like to use the blank slate of Puerto Rico to show off his building and development skills and, together with our country's best and brightest, create a sample of what a new America might look like.
4
No, if anything, he, or rather, his family, is waiting until they can get rock bottom prices on distressed or destroyed properties that they can turn into their hotels. So they need it to get worse, so the prices go down for them.
2
Trump should move the United Nations to Puerto Rico. NYC doesn't need or want it there. It would be a huge shot in the arm for the Island (i.e. building, restaurants, etc) And all the countries could unload their over priced NYC real estate and make a fortune on the trade. Money stays in the USA but it moves to a place that needs it the most.
3
In June, 1948, the Soviet Union began a blockade of Western Berlin and the US, Britain and Canada began an airlift to sustain the people of Berlin. At the height of the Berlin airlift, more than 5,000 tons of food, fuel and other necessities were flown into Berlin each day. That was a humanitarian mission coupled with political will.
Its time to turn our political will to achieve a humanitarian mission in Puerto Rico. What is our government waiting for? This should have started days ago. If we had the technical and logistical capacity to do this 60 years ago, surely we can mount a similar effort today to take care of our fellow Americans on the island of Puerto Rico. It is a matter of political will and conscience.
7
Here's how bad the response has been: the USNS Comfort hospital ship should have been gearing up for deployment a week ago when it was a certainty that PR was going to be crushed by Hurricane Maria. It was finally been given orders to deploy TODAY and won't arrive in PR until nearly two weeks after the Hurricane struck.
Also, word has slowly (and finally) been getting out of Vieques, PR after private citizens flew in satellite phones and supplies for residents. Other than a small amount of water and meals brought over by the PR national guard and the coast guard flying out a couple of injured residents, the Federal response there has been all but non-existent.
2
What a terrifying disaster. Maybe the U.S., Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic need to pull a "Dunkirk" and rescue Puerto Ricans with civilian boats.
3
I know there's a heck of a lot of really important events going on around the world (and in my opinion the NFL vs. national anthem thing, while interesting, is NOT one of them), but I do not understand why the complete destruction of Puerto Rico is not No. 1. Or at least in the top 3. Even if PR were not and American territory, these reports are horrific and heart-rending. Our nation's leaders should be rushing to mount an effort to saves lives that otherwise will be lost and to rebuild. This is a disgrace.
10
We need to help these people like we did for Harvey and Irma. Where are the feel good stories of Americans helpping their own coming from Puerto Rico. Oh yeah we cannot even talk to them because 100% of the island lost electricity.
Ugh, I hope we start treating our fellow citizens better.
1
The Catholic Church will step in with resonant salvation for the souls of Puerto Rico. Meanwhile the wills of our believers must focus energies onto that challenged desperate area.
Just your believers?
Let's not get carried away with inconveniences experienced by some Puerto Ricans.
What is important is that we know that the Trump Administration has gotten very good reviews - tremendous, in fact - for its work down there in the face of overwhelming difficulties. And as soon as power is restored, the Puerto Rican people will be able to hear about this as well, that I can tell you.
3
Donald Trump has constructed a persona that was elected President. He shoots from the hip--like Teddy Roosevelt and "W" Bush. He calls out the establishment--like Ronald Reagan. He says what others are too polite to say--like Harry Truman.
But he must perform. And, it sounds like he is running out of time in Puerto Rico. I really hate to root for the guy, but, if he doesn't get it right in Puerto Rico--SOON--there will be a humanitarian crisis on American shores.
1
While Puerto Rico has been declared a disaster area, the west side of the island has not been declared by the President eligible for individual assistance. The West side of PR is the place where 70,000 people were forced to evacuate due to an impending dam breach. These people and many others will find that FEMA will not be able to help individual households when (perhaps months from now) people start trying to rebuild their lost homes. All of the people of PR deserve full support to rebuild their lives.
5
Trump explains why relief efforts for Puerto Rico are flagging: "The difference is this is an island sitting in the middle of an ocean — and it’s a big ocean, a really, really big ocean.”
Yes, he really said that. Those are his actual words.
10
As his plan for defending Guam and Hawaii, and allies including Japan and South Korea is...
Here's an idea that might get aid flowing. Why not send as many vessels as demand merits and evacuate these citizens to the mainland right now?
3
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Since the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico can't participate in Presidential elections, President Trump really doesn't care about Puerto Rico. His visit is to satisfy criticisms that it appears he doesn't care. Dollars to doughnuts that the photo op will include the President and the First Lady in her six inch heels getting on Air Force One. At least now I'm seeing DOD assets in Puerto Rico assisting the effort. The question is how long is the commitment to keep DOD involved in the recovery.
2
While Rome burned, Nero fiddled. While Puerto Rico has suffocated from unmet needs, Trump has railed against football players and beaten his chest to say he's bigger and has more bombs than "little rocket man." Tragically in recent days, the media has largely allowed him to get away with his childish distractions. What is more important and immediate than the plight of 3 million Americans with scarce food, water, shelter, power, dry land or relief from potentially fatal temperatures? Trump was praised for paying attention to Texas and Florida, even though most of that amounted to tweeting praise of his own and FEMA's response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma. What's the difference here? We must call it what it is. Puerto Ricans are less politically powerful. They are not governed by Republican leadership. Overall, they are poorer. Many speak a different language. More people there then here have a slightly darker skin tone. Ultimately, it matters less whether the Whitehouse's failure here is owing to political, financial or racial reasons, we must not let this adminstration off the hook.
4
trump, the "I alone can fix it" candidate, has demonstrated his contempt for US citizens when he declared that they live on an island in a big ocean and trucks can't drive there. Apparently, he doesn't know about ships. It is outrageous that he could not manage to get basic humanitarian aid to US citizens by plane or ship---it isn't hard to do when you are President; it just takes time and attention, which he chose to devote to creating a phony crisis of 'respect' in the NFL.
Mueller, while you are at it, please explore the utter lack of respect this creep displays to the US and its citizens.
12
The big sea seems to have no problems sending most of our consumer products to us from China. Yet, we somehow can't help our own citizens in their time of utmost need. He is despicable.
13
While Trump is tweeting about the NFL he forgot to acknowledge the disaster in Puerto Rico.....but he likely does not know it is part of the US (like "Nambia" is not a country). Trump is an embarrassment and is making all US citizens look like fools to the rest of the world.
5
I am a Navy veteran from Detroit who served at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station for 39 months and was married in Ceiba Puerto Rico, and I believe President Trump will not let you down and will give 100% effort to help you....
1
The president is too busy messing with his phone and the GOP Congress likely doesn't know PR exists. They are too busy being vindictive and covering their pocket books. I think this situation is indicative of how this government sees protecting the people of our country. You are on your own and don't expect any safety nets from the GOP government of oligarchy.
6
Ok, here's my guess. Members of the drumpf family are waiting to swoop in and buy up distressed and destroyed hotel properties, and have to wait for things to get worse in order for that to happen. Unfortunately, this is not just a cynical view. It is entirely possible. And probable.
