sundance:
There has been a great deal of political consternation and talking points about U.S. aid, or the lack thereof, delivered to Puerto Rico. Indeed, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto has been a favorite of Democrats and liberal U.S. media as a spokesperson for claims the U.S. has not done enough for the island’s people.
However, a disturbing video shows Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State showing boxes and boxes of food, water and supplies being discarded by Puerto Rican officials in dumpsters, obviously not reaching the intended residents.
https://youtu.be/ygGlKSy6RMU
The FBI had previously opened an investigation into the level of fraud and corruption within Puerto Rico’s municipal authorities and reports of widespread theft of U.S. aid by officials of the local governments. This report on FEMA aid being corrupted by these same officials does not come as a surprise; indeed, unfortunately, it is the norm – not the exception.
(Puerto Rico) FBI agents in Puerto Rico have been receiving calls from “across the island” with residents complaining local officials are “withholding” or “mishandling” critical FEMA supplies — with one island official even accused of stuffing his own car full of goods meant for the suffering populace.
The accusations come in the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Maria, which devastated the U.S. territory last month.
“The complaints we’re hearing is that mayors of local municipalities, or people associated with their offices, are giving their political supporters special treatment, goods they’re not giving to other people who need them,” FBI Special Agent Carlos Osorio told Fox News.
Osorio, an agent with the FBI in San Juan, said the bureau was investigating the allegations.
Yeah, well, see, Trump hates Puerto Ricans so much that he sent FEMA agents over there to throw the aid into dumpsters.
What is happening is this: Trump is expected to fail. If he succeeds, it is disastrous for liberals. So, while the liberal media can do quite a bit in suppressing news of success and generating fake news to denigrate any accomplishments, in the disaster response too many people can see first hand the actual help they are getting and how well, all things considered, the aid effort is going.
So, in that case, the liberals have to step in and actively sabotage the aid effort. Refusing to cooperate with FEMA authorities, failure to organize the delivery of goods, lying about the aid effort on the ground and, now, simply throwing away the aid and then accusing the administration of not delivering it, all in order to make the relief effort look bad.
But the media cannot suppress everything and the facts leak out. People are suffering while the left plays their games.
Liberals are despicable.
If this gets to the people the next elections will be wild, and it is being shared on social media so the crooks will not be able to hide from their evil.
@kitt: Of course, it’s probably some of them Ruskie videos.
It’s probably John McCain’s fault.
The good people of Puerto Rica need to boot these buricrat’s out of the place GIVE THEM THE AXE GIVE THEM THE AXE AND GET THOSE JACKASSES OFF THEIR BACKS
Did you see the gallon jugs of water in the dumpster?
I hope they bother to retest this well as the last test was before terrible flooding.
What can be done with such utter corruption on top of stoopid?
100 % of ports open running at 97% capacity http://status.pr/
recall haiti and the Clintons, over 60% of the federal monies never reached Haiti, but wound up in the clinton foundation.
Who the f-ck says it’s “being discarded by Puerto Rican officials in dumpsters”? The video doesn’t say where it is, how it got there, or why. Luis Rivera Marín, the official in the video, is understandably very unhappy with the situation. That’s basically all we know. They’re just making up the rest. And you’re unquestioningly swallowing it.
@Greg: So, Puerto Rican officials are not watching the mountains of aid sent there to help the people in need? If they would get it distributed instead of sitting on the floor, it wouldn’t get thrown away.
You aren’t helping your weak case.
@Greg:
Oh, so you want to go with: Trump is sending undercover agents there in the middle of the night to do this so he can blame it on the Democraps there on site. Sounds reasonable if you’re a democrap, I guess.
@Greg: Careful: Your Ajay and Greg personas are starting to run together…
…we might think all the liberal jabber on these posts is coming from just one person…
@Redteam: The article says the FBI is doing an investigation, just maybe the goods got too hot and they attempted disposal. Maybe the unicorns that over-run the island magically transported it in there. I wish it was close captioned my extremely limited spanish understood the word water. The food looked fresh and meant for immediate distribution and might not be able to be salvaged.
@kitt: i’m sure that the water likely got too hot and must have spoiled before they could safely consume it. I’m sure the democraps there were just worried about everyone’s safety. They didn’t want to bother anyone by reporting that food was being allowed to spoil rather than being distributed. Whooeee, thank those Dimocraps.
@Deplorable Me, #9:
And how, exactly, are they supposed to do that? Do you think mayors generally have their own emergency response teams, capable of quickly reaching every person in a stricken municipality when all communications are down?
Puerto Rico mayor delivers food and finds desperation
3 days in Puerto Rico, and we saw FEMA once
Maybe you think Puerto Ricans somehow aren’t the same sort of American citizens as the rest of us, equally worthy of the federal government’s help and attention? Would Trump have faulted citizens living in Alabama or Texas or Mississippi, under similar circumstances? I don’t think so.
There will be consequences. As noted previously, Puerto Ricans can vote in local, state, and national elections if they become residents on the mainland. You may find a million or so in that situation very soon. They’ll remember.
@Greg:
Let’s see… pick the stuff up, load it on trucks and take it to where it is needed. Roads obstructed? Clear them. Union truck drivers won’t show up? Get anyone that can drive.
Or, since there is “desperation”, maybe they and the left would prefer for them so simply sit in place and die? Your argument is so disjointed, irrational and imbalanced that I can’t follow it.
Is the situation hopeless? Should we just nuke the island and put everyone out of their misery?
Is the situation desperate and everyone should just give up?
Or has the island been hit hard and their already weak and deteriorated infrastructure was all but destroyed and it is going to take a LOT of hard work and sacrifice to recover?
Apparently, you have lost faith and focus in your own argument as well, since you do what all liberals do when they become aware they have lost the argument… descend into accusations of racism. But, here is the REAL story: the Trump administration got all the needed aid into Puerto Rico just as soon as it was safe and able to do so. Due to obstructed roads, the distribution was not quick and easy. Add to that, truck drivers did not show up to distribute.
Then Mayor Cruz sees cameras, a microphone and the CNN logo and she’s off and running. Even though she will not bother herself to participate in the FEMA coordination meetings and is, apparently, putting aside some of the aid for HERSELF, she spends her time blaming Trump because her leadership is inept.
But, this is what liberals always do, isn’t it? Never help, never contribute to the solution but always seek ways to make the problem worse so it can be exploited.
Hey Greg Interesting that in your article it mentioned cheesecake factory deliveries and air conditioning the bottom of the spectrum will the government find me a house. It also mentions the same town as aid was found in the dumpster. Sorry that we cannot assign an individual emergency relief person for everyone on the island, and the ones that are there cannot be a permanent fixture. The purpose is not to make them whole, its to provide assistance so THEY can make themselves whole.
If your attitude is the same as those in PR, they are going to die. The areas are quite small, divide PR into 70 districts only 100 miles by 35 miles I guess all the gov employees cant find volunteers, or are just waiting for the cheesecake delivery guy.
@Greg: Yeah, but thanks to Weinstein, Clinton, and Antifa, the 2020 election is already won by Trump…
Nice try, though. All my Puerto Rican Friends voted for Trump, by the way. They are no friends of the Dems…
And the Katrina ploy only works once, dipsh*t.
I give Trump a perfect “10” on his response as President to the crisis in Puerto Rico.
Much better than Obama did with that fiasco that was Hurricane Sandy…what a botched response.
@Deplorable Me, #15:
Since you brought it up, I might instead attribute it to a mixture of jingoistic ignorance and an imagined sense of ethnic superiority, though I’m sure anti-Puerto Rican racism is at play with some of the right’s racist fellow travelers. I think there’s an Us vs. Them mentality lurking in the background. Us being smarter, harder working, more self-reliant, etc, and consequently more deserving.
Repeatedly suggesting that Puerto Rico is to blame for its own problems in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes that have left island-wide devastation has really pissed a lot of people off. And there was absolutely no need for it. That’s a good way to lose elections.
@Nathan Blue, #18:
Yeah, I see that Trump just gave himself a 10 out of 10 on the response, in the presence of the Governor of Puerto Rico.
@Greg: All that is at play is a liberal sore-loser attitude causing the undue suffering of the Puerto Rican people so liberals can pretend Trump is not doing enough to render aid.
That is IT.
You don’t seem to grasp the fact that some people take this very personally because of personal connections with the island, which isn’t just some soulless, inanimate playing piece in your moronic, bullshit political propaganda war.
You can shove that comment up your ignorant backside, where you might be able to get a better look at it.
Maybe one of your own can best describe what’s going wrong. Or is he also on your enemy list at this point? “Discourse degraded by casual cruelty” is very much on target, though those most guilty of it probably won’t even know what he’s talking about, or will imagine he’s talking about somebody else.
George W. Bush just laid a major smackdown on Trumpism
@Greg: I take it personally when a political group, liberals, are willing to allow people to suffer so they can, one, blame the opposition and, two, pretend to be the compassionate servants.
The left is trying to manipulate the tragedy in Puerto Rico, as they do every tragedy, for political gain. The left do not care about the Puerto Ricans except for how much they can be utilized for political props.
I understand that FULLY and find it totally disgusting. You should, too.
People are reacting to a 10 out of 10 assessment of how wonderfully things are going, which we’ve been hearing from the earliest days of the disaster. Any shortfalls are the fault of those who dare to mention them.
