puerto rican lives matter
- Thread starter rickyb
- Start date
After the Hurricane, a Puerto Rican Town Deals with Wastewater, Dead Animals, and “Green” Bodies. – Mother Jones
In many ways, the stories people had to tell in Campanilla were similar to those from the day before in Ciales, a mountain town where many homes were either wiped from the earth or rendered uninhabitable, caked in mud, and gutted of everything that the families had inside. Like those in Cialies, residents in Campanilla tell me there’s been no meaningful government response since Maria struck—none from local, Puerto Rican, or federal authorities—despite the grim conditions, meager food supplies, and lack of running water. Residents haven’t seen any government officials come around to survey the damage or tell them what’s going to happen next.
But the devastation in Toa Baja carries an additional layer of tragedy. The flooding here was actually man-made. It happened at the direction of Puerto Rican government officials, the very same that these residents say are absent. On the morning Maria crossed Puerto Rico, the island’s government opened five floodgates of the La Plata Lake Dam in Toa Alta, a town more inland and on higher ground than Toa Baja, allowing millions of gallons of water to flow straight into the vulnerable coastal town. The New York Times reported that Puerto Rican government officials said they had to open the gates to prevent damage to the dam due to Maria’s torrential rains. A city official told the Times that residents were warned to evacuate the night before the storm, and while some did, many chose to stay in their homes; the official said that some people “got confident.”
That’s not how Jaime Rivéra remembers the lead up to the flood. With dirt on his hands and shoes after days of trying to get thick, slick brown mud out of nearly everything in his yard and the first story of his house, Rivéra, with short, curly red hair and deeply tanned skin, tells us his understanding was that the town was supposed to sound a signal to let people know the water was coming. But, we ask, did the signal ever come?
“Nada,” he says—nothing—holding the first cold beer he’s been able to drink since the storm, now that he was finally able to get fuel for his generator yesterday.
In many ways, the stories people had to tell in Campanilla were similar to those from the day before in Ciales, a mountain town where many homes were either wiped from the earth or rendered uninhabitable, caked in mud, and gutted of everything that the families had inside. Like those in Cialies, residents in Campanilla tell me there’s been no meaningful government response since Maria struck—none from local, Puerto Rican, or federal authorities—despite the grim conditions, meager food supplies, and lack of running water. Residents haven’t seen any government officials come around to survey the damage or tell them what’s going to happen next.
But the devastation in Toa Baja carries an additional layer of tragedy. The flooding here was actually man-made. It happened at the direction of Puerto Rican government officials, the very same that these residents say are absent. On the morning Maria crossed Puerto Rico, the island’s government opened five floodgates of the La Plata Lake Dam in Toa Alta, a town more inland and on higher ground than Toa Baja, allowing millions of gallons of water to flow straight into the vulnerable coastal town. The New York Times reported that Puerto Rican government officials said they had to open the gates to prevent damage to the dam due to Maria’s torrential rains. A city official told the Times that residents were warned to evacuate the night before the storm, and while some did, many chose to stay in their homes; the official said that some people “got confident.”
That’s not how Jaime Rivéra remembers the lead up to the flood. With dirt on his hands and shoes after days of trying to get thick, slick brown mud out of nearly everything in his yard and the first story of his house, Rivéra, with short, curly red hair and deeply tanned skin, tells us his understanding was that the town was supposed to sound a signal to let people know the water was coming. But, we ask, did the signal ever come?
“Nada,” he says—nothing—holding the first cold beer he’s been able to drink since the storm, now that he was finally able to get fuel for his generator yesterday.
Karen AttiahVerified account @KarenAttiah Sep 29
Flint. Puerto Rico. What good is being the most powerful nation in the world if we can't even get clean water to American citizens??
Flint. Puerto Rico. What good is being the most powerful nation in the world if we can't even get clean water to American citizens??
i dont like some of the things moore has done in the past, but still agree with alot of what he says:
Michael MooreVerified account @MMFlint Sep 29
Trillions wasted on a military set up to "defend" us, but when our citizens in Puerto Rico need to be saved -- nothing. Criminal.
Michael MooreVerified account @MMFlint Sep 29
Trillions wasted on a military set up to "defend" us, but when our citizens in Puerto Rico need to be saved -- nothing. Criminal.
ImWaitingForTheDay
Annoy a conservative....Think for yourself
At this point it would not surprise me if drumpf proposed to sell Puerto Rico to the Russians, as a reverse of the "Alaska Purchase", to get a depreciating asset off his books...
I mean, he sells us out all the time, what's one more island?
Catatonic
Nine Lives
That's his standard pickup line ... don't fall for it!
Catatonic
Nine Lives
No man is an Island.
Catatonic
Nine Lives
Brings back memories for for ya, Mr Flaccid?
Abby Martin Retweeted
Hippo @InternetHippo Sep 30
Sorry hurricane victims, if you wanted our president’s support you should’ve marched in a nazi rally
Hippo @InternetHippo Sep 30Sorry hurricane victims, if you wanted our president’s support you should’ve marched in a nazi rally
uh oh:
Ralph NaderVerified account @RalphNader Oct 3
Over $250b in federal help needed for hurricane damage say local officials. Trump request to Congress short by $230b. Get serious, Donald -R
Ralph NaderVerified account @RalphNader Oct 3
Over $250b in federal help needed for hurricane damage say local officials. Trump request to Congress short by $230b. Get serious, Donald -R
W
What The Hawk?
Guest
Make Brown Cafe Great Again!
Non sequitur
Well-Known Member
Wow that's creative. You might get an offer to work for the administrations.
watdaflock?
Well-Known Member
It's William McKinley's fault.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
Maybe they should privatize?
Sportello
Well-Known Member
That is the plan that tRUmp has for everything, education, medical care, infrastructure, fighting wars...
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