6
This is just the bit I know of struggling to meet basic needs after living through a few prolonged power outages following infinitely less destructive hurricanes. Think of it: Darkened stores that are still intact are often closed, so you can't get basic supplies like food. Grocery stores, in particular, barely run without power for cash registers, price scanners and credit card processors. Which means cash only if you can find one open. But cash doesn't last because ATM's need power to work. So do smaller branch banks, which are typically without generators. Any refrigerated or frozen food is not sustainable, anyway, without power. Many homes and other buildings also rely on electrically-powered wells to pump water for drinking, bathing, flushing toilets and cooling off. Many people can't go to work for a break because so many businesses are in fact closed or destroyed, so many people go indefinitely without a job or paycheck. Getting medicines can also be an urgent need and potential nightmare. Prescriptions on file in pharmacies can't be pulled up, while medical offices are either closed or overcrowded. There are always patients with greater needs than yours. As for just getting around or powering generators -- should you be lucky enough to have the latter -- even gas pumps need power. Finally: life's overall pace is dictated by nature, not need. Activity largely shuts down once dark falls and if you don't get up at dawn to recommence the struggle, you're already behind.
3
Ms. Rogers,
It does appear that Hurricanes are especially disruptive to power transmission systems as they're conventionally constructed. I realize this won't help the victims of Hurricane Maria, but Puerto Rico may be an excellent candidate to pioneer distributed power generation, with home solar PV collectors linked by microgrid distribution systems, all connected by the regional grid in a fault-tolerant way. It would be worth subsidizing with federal funds, to encourage maximum uptake by Puerto Ricans. I'm hardly an expert, but I'd love to see how a distributed power system of that sort would survive a cat 4 storm.
Are there any statutes prohibiting FEMA from assisting Puerto Rico?
1
Perhaps the "new" Infrastructure legislation can start with rebuilding Puerto Rico's Electric Grid, Water and Sewer systems, and roadways. Also time to get rid of the requirement that only US flagged ships can deliver goods to PR.
2
We forgive debt to foreign countries but Puerto Rico must pay & be reminded of it by the clown who added $30 million to their debt.
7
Trump do us all a favor and please don't come to Puerto Rico. At least there is one good thing out of not having electricity. The good people of PR are spared from having to listen to Trumps DAILY racist, immature, nation dividing, bullying remarks.
11
Send in hospital ships, cruise ships laden with supplies and able to evacuate the very sick
Determine an area in the US able to receive the old a sick, wounded and take care of them.
Bring in helicopters to drop food and water in inaccessible areas.
Engineer corp to clear away debris and take stock of repairs and infrastructure damage. Heavy machinery needed to clear areas.
Fuel and generators for energy and lighting.
We have all this plus a huge army why doesn't the imbecile Trump make this happen?
13
I'm curious: In terms of disaster relief, why should it matter that Puerto Rico isn't a US state? If they would have more clout as a US state, why aren't they a state by now? What would it take to make PR a state? I wonder what the residents of PR think about that option. In any case, congress should actually do something to help PR instead of trying to sabotage and destroy healthcare.
Trump is so busy with campaigning in Alabama, calling out professional athletes for non violent protesting and not coming to the White House that he does not have time for Puerto Rico. I am sure he thinks it is a foreign country that is not his responsibility.
12
because they are black
1
Right now Trump is probably asking his aides why he can't add Puerto Rico to the list of countries in his travel ban.
5
The people of Puerto Rico have consistently voted to remain a commonwealth , that being said , get rid of the outdated and needless Jones Act which has kept the Island in a state of debt. Have visited many times , it is a very beautiful island , with gorgeous rain forests and beaches and incredible sights as the phosphorescent water of Vieques . It also has a lot of poverty and it is time for the U. S. to stop treating the people of Puerto Rico as stepchildren , they need help and they need it now.
7
How can our so called Commander and Chief, who can assemble a military task force in a virtual instant, not be able to assemble one to aid the citizens of PR? It would at least help provide some critical support. We, through our bloated defence budget, produced some creative vehicles to traverse difficult terrain. We even had warning this island was going to take hit. There's no excuse. This line that they have to wait for Congress to approve necessary funds first is weak to say the least. Would or esteemed leader wait for that to launch a military offensive? Help these people for God's sake! I sincerely hope the GOP pays for this, all this, in 2020.
11
I feel for the people of Puerto Rico, but the US Congress is on a racist streak. They are talking about building walls to keep out white, but not white enough, Spanish speakers. The sea acts as a natural wall with Puerto Rico, where they also speak Spanish, and the Jones Act ensures against a prosperous PR. Congress is voting in legislation that will result in the deaths of millions, preferably the poor and non-white and anyone who might need social services. Thus, I am sure that some help will get to PR but not enough and it will be late as well-accomplishing age goal of reducing nonwhite demand on the government. There is no excuse. We should all follow the golden rule.
3
This possession of the US doesn't need a visit from Trump. It needs a visit from a US aircraft carrier group, loaded with supplies, industrial size movable generators, earth moving equipment, and lots of seabees and marines to help clear debris and begin the process of recovery for these US citizens. We spend over 600 billion on the armed forces, enough to help with this catastrophe which amounts to defense of US territory.
14
Well said, Mr. Traveler. A minor quibble: Puerto Rico is in some legalistic sense a 'possession' of the US, but as you point out, its people are US citizens. It's my understanding, at least, that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the people of Puerto Rico access to national recovery resources equal with those of every US state.
1
Where is the USS Comfort, a hospital ship? Where are the many ships able to bring supplies, and the engineering talent to restore the power grid? This requires more than FEMA can handle.
7
Where are the Corps of Engineers the Hospital Ships, and the field hospitals?
This needs to be more than simply a FEMA response.
7
For some reason West Side Story ("America") comes to mind:
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!
Puerto Rico is IN America.
I agree the story should be at the top and kept there, and the pay wall should go down for it. Keep hammering it home.
4
That song came to my mind also, Jan W. I'll mention further that the composer, the great Leonard Bernstein, was of a recent immigrant family; proving that any family of immigrants can bring forth an American genius, unto the nth generation!
As a Navy brat who was born in Puerto Rico, I am ashamed by the response of our government to this humanitarian disaster.
Yet I am very proud of how the citizens of Puerto Rico willingly accepted all the many refugees who left the Virgin Islands after the previous hurricane!
Why does the U.S. not treat these off-shore citizens as well as those in Hawaii? I know, they are second class citizens, with no Senators nor Representatives! And no campaign funds to be had if they treat them well!
Best,
--Keith
@KeithDPatch
4
“I have one water truck; I need 10,” said David Latorre, Arecibo’s emergency management director. “It was an odyssey to find food. We had to break down doors to get it. The food system collapsed.”
The above is absolutely tragic and downright untenable to read. Here we are, in modern 2017, one of the wealthiest nations in the civilized world and yet a full ten days post-hurricane, Puerto Rican governors and mayors are still begging for humanitarian help from their US overseers. Even poor Mexico does more to help their citizens, ravaged recently by deadly earthquakes and tropical storms.
I worry dearly for Puerto Ricans. Their battered and waterlogged infrastructure is at huge risk for developing strains of cholera, typhus and more. They need our help. I do fear that they may soon become the next Spanish Haiti if they do not soon get the assistance they so critically need.
What are we waiting for? Anyone? Pres. Trump?
10
The island is not on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The most basic infrastructure for life and livelihoods has been destroyed. It is a mountainous island, and the logistical challenges of getting basic humanitarian aid to people under these circumstances mean that it is already well past too late for many. There are no power restoration crews on the road from neighboring states as was the case for Florida. There is nowhere for people to evacuate to. How is the crisis in Puerto Rico not the top headline for the Times and every other news publication?
61
Linda, I am feeling the same way! This tepid NY Times article is no where near the headlines and could easily be missed even when you are looking at the front page. The BBC news hour just covered this story as their top story. Things that stuck with me from that report- the mayor was crying; patients on life support have just DIED when the hospital generator ran out of fuel; people were saying "May Day" to reporters. CBC (Canadian radio) said that people were using their flashlights to signal distress.
14
For Pete sakes, quit picking on the NY Times, people. They're doing a heck of a lot better job on covering this than CNN, MSNBC, and all the other main stream media outlets. Why don't you pick on Trump, who is more occupied with the NFL players "taking the knee?"
1
“I grew up in New York so I know many people from Puerto Rico,” Trump said. “I know many Puerto Ricans.” And I wonder how many are still waiting for him to pay them?
23
People from PR are American citizens and those with means and education will get on a plane and never come back. They can and they will settle somewhere in the lower 48. The slow response and the reality of living like a camper for 6 months will be untenable for anyone with the means to get out. That is why it is so important to provide resources and funds -
it will be a brain drain like the wold has never seen.
Believe me.
7
We should not only be rushing to the aid of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico, but also help rebuild their aging bankrupt electricity grid. We have to rid ourselves of the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" attitude that has reduced Puerto Rico to an offshore ghetto. It's time to treat them like those in Texas and Florida. It's time to forget "tax reform" (aka tax cuts for the wealthy) and move onto the $trillion infrastructure program starting with the hurricane ravaged areas of Houston, the Florida keys and west coast, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's time to pay attention to those in need rather than those in greed.
12
A week after the hurricane, Trump held a news conference today in which he said he will visit Puerto Rico next week. But he didn't mention anything about FEMA and other relief efforts there nor in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
I can only conclude that Puerto Rico is less important than Houston and Florida for two reasons: it is not a state and it is primarily comprised of brown people instead of white people. And those people, by and large, are poor, therefore not worthy of Mr. Trump's attention.
14
This is a great opportunity for the US to do something with foresight - rebuild the island's power grid using renewable sources like solar and wind.
12
I'm no I'm no fan of Marco Rubio, but I give him credit for going to Puerto Rico to evaluate the needs first hand.
My mother was without power for a week after Irma and I can't imagine the people of Puerto Rico living without power for six months or more. I'm hoping that U.S. power companies can help rebuild the grid.
10
✔@realDonaldTrump
“Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars.... owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with.”
It is conceivable Mr. Trump may not be aware of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (a.k.a, the Jones Act), put in place nearly 100 years ago, now totally irrelevant, yet still strangling the life blood from the island’s economy. Maintaining this Act in this era seems more like extortion than the protection it was meant to be. This act could be repealed immediately, freeing up funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction – perhaps even lifting the undeserved yoke of debt that sabotages future economic growth for this island.
12
Completely agree - it is a disgrace that the US is not doing much more and faster to address the heartbreaking humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. Our governmental agencies and the military know how to deal with crisis and have the means to do so, as many have pointed out. This is just more of the same racism and xenophobia that has been surfacing with a vengeance.
... And while we're at it, why don't we actually put to work some of the geniuses who voted for Trump (because they so much wanted to be put back to work and to have a better standard of living), getting much needed supplies to and then clearing and rebuilding Puerto Rico? Or other places like Texas and Florida hit by natural disasters? Or rebuilding our outdated infrastructure?
... Better to clean up than to continue to make messes ...
1
Should Trump really be visiting PR at this time when the country has enough on its plate?
4
Yes he should visit PR and see the devastation, but before he goes he should shut up about how we show our patriotism or exercise free speech and get on with the job of showing and implementing a huge rescue plan.
With some enthusiasm!
4
Why the studies? Puerto Rico finds itself like an accident victim being examined to make an official call that he really needs attention. And the official call must be submitted for approval sometime early- to mid-October?
"Congressional leaders . . . awaiting assessments of the damage in Puerto Rico, as well as a formal disaster request from the Trump administration, before they can act."
How insulting and insensitive can the government be? It's more than a little like the many months it took to stop shaming children who couldn't pay for school lunch. Members of the US government need a good shaking. Oh, is that against the law?
12
Doing heck-of-a job FEMA. Heck-of-a-job. I am guessing Puerto Rico doesn't have a 10 Billion rainy day fund like Texas.
7
Why isn't this the lead story?
27
As a candidate POTUS declared that he was a builder.A construction guy.He could build great walls.Now is the time to redirect those skills and energy.Delay the wall.Rebuild Puerto Rico NOW!!
14
Maybe the president show pay more attention to Puerto Rico and our other disaster areas in Texas and Florida rather than on the NFL players and the league not being violent enough?
16
Apparently MAGA does not apply to Puerto Rico...
Shameful!
12
That's because MAGA doesn't include Spanish speakers.
1
"Congressional leaders said on Monday that they are now awaiting assessments of the damage in Puerto Rico, as well as a formal disaster request from the Trump administration, before they can act. A request is not expected until early- to mid-October, according to senior congressional aides."
Why so long to make a request? This is ridiculous.
18
The last thing Puerto Rico needs is a Trump campaign rally on Tuesday in Puerto Rico. He should just wield that executive pen he loves so much to unleash a relief effort on a scale commensurate with the scope of this tragedy. And maybe he should consider spending less time sparking culture wars for political gain that distract the country from assisting their fellow citizens on the island.
19
The people of Puerto Rico need our help. They are Americans, too and need not be ignored while Trump's playing nasty with the NFL. In fact, what those in the NFL are protesting racism, which is obviously be a reason for Puerto Ricans to be ignored in the aftermath devastation of the hurricanes. According to the LATIN LIFE article on August 2016 this is what was reported that Trump said during the 2016 campaign season: Then in New York City, while speaking to a group of investment bankers and hedge fund owners, Donald Trump allegedly declared that if elected, he will revoke the U.S. citizenship of all Puerto Ricans because they are “not part of the American race.”
4
I looked that up: Snopes.com, a source of research on such extreme- sounding bits of news repudiates that statement, says Trump did not make it and that its source was Adobo Chronicles, a website of fake news with a disclaimer that its content is 'not to be taken seriously'. Snopes goes on to say that the supposed remark was then taken up by several Spanish-speaking websites who published it as if it were real news.
2
I suppose it’s encouraging to see the Democrats change course and finally admit the US does need a Navy
1
Seems like a perfect opportunity for the Clinton Foundation to empty its massive bank accounts to help
4
Since you express an interest in the work of the Clinton Foundation, here is some information:
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/our-work
1
It is SHAMEFUL that we are not taking this seriously. With all this going on, the most important issue in this country (and the top story in Sunday's New York Times) is some football players' posture during the national anthem??!! Shameful, shameful, shameful.
6
Why is this not your top story?
8
Puerto Rico is fast becoming Donald Trump's Katrina. The island clearly needs more help than just FEMA can provide. Why hasn't our President visited Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands already? Next week? Maybe less tweeting and more doing his job would be a good idea.
3
We're still cleaning up after "Irmageddon" here in Florida, so I shudder to think of what Puerto Rico is enduring. Raw sewage was backing up into the streets and into people's homes here because there was no electricity to power waste treatment facilities for a week -- imagine the situation after months without electricity. I anticipate that many in Puerto Rico will evacuate if they are able, and I hope that Florida is prepared to welcome and help our fellow U.S. citizens.
6
Why isn't this on the top left corner of the page?
Part of the media's job is to create a well informed electorate. I appreciated the NYT editorial yesterday, but the editor's decision not to make this the main story every day until federal aid is passed is a travesty of the pulpit you all have.
A recent poll found that half of Americans don't know Puerto Ricans are even Americans.
I'm not necessarily one to say that we should only send aid to Americans (I think our foreign aid budget should be much higher). However, here it is our responsibility to help as they are our fellow citizens. We are failing in that responsibility.
Please highlight this story more. Make it top of the page every day until the government acts.
9
NYTimes editors: The PR story should be THE TOP STORY on your page until they are getting a sufficient amount of relief and the greater population of PR is out of imminent danger.
Right below that should be a factual reporting of all the things that could be done that the Trump administration is neglecting to do. These are American citizens. Our federal government is their federal government. Our military is their military. Trump is their president.
14
Oh, it will be. When thousands are dying by this time next week, it will be the top story.
Maybe the best thing for PR is to appeal to the UN for help as it appears Trump and his government don't want to help them. They are too busy fighting among themselves, criticizing sports figures and pretending that the 'whole country is behind them' when in actually fact only 29% support them and when it comes to health care less than 17%
6
I had to hunt to find this story on my phone.
6
Wasn't a disaster proclamation made almost immediately for Texas and Florida? Why the delay for Puerto Rico? Unconscionable!
12
We need to create more attention to this crisis. Thank you NYT for your coverage. Maybe if the country realizes that more people will die after the hurricane than during the disaster. And that whole neighborhoods were destroyed in the whole island. Recovery will take months, if not years. If we don't do something we will see the biggest migration of Puertorricans to the US in history. If that happens and Republicans are seen as not caring for fellow citizens, close to 2 million Puertorricans will vote you out in the next elections... Just for those not as well educated in this matter, Puertorricans cannot vote for the President in PR, but the can when they move to Florida or any other part of the US. This is not a threat... it is a cry for more help!
6
If we can have thousands of helicopters in our wars, then why aren't they being transported to P.R.? They could be used to deliver needed supplies to remote regions without roads being cleared.
This should be similar to a war effort, using carriers, tankers, troops and supplies for humanitarian purposes, instead of the usual killing ones.
13
So trump is watching football while Puerto Rico goes dark, hungry and thirsty? Have you no shame, sir?
17
Cruise lines, who make much of their money taking "travelers" to Puerto Rico and other areas hit by the hurricanes, and airlines, who make much of their money from tourism to Mexico, should offer free passage to most fortunate of us - wealthy people - to take donated goods and help rebuild their little "island escapes".
The residents of the islands have served the luckiest of us for years. It is time for the wealthiest to step up and give back with no intent to profit. The wealthiest are human beings, too. Time for them to prove it to themselves, their friends and family and the world. Time for the best of us all to shine through.
21
njglea, yours is an outstanding, positive suggestion that will not take moving mountains to implement.
Thank you.
1
We boast about what a great country we are. Let's prove it. Get Puerto Rico back on its feet quickly. Yes it's a daunting challenge but surely we can handle this if we try.
28
Thank you President Trump, the USS Kearsage and Oak Hill are already in Puerto Rico delivering needed aid to an island badly damaged by Democrat tax-spend-borrow policies. The relief effort would be much easier had the Democrats not closed the Vieques Naval Training Range
5
Huh. I thought the island was badly damaged by 2 hurricanes. Your hatred exceeds your logic.
13
As a Puerto Rican I have to say your ignorance knows no bounds. Vieques was so badly contaminated that Puerto Rico requested a superfund for cleanup, which continues to be delayed due to undetonated live explosives and toxic waste. Vieques has the highest rate of sickness than any other Caribbean Island. Bombing on Vieques left the rest of the main island of PR uneasy or a "too close to home" feeling. It's unacceptable for YOU to live near a bombing / missile training site, but it's okay for the people of Puerto Rico? You want a Naval Base? Put it somewhere it doesn't harm the very people they're supposedly meant to help.
9
Larry, this is your third stupid/ignorant comment in a row. Why do you hate Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans? Have they somehow deprived you of your rights? Your well being?
Called my republican senator's office this morning asking about aid to P.R. The aide told me he would let my senator know of my concerns and wished me a good day and hung up. Sounds like the attitude the entire federal legislature has toward P.R. and the Virgin Islands.
18
No. Mostly the Republicans. Pelosi and Schumer have already called for massive and immediate aid.
1
The people of Puerto Rico are Citizens of the United States. The response to this disaster is appalling. Where is our president on this? Too busy dissing legitimate expressions of speech on the football fields to do his job. Congress, step up and take responsibility here! Press, do your job and hold this administration accountable. This is beyond shameful.
56
Hello constant reader:
Here is a post directly above yours:
From Larry -- "Thank you President Trump, the USS Kearsage and Oak Hill are already in Puerto Rico delivering needed aid to an island badly damaged by Democrat tax-spend-borrow policies. The relief effort would be much easier had the Democrats not closed the Vieques Naval Training Range"
And from the article itself: "After facing criticism for a lack of public support for Puerto Rico, President Trump on Tuesday said he would visit the island next week. The announcement followed a series of tweets he posted on Monday that tied the natural disaster to the island’s already fragile economic situation. He said that while Florida and Texas were coping well with hurricane damage, 'Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble.'”
There's more. Maybe reading the article will help
3
I see LOTS of pictures of people standing around doing nothing.
3
A picture is one second's worth of time. Standing around doing nothing--I think not. Surviving the best they can--I think so. These people need food, water, shelter, electricity, medications. How far could you go without potable water, a functioning toilet, electricity, edible food?
9
Yeah, hunger, thirst, fear, and exhaustion will do that to a person. Sad!
11
And a VIDEO is more than one second.
So, Puerto Rico, which is just another Dominican Republic but with the Stars Stripes everywhere, was hungry, thirsty, fearful and exhausted BEFORE this disaster? Because I saw pictures and videos and witnessed throughout my many visits there that lots of people stood and sat around and did nothing. Musta been the reason after all. Sad indeed.
Does the President even know that Puerto Rico is a part of the US?
14
We once referred to inept responses to a humanitarian crisis as so-and-so's 'Karina.' Not anymore. This is fully Trump's 'Maria.'
9
What would make me proud would be to see the military use its massive abilities to move food, water, shelter and build infrastructure to help hurricane victims.
Operation: AmericaFirst
13
Excuse my (bitter) laughter . . .
Voice of a Congressman, diffidently, in the manner of a small boy reminding his mother that his birthday is coming up: "Of course you know, President Trump, that Puerto Ricans are US citizens."
Trump: "No! Really? That's really very, very interesting. Does that mean we should do something?"
1
Does HE think that PR is part of Mexico????? Seriously.
9
The situation in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands is unacceptable. While Trump stirs up controversies, often reconstructing the narrative as to what's actually happening, people suffer and some will die. Call your Senators, your Representatives, the White House and demand that immediate and far greater action be taken now. Forgive Puerto Rico's debt and get resources there: start with the US military, in far greater numbers and range of expertise. How low can the US government go under Trump? Deplorable.
13
Teresa, your thoughts and suggestions are outstanding. Thank you!
