PR families get to stay longer in FEMA hotels (Orlando) (vouchers, income)

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by jveltriple7

Oh yes San Juan is the entire island. That makes a lot of sense when you don't live on the island right. Try that in Florida and say Miami and Orlando has power as well as 70% of the state but the other 30% who still don't have power doesn't count. I doubt it will fly.

It is the biggest population center and was used only as an example. Try this one on for size. Power is on, they are just upgrading it now. Not that anyone has made the case that those still in hotel rooms have no power back where they used to live.



SAN DIEGO – Power has been restored to 99 percent of the residents of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, but a monumental job remains in order to build a more resilient electric grid on the island, a panel of restoration effort leaders said.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/...stronger-grid/

[Branal]

Most of the island lives in the San Juan area.

[jveltriple7]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

It is the biggest population center and was used only as an example. Try this one on for size. Power is on, they are just upgrading it now. Not that anyone has made the case that those still in hotel rooms have no power back where they used to live.



SAN DIEGO – Power has been restored to 99 percent of the residents of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, but a monumental job remains in order to build a more resilient electric grid on the island, a panel of restoration effort leaders said.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/...stronger-grid/

There are figures lower than 99% but like 95% - 97% but no one really knows. However, restoration of power and continued operation without blackouts is what many are not speaking of honestly. If you've traveled to the island recently and / or have people that live there you would see the discrepancy on much of the reporting that released publicly. The handling of Puerto Rico's recovery has become very political. Boots on the ground know the reality.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by jveltriple7

There are figures lower than 99% but like 95% - 97% but no one really knows. However, restoration of power and continued operation without blackouts is what many are not speaking of honestly. If you've traveled to the island recently and / or have people that live there you would see the discrepancy on much of the reporting that released publicly. The handling of Puerto Rico's recovery has become very political. Boots on the ground know the reality.

Either way, the figure is far higher than the 70% you threw out as an analogy. Disengenuous. Something else people are not speaking about honestly is that continued operation without blackouts was a major issue long before the hurricane. Don't try to pin that on the hurricane. If you'd have traveled there several years ago you'd have seen an electrical system that was falling apart and billions in debt.

[Branal]

Well they had a chance to redo their grid after Georges hit in 1998, as Miu stated. That would have been a wise choice. Instead they chose to spend money on other things, and they said they didn't think they would get hit by another hurricane, even though they in the Carribean. Then Maria came. I believe the island made a series of very bad choices.

[jveltriple7]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Either way, the figure is far higher than the 70% you threw out as an analogy. Disengenuous. Something else people are not speaking about honestly is that continued operation without blackouts was a major issue long before the hurricane. Don't try to pin that on the hurricane. If you'd have traveled there several years ago you'd have seen an electrical system that was falling apart and billions in debt.

Another issue in PR that people don't discuss is those folk who lost their homes entirely. But when backwards little towns in Florida and the south or midwest get hit with hurricanes / tornados and lose their homes everyone is screaming for FEMA to put them up in hotels and provide temporary housing until they can rebuild their lives. When it comes to US territories the "HAVES" of America want to treat the "HAVE NOTS" like a redhead child.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by jveltriple7

Another issue in PR that people don't discuss is those folk who lost their homes entirely. But when backwards little towns in Florida and the south or midwest get hit with hurricanes / tornados and lose their homes everyone is screaming for FEMA to put them up in hotels and provide temporary housing until they can rebuild their lives. When it comes to US territories the "HAVES" of America want to treat the "HAVE NOTS" like a redhead child.

Key word being "temporary". Tell us how long is temporary in your mind?



FEMA is there as a short bridge after a disaster to let you get back on your feet. It is not there to make you better off than before or to provide for the poor from now on. People are not entitled to a government provided 3 bedroom 2 bath brick ranchhouse because their cardboard box or corrugated metal shack blew away. What about the homeless? Are they entitled to a year in a hotel? How far do we go to get people "back on their feet" if they were not on their feet in the first place?

[Branal]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Key word being "temporary". Tell us how long is temporary in your mind?



FEMA is there as a short bridge after a disaster to let you get back on your feet. It is not there to make you better off than before or to provide for the poor from now on. People are not entitled to a government provided 3 bedroom 2 bath brick ranchhouse because their cardboard box or corrugated metal shack blew away. What about the homeless? Are they entitled to a year in a hotel? How far do we go to get people "back on their feet" if they were not on their feet in the first place?

Right. Puerto Rico can provide that for them if it wants. But it's not the US's problem.

[jveltriple7]

Originally Posted by Branal

Right. Puerto Rico can provide that for them if it wants. But it's not the US's problem.

Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S. so yes it is a U.S. problem whether you all like it or not. They pay federal taxes to the U.S. just like every other American.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by jveltriple7

Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S. so yes it is a U.S. problem whether you all like it or not. They pay federal taxes to the U.S. just like every other American.

No, not just like every other American.



In general, United States citizens and resident aliens who are bona fide residents of Puerto Rico during the entire tax year, which for most individuals is January 1 to December 31, are only required to file a U.S. federal income tax return if they have income sources outside of Puerto Rico or if they are employees of the U.S. government. Bona fide residents of Puerto Rico generally do not report income received from sources within Puerto Rico on their U.S. income tax return.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico