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Description
From the Stated Meeting held Thursday, September 21, 2017:
Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez (7th District) outlines the combined impact that fiscal and natural disasters have had on the people and infrastructure of Puerto Rico. She also discusses the planned local efforts to provide relief to those in need in the areas ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
A
She
recognizes
Councilwoman
Kiana,
Sanchez,
Thank,
You
council.
President
I
want
to
thank
all
of
my
colleagues
who've
reached
out
to
me
over
the
last
48
hours,
with
the
situation
in
Porto
Rico
and
the
Caribbean
I
want
to
remind
folks
that,
even
before
hurricane
era
and
Maria,
the
irony
what
the
wrinkle
was
already
in
crisis,
we
were
in
a
financial
debt
that
had
taken
us
there
due
to
a
lot
of
United
States
bad
tax
policy.
We
had
a
colonial
status
and
a
financial
control
board,
so
we
were
already
suffering.
A
We
want
to
join
the
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
Puerto
Ricans
in
the
Philadelphia
area,
many
who
are
still
waiting
to
hear
from
their
families.
But
after
these
national
disasters,
Porto
Rico
is
in
ruins.
A
hundred
percent
of
the
folks
have
no
electricity
or
running
water.
We
have
billions
in
damages
a
closed
airport
for
the
next
week.
Only
the
military
will
be
allowed
in
and
we
are
months
and
if
not
years
away
from
totally
restoring
basic
city
municipal
services,
but
the
Rico
and
the
other
Caribbean
islands
really
do
need
our
help.
A
Locally
Unidos
for
PA
were
taking
advantage
of
the
importantly
already
scheduled,
Puerto
Rican
week,
activities
to
highlight
this
the
tragedy
and
to
raise
money.
I
know
many
people
called
on
the
cancellation
of
events.
We
really
believe
people
at
this
particular
time
want
a
rally
together
and
what
better
way
to
do
it.
We
are
committed
to
toning
down
the
events,
but
also
building
some
consciousness
about
the
fact
that
what
da
Eagles
gonna
need
us
for
a
long
time
so
I
want
to
acknowledge
all
the
local
elected
officials.
A
I
know,
mayor,
Kenney
and
governor
wolf
will
be
joining
us
in
some
public
declarations
and
offering
support.
I
want
to
acknowledge
AT&T
that
on
Sunday
will
be
donating
at
800
number
and
the
ability
for
us
to
do
a
telephone
during
our
parade
and
post
parade
of.
So,
if
you
have
time
on
Sunday
I
know,
Councilman,
Greenlee
and
Councilman
always
join
us.
Greenlee
I
said
green
leaves
at
our
donors
reception.
We've
we
put
the
information
on
folks
deaths,
we
be
happy
to
have
you.
A
There
go
see
Leo
who
hosts
the
parade
is
serving
as
our
fiscal
agent
and
a
hundred
percent
of
the
proceeds
are
going
to
go
to
Puerto
Rico,
the
Salvation
Army
and
our
good
Reverend
Bonnie
are
advising
us
on
our
efforts.
They
have
20
staging
areas
in
Puerto
Rico.
We
will
be
looking
to
work
with
them
when
the
airport
opens
up
and
we
will
be
recruiting
volunteers
for
the
Red
Cross
and
the
Salvation
Army.
A
Who
can
give
us
a
couple
of
weeks
to
help
in
the
restoration
effort,
even
councilman,
tasko
called
me
last
night
and
immediately
said
you
need
to
have
hearings
on
global
warming
and
the
impacts
around
the
country.
So
she
gave
me
to
work
to
do
best.
Part
of
this
effort
and
I'll
talk
to
Councilwoman
Blondell
Reynolds
Brown
about
that,
and
what?
What
are
we
doing
about
getting
our
preparedness
around
the
country
for
these
natural
disasters?
I
have
not
heard
from
all
of
my.