1
Let's hope our social services are ready to service 100's of thousands of environmental refugees or evacuees from PR.
Many will be coming to NY, NJ, MA and of course Florida, where they may have relatives or social connections.
6
I recall the words of a foreign correspondent during Katrina. I have never forgotten them because they rang so true:
“The United States is a country that has stopped caring for its people.”
Puerto Rico’s people are our people. Those who need healthcare are our people. When there is a disaster or a disease we must respond. Because these are our people. No matter their race. No matter their language. No matter their financial circumstances. No matter their age, religion, sex or any other distinguishing feature.
Among the reasons for our Constitution, set forth in its Preamble are these:
— establish Justice
— ensure domestic tranquility
— promote the general welfare
Puerto Rico endured a catastrophic hurricane. Its people are suffering. And instead of mobilizing the greatest outpouring ever of humanitarian assistance to Americans who lack food, water, shelter, fuel, transportation, and adequate medical care, the White House is castigating them.
I personally have a college classmate there. We have not heard from her since just before the hurricane hit. She is the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Is she alive? Does she have shelter? Food? Water?
DJT is a scoundrel who took an Oath. But he has no conscience, no empathy, no understanding of the words he said. And it’s clear he does not care about them either.
The Military should be setting up field hospitals and field kitchens and tents with air-conditioning. At a Minimum
18
From TheraP: "The Military should be setting up field hospitals and field kitchens and tents with air-conditioning. At a Minimum"
Wow, thank you!
3
Very rightly so Americans were aghast when elderly Floridians died of heatstroke on a nursing home without electricity --guess what, this is what is exactly happening in virtually *all* nursing homes in Puerto Rico, and it's not just AC what is missing or running water, but even drinking water and food. Not to mention about a virtual standstill of all commerce, hospitals running out of fuel for generators, and individuals left stranded at home without a possibility to refill prescriptions, or keeping basic supplies such as insulin cool in a fridge --and they are also running out of drinking water!!!
Puerto Rico's reconstruction, that needs to be paired with the elimination of the Jones act that raises prices of all material goods by 30% or more, will likely cost around half a trillion if not more --an entire power grid, most roads and bridges reconstructed, most roads rebuilt. It is an opportunity, but the US has not confronted anything like it, not even Katrina. It's time we get to work and get our politicians to pay attention!
17
What happened to Puerto Rico is terrible and help is there with more coming, however after 5 votes to become a state of the union the island still hasn't done it but they expect to be treated the same as if they were a state. There are laws about federal aid and how it can be used, so either the laws need to be changed or the island needs to become the 51st state.
11
The media coverage of what has been going on inside Puerto Rico has been lacking. The New York Times and others gave far more attention and space to the earthquake in Mexico City than to the the enormity of the disaster that has befallen the American island of 3.4 million people. Glad to see that the media is finally waking up to the severity of the crisis there.
4
Donald Trump tweets ferociously about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, picks a fight with a fellow madman in North Korea, pushes health care removal, and tax cuts for the rich, while Puerto Rico slides into desperate chaos. Where's the navy? Why is the airport still just barely open? People are dying! Nero fiddles while Rome burns.
10
As media outlets continue to broadcast the heartbreaking photos from the islands struck by Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Jose, how in the world can Trump continue his daily purile Tweeting like he has?
With all the misery and anguish these Hurricanes are responsible for, suffering that will continue for months if not years, and he allows himself to get bogged down by obsessively tweeting about one issue when so much is swirling around his orb of influence? This is not to diminish in any way the severity of our athletes protesting the actions of some members of our police forces and the obvious pattern to their killings of African Americans. Yes, the president needs to be a part of that discussion but many, many more as well.
Because who's to say another Category 5 Hurricane couldn't erupt on the super-hot Atlantic next week, month, a couple showing up yearly for the next decade? This is a recent phenomenon, this consistent superheated up Atlantic Ocean. The heated-up Pacific's been churning out record breaking super-typhoons for years now. But it doesn't stop there. This heat from the Pacific is thawing out Alaska, it's permafrost melting, it's Iditarod having to be re-routed annually. Fishing villages becoming unsustainable as they sink into the soft earth.
We need to be reassured, not frightened. Trump needs to end his immature, juvenile behavior and get before the press where he will have to answer direct questioning and not hide behind his cowardly Tweeting.
7
Thank you, President Trump for your prompt and effective supply of aid to Puerto Rico. While the democrats/ media continue their treasonous, cruel, inhuman sabotage of your tireless relief efforts for political gain you carry on for the good of the people of Puerto Rico! Your brilliant relief efforts will be the gold standard which all future efforts will try to emulate!
3
It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican, the facts are the facts: Almost a week since the hurricane 90%+ of a US territory still doesn't have working phones, 90%+ still doesn't have electricity and 60%+ still doesn't have water. The airport is only allowing 10 commercial flights a day (down from the usual 176). Supplies are getting to the ports, but there's not enough people to deliver them and many roads are yet to be cleared. The Comfort and the Mercy Navy ships have not been sent to help. The US post office still can't deliver post anywhere in the island. Forgive me, but the response has NOT been brilliant, prompt or adequate. And if Obama, Clinton or Bush had done what Trump has done so far, I would criticize them all the same. There's a humanitarian crisis happening in a US territory with 3.5 million American citizens. As a nation, we ought to be doing more. This process should NOT be politicized.
6
You forgot the "dear leader" salutation....
4
Fascism, pure and simple.
Send tax deductible donations. Forget the feds
These articles make it hard to understand the truth of what aid is being provided to Puerto Rico. Within the article there is conflict; FEMA is helping-FEMA is not doing enough. Well the truth is FEMA is there already! And has been there, and are working super hard to help people. Lots of supplies have arrived. This article even mentioned the 1,000 container ships with supplies that have arrived. Other news reports speak of teams of engineers and other professionals who have arrived and are soon to arrive to help, and on their own dime. It would be more productive if articles such as these provided more coverage of what is really being done and provide some hope. All these type of articles do is get people enraged and it's not helpful. The truth is the island was devastated and it's going to take a lot of work. I have family there, I know.
12
You're right. It's a huge catastrophe and people are doing all they can, which is not at all easy considering the logistics. As for the commentariat here, it's just the usual Trump bashing session. Shows you how much they care about the people of Puerto Rico, more interested as they are in using this tragedy to score cheap political points.
2
We know FEMA is there, but still 90%+ of a US territory still doesn't have working phones, 90%+ still doesn't have electricity and 60%+ still doesn't have water. The airport is only allowing 10 commercial flights a day (down from the usual 176). Supplies are getting to the ports, as you mention, but there's not enough people to deliver them and many roads are yet to be cleared. What is being done is NOT enough. The Comfort and the Mercy Navy ships should've been sent already. There are American citizens without food and water and without even the ability to call 911 or the police if they need them. Congress should focus on re-establishing communications in the island, re-establishing electricity, making sure the post office works (the USPS is still NOT FUNCTIONAL) and making sure SJU (Puerto Rico's main airport) is fully functional!! The US should be able to make this happen relatively quickly in a US territory. Let's show true respect for the American flag and go to the aid of our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico.
7
Maybe 1000 containers have arrived. I cannot believe 1000 container ships have arrived.