@Greg:
In your dreams. Clinton and O have destroyed the party its hopeless when you wont flush the worst of them, Whos the President Pelosi, and Mad Mad Max.
Funny the PR Governor agrees the wounds are self inflicted and they are getting better systems than the storm took. @Greg: It was a Bush Clinton initiative at work in Haiti.
When did you point out shortfalls, where are these short falls that you yourself didn’t use as an excuse for Madam Mayor. Where was their emergency planning?
@kitt, #25:
It went down with the island’s electrical grid, computer networks, highways, roads, and telecommunication systems.
Here’s a photo of a cell tower in Puerto Rico after the storm. And here’s what happened to an electrical line support, which appears to be constructed of steel. How about some random photos of Puerto Rican roads and highways? I don’t believe what we’re looking at there are the results of maintenance problems, or somebody’s failure to make a plan.
Perhaps they should have had back-up systems of carrier pigeons, signal fires, and ox carts. Or maybe they should have placed Puerto Rico on the continental land mass, instead of choosing a spot completely surrounded by ocean.
@Greg: It may come as a shock to you, but we understand the devastation of Puerto Rico. The job at hand is relieve and rebuilding. In addition to the effort the Trump administration is putting forth, he has also recommended that Puerto Rico’s massive debt be erased to aid them in their rebuilding.
Only a liberal can have problems with that.
The problem is liberal “leadership” in Puerto Rico. Liberal publicity-hounds like Mayor Cruz spend more time lying about the aid effort than supporting the aid effort. THIS is their responsibility.
@Greg: #26Really seriously it went with he grid, no plan if they lost electricity or smartphone, you gonna stick to that? Are you saying they are that dumb? Almost the first thing lost in a hurricane is power..
Let me say if the SHTF I dont want them helping me.
I hope the rebuilding/ recovery plan stays away from their dog.
@kitt, #28:
What do you think would happen if all of North America’s water, electrical power, computer networks, transport, and telecommunication systems suddenly went down and stayed down for a month? Do you think there’s a plan that would actually be up to handling the consequences?
What’s happening here is that Puerto Rico is being blamed for what happened to Puerto Rico. Why is that, really?
@Greg:
I’m not sure “blame” is the proper term, but the sad condition of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure has made the effects of the hurricanes far worse. This is simply a fact.
Blaming Trump and throwing away supplies does not exactly help a single citizen of Puerto Rico. Not a one.
It’s you who keeps bringing up “Mr. 10 out of 10,” and Trump who keeps awarding himself medals for exemplary performance rather than focusing on the problem itself. People don’t want to hear about exemplary performance when they’re struggling just to find the most basic things required to live.
PUERTO RICO RELIEF BILL CANCELS $16 BILLION IN DEBT — BUT NOT FOR PUERTO RICO
@Greg:
What is that?
Oh, I think I see part of your problem. You don’t understand that the PERFORMANCE is his job and that exemplary performance is benefiting the people in need.
You leftists prefer to concentrate on your imaginary conspiracies and failures, routinely missing the entire point. I just heard MSNBC characterizing the focus of the Russia probe turning to that disgusting Uranium One deal which made Bill and Hillary so much money as an “obsession with Hillary”, which is really rich coming from the people that obsess with everything Trump does (and doesn’t) do! They, like you, miss the point that a sitting Secretary of State making millions off the sale of a strategic asset is treasonous and the complicity of Holder and Obama in the deal makes it far, far worse.
Perhaps you can get that message out to the liberal publicity-whores that have been throwing the aid away in order to be able to criticize Trump. Your left wing media doesn’t WANT to facts of the aid effort to filter down to the Puerto Rican people because they might then start asking questions of WHERE the aid went (first place to look: Mayor Cruz’s garage. She’s a thief and a liar, like Hillary).
@Greg: Well Obama didn’t let them declare bankruptsy on his tax free bond holding pals. Theres even some woman getting twice the presidents salary to assist them with cutting costs, was that charged back to the bond fund?
1 month from 0 to http://status.pr/
@kitt: I didn’t see a stat for percentage of dumpsters full of aid and supplies.
The San Juan Star, if anyone is curious about local news. Page 7 reports a few details of local conditions a month after Maria swept over the island.
@Greg: Good post, I am sure that isnt the whole paper, somewhere there must be where the distribution centers are, where to apply for Fema aid funds and low interest loans.
Shame so many have left before a building and jobs boom. Its going to be a long haul for them but most of it must be done by themselves.
I think the milk industry numbers are great 73%, they didnt flop, they are farmers.
Busses are at 100%
@Deplorable Me: Hoping this is the only article we see precious aid treated this way this was found at the South eastern corner of PR not near San Juan. The situation needs to be sorted out. Who What Were When Why.
@Greg: Local conditions were probably the same as the month BEFORE the hurricane, you dolt.
..not sure you understand much about Puerto Rico. A hurricane didn’t change it into a third-world environment without a modern infrastructure, but good job exploiting the poor for your political agenda.
Anyone who believes such a ridiculous statement is the dolt. All someone has to do to figure that out is look at the post-hurricane photographs and videos. There was massive destruction island-wide. Hurricane damage estimates presently range from $45 billion to $95 billion. Hurricane Maria drastically changed Puerto Rico overnight.
The island was my family’s home for years. I went to high school there. I have friends who presently live in San Juan. Before and after are two entirely different realities.
Seems the MSM has lost interest, they tried to use the disaster as a way to bash Trump and were rejected. Too many places to look up videos of aid workers sent to shore up a failing dam, using chain saws and heavy equipment to clear roads and reopening ports. Bad form using Madam Mayor, screeching in front of a mountain of aid, who would think the memes makers would blast her for that?
Gregs Article states there are 6K master electricians waiting to be called up for service so 17 percent of restored electrical service should soon soar. Who would think there would be that many the way it was patched together prior to the storm, and would take days to restore small blackouts.
Lets just send Obama there to tell them this is the new norm, no way to do better.
@kitt: Stand by for the stories that none of that would have happened if Mayor Cruz had not bravely spoken up.
@Deplorable Me: Too late the Governor has already said he speaks daily with the heads of the relief agencies and a weekly chat with Trump. I reject Madam Mayor is the face of PR. The island has come leaps and bounds from last month, long way to go. The PR people must adopt better building techniques for roofing, look at Florida not too many roofs blown off, many of the concrete structured homes are still standing, yes they need roofs.
The media will always be able to find the people who cant leave their homes cause they still have things left to steal.
Greg wanted to know what would happen if the US lost the grid, he should read the book “1 Second After” 90 % of Americans dead in a year.
Our government safe sound and well fed in their under ground bunkers. With many of Obamas executive orders saying they can come to your house and take all your food and arms, everything gets put under the executive branch.
Yet since the 90s we have not hardened the grid.
After buying my land I and my sweetie lived 5 months off grid, clearing it getting it ready for the electrical co-op to hook us up, this year we finally have a well, I will be putting in a second manually pumped one.
Hint if going off grid propane has no shelf life.
@kitt: Even when 90% of the news out of Puerto Rico is positive, the media will seek out the crybabies and liars. That’s how we got this subject in the first place.
@Deplorable Me: We can count on PBS and NPR for that.
Theres not a whole lot we can do with our little brother who took out payday and title loans for non essentials, we are tapped out.
@Greg: Yeah, you don’t know anything about Puerto Rico, bub.
Besides, why are you trolling FA instead of getting your dumb ass down there to help?
Your movement is dying. Time to move on, junior.
Maria Cantwell asks GAO to investigate Montana firm’s $300 million contract to fix Puerto Rico’s grid
Why? Well, I suppose there’s this:
I have pliers, screwdrivers, and a roll of black electrical tape. Maybe I should have put in a bid.
@Nathan Blue, #45:
Many of the bloviational opinions I see expressed around here appear to be part of somebody’s movement.
@Greg: Its always facinating to find out why contracts are awarded, the Obamacare website awarded to the good friend of Michelle.
Government contracts should not be awarded to companies with no or poor history in the job that has to be done.
@kitt: Yeah, let’s find out how much Whitefish Energy donated to the Clinton Foundation.
@Greg: 19
So, If Puerto Rico is not to blame for it’s own problems, just who is? Is it the people in Georgia? New Mexico? Arkansas? When areas in the US get a huge amount of damage in a storm, they rebuild to new tougher standards and build to with stand. If you don’t believe that, look at areas along the gulf coast that have been hit recently that were also hit not long ago. Very little damage this time, compared to the earlier times. The buildings in Puerto Rico were/are not built to withstand cat 5 storms. The electrical grid was about 50% off line ‘before’ the hurricane even hit. It is only their fault that they did not maintain their grid at even a minimum standard. It is not the responsibility to go in and give them the money to rebuild it back to Cat 5 standards. The US should only get them up and running to a minimum standard, then they need to spend their own money to continue the improvements. That’s kinda like if you sit home with no money to buy you food and your cupboard empty, then because it rains, you expect the government to come and feed you and fill your cupboard free. Ain’t gonna happen. Dumbocraps under Obozo didn’t perform well at all under Sandy, whereas the Puerto Rican management, except for that one commie bastard mayor thinks Trump has done an outstanding job.