4
Ever since the hurricane swept over Puerto Rico, the cry of "Help us" has become increasingly louder from this island. At least the people of Houston and Florida got to work immediately to help themselves. All we hear from government officials in Puerto Rico is that is the responsibility of the American taxpayer on the mainland to bail out the bankrupt government of the island which cannot even begin to help their own people to deal with this natural disaster. That is what comes of years of fiscal mismanagement and corruption. There is nothing in the piggy bank to pay for the first hurricane that comes around the corner.
6
So you think the people in Puerto Rico are not trying their best to help themselves and people in need around them? And doing so without power, shelter, drinking water, food, and an evacuation zone to go to?
I remember reading in this very paper about private boat owners in Puerto Rico helping people elsewhere after the first hurricane hit. I guess being a Trump supporter means never having to have any empathy or understanding.
16
Whether Puerto Rico has money in the "piggy bank" as you mention is immaterial. There are 3.5 million American citizens who desperately need our help. Also, this is not any old hurricane. It is THE WORST hurricane to affect the island in over 85 years. Even if Puerto Rico had had money in the "piggy bank," it would not have been enough. Puerto Ricans are already working hard to help themselves. My mom's neighbors cleared their own street, people are really trying to do what they can, BUT 90%+ of this US territory still doesn't have working phones, 90%+ still doesn't have electricity and 60%+ still doesn't have water. The airport is only allowing 10 commercial flights a day (down from the usual 176). Congress should focus on re-establishing communications in the island, re-establishing electricity, making sure the post office works and making sure SJU (Puerto Rico's main airport) is fully functional. They will help themselves if they have basic necessities like a working phone or electricity. Your comment shows a lack of understanding of how bad the situation is there right now.
58
You seem to forget that the PR has NO electricity. Unlike Texas and Florida which have that. They have no place to flee to avoid their situation unlike Texas and Florida. They can't drive to the next state for water and supplies. They can't phone for help. They can't turn on their radios, tvs or cell phones to get the latest news. You also seem to forget the PR never wanted to be part of the USA. They voted overwhelmingly in 1917 to have independence from the USA which promptly rejected the vote and forced them to become a commonwealth. You grabbed it you are stuck with it.
5
Trump says he will visit the island next Tuesday. Perhaps, at this late date, it would better to save the money it will cost his entourage to make a photo op appearance there and put the funds instead into aid.
35
A week from today.
And he visited Texas about 2 days in?
5
The reality is that those in control or our government just don't care -- just as they have shown they don't really care about those U.S. citizens who need the Affordable Care Act, or about the young Americans' lives lost if we engage in a "war of bullies" with North Korea. It really doesn't matter if we lose 3 million here, 20 million there, 50 million from radiation poisoning. The majority of the country no longer has any say as noted in today's op-ed.
7
Where is Trump? He has been awfully quiet about the suffering of millions of Puerto Ricans (aka Americans, in case you don't know, Donald). That's right. He's been busy criticizing African Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. Cleary, Puerto Ricans aren't white or conservative enough for Trump to care.
26
I think the 3,000,000 Americans that live in Puerto Rico should split themselves up and move to FL and TX. That’d change some politics. Actually that may be trump’s plan. Empty the Island and then buy it at a depressed price, build billionaires condo’s and runways for their private planes. He could name it after himself, Compassion Don Island.
8
Mar-a-lago would be a good first stop.
A la "Necker Island"?
President Hillary Clinton would have sent the Navy to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands for medical and logistical assistance, waived the merchant marine provisions of the Jones Act for a year, and made massive efforts to restore power to the island as quickly as possible. President Donald Trump tweets about how Puerto Rico needs to pay back its Wall Street debts, and how their condition before the hurricane is to blame for their woes now.
We are going to have hundreds of avoidable deaths among the vulnerable in these islands directly because of the choice people made either in the voting booth or in not voting in 2016. This is way more than one shooting victim on Fifth avenue, and 40% of the people in the country still support a hopelessly wrong and incompetent President. I can only pray for the souls of these 40%, because if there is any divine judgment, it wont be kind to them.
42
I own a house on the small Island, Vieques, off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico. This area is where Maria landed with full force last Wednesday. The meager amount of news from Vieques shows horrible devastation. There is no food. no water no electrical workers, no military, no national guard, no generators or gas to run them, no WIFY after 6 days.
Trump declared PR a disaster area but unlike Florida and Houston, very little help has been sent to the main island and nothing to Vieques where 9000 people are going to starve to death unless something is done, fast.
Where is the press? Where is the Congress? Where is the President?
The US navy occupied 2/3rd of this island from 1940-2000. US ships can get there. Where are they?
This is a disaster. Time for it to be a headline, first page issue, more important than the NFL and miscellaneous other current front line issues. It's a life and death issue for thousands of US citizens. They may not have voting rights but they are human beings who have lost everything and will loose their lives before long.
73
The loss of a significant number of jobs and the supporting infrastructure were as a result of the forced closing of the Naval facilities. The residents of PR are US citizens and should be getting necessary assistance from the federal govt.
2
Why is trump and Congress getting a pass (once more) on these catastrophes? Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth. Puerto Rican people are US citizens. That the average American doesn't know that speaks volumes. They need aid, NOW!
Why do we let him off the hook, repeatedly? FEMA is a failure. Just ask the residents of Port Arthur, Texas. There is no FEMA grant money. Why? Renters are being evicted. Superfund sites have flooded. Toxins and poisons are begin emitted from oil and chemical refineries. What is the EPA doing? trump is failing. trump is a failure.
I've never been so ashamed and disgusted in my life. trump is overseeing Katrina to the 1,000th power and no one, NO ONE is holding him accountable.
108
Only god looks down on a marine, all others look up. Semper fi, and thank you for all your efforts to help fellow americans in Puerto Rico.
President Trump and Congress should be ashamed of their neglect of the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico! They should act without delay to make sure Puerto Rico gets food, water, portable generators, and medical aide in the short run. Without communications, thousands of people downstream of the failing Guajataca dam need to be evacuated by visiting one home at a time. Billions of dollars will be needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s decimated agriculture. With billons (or maybe up to a trillion) of dollars needed to rebuild Texas (Houston), Florida, and the US territories in the Caribbean, how can congress plan on a large tax cut that will balloon the deficit even more. Rebuilding should be done in a rational way so it does not encourage US citizens to rebuild in dangerous places, and expose the taxpayer to more debt. But first let’s take care the immediate needs of the people in disbelief of what the hurricane have brought on them so they know the help they deserve will arrive shortly.
17
Send your money
1
Puerto Rico has an area of 3,500 square miles - that's 1/3 again the size of Delaware - and 3.5 million people. Plus it's an Island. You can't just truck in supplies. Everything has to go by ship or plane. It's difficult enough to get aid to Florida or Texas where we can use trucks and trains, and Floida and Texas are in areas with surrounding undamaged communities, with hotels, shelters, food, and supplies reachable quickly by roads for support. We all feel for the the people of Puerto Rico, but even they know these realities of living on a hurricaine prone Island in the Atlantic ocean.
And as for their being a territory, that has nothing to do with it. Puerto Rico could apply for statehood at any time, but polls have shown that slightly less than 1/3 of Puerto Rican's favor statehood, while about one in five of the people favor independence from the United States altogether, and most of the rest wanting to keep things as they are. In other words, the majority feel the advantages of being a territory outweigh the other choices, and there are some advantages in that situation. People here tend to think of territorial status as all a down deal. It isn't. There are upsides, too! FEMA support from DC, and being able to elect their own representatives and governors are two of them.
2
It still stands that 3.5 million American citizens live there. The fact that it is an island and logistics are harder means that MORE help needs to pour in from the central government, not less. Also, this is the worst hurricane to hit the island in over 85 years. This is a special situation that requires special attention. We need to do better for our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico.
16
3.5 million American citizens or a total of 3.5 million people, including some Americans who live on the island?
Let's face it, after two domestic hurricanes the country's budget is stretched. Where is the government of Puerto Rico? Don't just sit there with your hands folded asking for help. Do something! When Sanibel Island was partially destroyed local citizens cleaned up and replanted. They did not wait for the government. If the Puerto Rican government has not money set aside for a rainy day, then they have no one to blame but themselves.
This is not to say, that the US won't help, but threats of Puerto Rican citizens flooding the US, unable to find jobs and without having to say, would have to rely on welfare, is a threat that should not have been made.
2
Puerto Ricans are ALL US CITIZENS. Every single one of them since 1917. It is the duty of the United States government to help its citizens. This is the worst hurricane to affect Puerto Rico in over 85 years. There is NOT CELL SERVICE FOR OVER 90% of the island. How are they supposed to help themselves when they can't even make a phone call? The US should help just as much as Texas and Florida were helped. I repeat, every single Puerto Rican is a US citizen with a US passport with the same rights as you and me.
4
The humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico is real. The people are in pure darkness; there is no electricity, therefore there is no water and no food. Congress you cannot sit on this until October. You need to do it now. Send the water, the food, the generators, electricians and helicopters today!! American blood will be on your hands if you don't do something immediately.
74
Electricity does not create water or food.
1
Huh? Electricity does, in fact, power water purification plants, airports, ports, transit, cooking facilities, and refrigeration.
I am totally disgusted with Trumps apathy and faint condemnation of this island and its U.S. Citizens. Many will migrate to Florida and the Orange County area. When they do, this adopted Floridian will attempt to help register them to vote in this sate AFTER he has assisted in their well being. Another disgusting chapter in the "Trump Reign".
33
HEY Amazon -- why don't you put your second headquarters in Puerto Rico?!
25
I always believed in the independence for Puerto Rico, but now I see the perspective of those Puerto Ricans who want statehood for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's current status is unsustainable...is either independence or statehood. There can't be middle ground at this point!
10
It shouldn't matter right now which way Puerto Ricans vote or how much they owe to Wall Street, what matters is the value of human lives and to avoid needless suffering and loss of life. Despite having no representative in Congress (and they also have mixed federal taxation), Puerto Ricans are still American citizens and Congress should treat them as equal to all citizens and assess their needs fairly.
19
If Trump's administration has a sense of urgency to help Puerto Rico, it's well hidden. Recovering from a hurricane is not a new problem for which a solution must be found. We know the supplies and personnel that are needed and must be procured; know how to organize the rescue operation. What's missing is the political will to act. Whether Puerto Ricans are Americans is irrelevant: they need help, we can provide it, and it's high time to kick our rescue mission into overdrive. Past high time, actually.
6
It should not be surprising that this Congress and White House have not responded with urgency to this crisis. Remember, less than half of Americans without a college education (read: lots of Trump voters) even know that Puerto Ricans are American citizens. I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone had to remind Trump himself.
10
D.N. you are a snob. I have an advanced degree, I can read and I could not vote for a person like Hillary. If the political parties wanted to, they could have run more qualified people but they didn't.
1
Everybody knows what the right thing to do is, now they just haven't a clue as to how to get it done from inside the political jail we've built around ourselves. Maybe Cuba can lend a hand since they're outside of the box and closer by anyway.
There are more Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. than in the island. We are feeling despair and helplessness as we watch our families suffer in inhumane conditions and are unable to get them out. The Americans who live in the island may not have a voice in the U.S. government but we do. The Puerto Rican diaspora need to send a strong message to the U.S. Congress that we are watching their actions. If they do not act quickly to stop this humanitarian crisis, we the 5.1 million Puerto Ricans who live in the U.S. will exercise our right to vote and will vote them out of office.
20
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands need massive aid NOW. Put those utility trucks and workers on US Navy ships, and get them and desalination units and food there immediately! Get technicians to repair the cell towers. Why are we not seeing the same type and amount of aid to US citizens that we did for Houston and Florida? Is it because these people are not allowed to vote for president? Because DJT doesn't own a hotel there? Why isn't congress acting to get this aid moving? News organizations need to spend more on this and less time on the NFL issue, which while interesting is not directly affecting the survival of American citizens.
Shame on congress and DJT for not putting American citizens in need at the top of the agenda!
154
And how much money are you hoarding in your bank accounts? Send at least 75% to Puerto Rico!
2
Puerto Rico AND the devastated US Virgin Islands need help now. St. John has had no power (other than generators) since Irma hit.
10
PR needs to walk from their Wall Stree debt. The investors gambled with their funds. They typically win. However sometimes they should experience a loss.
As fellow Americans we need to step up to the plate. However NOT a cent to make their Wall Street investors whole!!!!!!!
9
I emailed this question to my Rep (NH 2nd district):
What are you doing to help Puerto Rico?
Find your Rep's contact info at http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_ne
7
Of course the "billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks" is relevant when discussing assistance for basic survival. Too bad the citizens of Puerto Rico cannot vote for who becomes president. Thanks again electoral college system.
14
Virginia and Massachusetts are also commonwealths. PR has no voting rights because it is a territory, as opposed to a state.
7
Does Donald know that Puerto Ricans are American citizens ?.
13
Donald Trump is a disgusting example of a human. With any other President from any party; the military would be fully engaged in assisting/restoring. I hope the remainder of our "government" can get it together and be responsible for something other than lining their own pockets.
44
The situation in Puerto Rico will test the United States as a nation.
In the short term, we must unite and focus on how best to help the millions who need power, clean water and other services. Once the situation has stabilized there will be time to examine what reforms are needed to ensure P.uerto Rico has a prosperous future, including reducing its debt and repealing the Jones Act.
14
Maybe if POTUS had a hotel or two down there Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands would be a bigger priority.
52
He failed there years ago.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2017/03/20/puerto-rico-trump-b...
4
djt will visit PR when he's ready to buy real estate there at fire sale prices. Any colony or former colony (that includes Puerto Rico) is like an unattended cooky jar in a 7th grade classroom; crafty greedy people will take whatever they can get. Colonial laws are ambiguous, unenforced, easy to game and have nothing to do with fairness to the people who live there.
22
Bet, you are absolutely correct. Although Cuba was never a U.S. protectorate, its leader in the 1950s, Batista, allowed the U.S. to treat it like a colony, with its military, sugar, fruit, tobacco and mafia-controlled casino gambling and tourism interests profiting freely from Cuba's resources (while at the same time propping up Batista's regime). And we wonder how Fidel Castro came to be.
2
I hope he does! That would be a huge first step towards Puerto Rico’s recovery and a boost to their economy. Plus by then you liberals will have long forgotten about the Puerto Ricans you profess to care so much about. President Trump buying land would be far more than any liberal has done for Puerto Rico
1
I wish to send substantial amounts of food to Puerto Rico: evaporated milk, canned food, etc.--thousands of dollars worth. Can you tell me an IRS-certified charitable organization in Miami to which I can take my donations? I do not wish to donate cash.
4
Think of the logistical nightmare of sending thousands of people's physical contributions of cans, etc. a thousand sea or air miles and figuring out the supply and distribution. It just doesn't make sense. Our cash, donated to reputable relief agencies, is by far the best thing we can do.
14
Not Miami, but these might be a start:
http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2017/09/25/fort-myers-charity-organ...
http://www.charity-charities.org/PuertoRico-charities/PuertoRico.html
This article should be listing agencies to which we can donate effectively. Donald Trump may ignore poor Puerto Rico but others of us wish to help.
2
It is bad enough that Trump is putting Puerto Rico's suffering so low on his list of priorities. It's even sadder that the New York Times and other news outlets are giving such scanty coverage. On your web site, this excellent story is way "below the fold," below stories such as White House staff using private email accounts. Please give Puerto Rico's disaster the coverage it must have if we are to expect the American public to support the help so desperately needed.
84
The relationship we have with Puerto Rico is just bizarre. It seems like a holdover from the first half of the last century. It makes no sense. I am not familiar with the history of calls for representation but I can only assume they haven't been granted because of racism and modern day colonialism expressed as silent, non-action and indifference. Who's surprised that this administration would behave any differently then that. Approvals to act and plans to implement were in place before the hurricane struck in Florida and Texas - a lesson learned from Katerina. Why not in Puerto Rico? Get busy Congress. Stop spending time desperately, doggedly trying to hurt people with Graham-Cassidy and do some actual helping.
NYTimes: please keep reporting on this issue.
73
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are not "terratories" whatever that is supposed to mean, they are our colonies and that makes us colonialists.
Did anyone forget to mention that Trump defaulted on a 33 million loan on his Puerto Rico golf course via one of his many bankruptcies. You think that effected their economy!
120
Why isn't PR getting the same attention and HELP as those Republican voting states of Florida and Texas???? Never mind. Katrina, MUCH????
33
trumps pathetic response to the crisis in PR, shows that he is a racist. To bring up the financial problems is similar to Sen.Cruz on Hurricane Sandy
35
With all the tweets about kneeling when the national anthem is played, there has been absolutely nothing about out American citizens in Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Ricans cannot vote in our presidential elections, Trump is more interested in appealing to his base than helping our citizens. He is our very own Nero!
40
It is unacceptable that 6 days after a hurricane, 90%+ of a US territory still doesn't have working phones, 90%+ still doesn't have electricity and 60%+ still doesn't have water. The airport is only allowing 10 commercial flights a day (down from the usual 176). Supplies are getting to the ports, but there's not enough people to deliver them and many roads are yet to be cleared. This is a humanitarian crisis affecting 3.5 million AMERICAN citizens in Puerto Rico and their 5 million AMERICAN citizen counterparts in the mainland (like me) who have family there. This process should NOT be politicized. EVERYONE in Congress should work together to help Puerto Rico. The Comfort and the Mercy Navy ships should've been sent already. Puerto Rico's debt should not come into play right now (as Trump's tweets suggested yesterday) when there are American citizens without food and water and without even the ability to call 911 or the police if they need them. Congress should focus on re-establishing communications in the island, re-establishing electricity, making sure the post office works (the USPS is still NOT FUNCTIONAL) and making sure SJU (Puerto Rico's main airport) is fully functional!! The US should be able to make this happen relatively quickly in a US territory. PLEASE: Call your representatives in Congress: Republican or Democrat and ask them to step up to the task. Let's show true respect for the American flag and go to the aid of our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico.
227
Puerto Rico's debt is very much an issue here. It is the chronic mismanagement of this Territory (that does not pay federal taxes) that is largely responsible for the shoddy infrastructure on the island.
3
I feel your pain and frustration, but it will be a long road to recovery. Have you heard of self help? My family is from the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas' airport hasn't been open since Irma, and we have no postal service also. Water, however, is plentiful for my family as our homes in St. Thomas have cisterns, and they are overflowing from all the rain. While I agree there is an obligation to take care of the immediate needs of the people, the long term solution to PR's problems (and the looming debt crisis of the USVI) won't be quick and easy.
3
Hurricane Maria is the worst hurricane to hit the island in over 85 years. Blaming Puerto Rico's debt is likely blaming Harvey victims for their troubles or Mexico City for the earthquake. I repeat: 90% of the island doesn't have cell communication, and it's not because the American-made cell towers were shoddy => it's because the island was hit by 155 mph winds! They need and deserve our help. They are as American as we are.
2
The population of Puerto Rico (where the people are American citizens) is about 3,400,000. About the same as Iowa, or the same as North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana combined.
If Puerto Rico were a state it would be the 29th largest state in population.
Why is the Trump administration of the federal government failing to provide emergency disaster relief to so many Americans? Aren't there enough donors there to make it worthwhile? The needs are great: Food, water, medicines, fuel, shelter, security, electricity, building materials.
How long must the men, women, and children of Puerto Rico suffer?
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Hopefully, US Navy personnel at the Vieques Naval Training Range can offer support
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That naval base closed in 2003. They left behind toxic military waste that they still haven't finished cleaning up. And "training" was mostly about testing live bombs and other artillery without regard to the lives and well-being of the civilian residents on Vieques.
This was, unfortunately, the ultimate lose-lose situation. It would have been of immeasurable value to be able count on a military installation so close to the main island of Puerto Rico to assist with the current relief efforts. But 10 years ago, and for decades before that, the "training" exercises were destroying civilian lives and livelihoods in Vieques.
Personally, I don't know what to make of this, how to reconcile it, or on which side to come down. It's a Gordian knot in the pit of my stomach.
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Puerto Rico is part of America. This should be at the top of the page. Puerto Rico will surely need an emergency appropriation, as Houston did. Private giving should also be strongly encouraged for Puerto Rico. The lack of attention by the media and the president may make this another Katrina.
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The response by the Trump WH is pathetic and worst than Bush in New Orleans
While Trump and his wife take photo ops (at the airport, easy in and out you know) and congratulate themselves on doing nothing, American citizens are left to struggle on their own.
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Wearing light colored, fragile clothing, did you really think they were there to help? Would have soiled their clothes. Strictly a photo op.
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Trump's Katrina, and Republicans are too busy fighting their own members to care.
Trump is too busy insulting citizens to get his butt to Puerto Rico. But he was alllll over Houston. Well, some of his people were. He was golfing. But here's the point.
Names like Ortiz, Gomez, Melendez etc just don't matter to Republicans.
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Our nation faces a devastating humanitarian crisis and yet your first thought is to rage at Republicans? Is this really how you want to live your life?
Lets start by recognizing we all need to pull together to help Puerto Rico instead of rushing to assume the worst about one another. That will make for a stronger nation and more effective aid to the millions now in urgent need.
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Except it is the Republicans who are in charge of the purse strings, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the entire Federal government right now. Yes, we as citizens need to do what we can to help P.R., just as we did for Houston, but that is barely a drop in the bucket compared to what the U.S. Federal government could and should and must do. C'mon. Pull your head out of the sand and stop with the meaningless platitudes. This, like everything else right now, is about the politics. And THAT is what is wrong with this country.
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@Krupskaya
Did it occur to you that, rather than "assuming the worst," Deb is merely recognizing reality?
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