Pa'lante: June 18
Issue #3: The names missing from Puerto Rico's death count, FEMA housing assistance is about to expire and more
This week marks nine months since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. There’s still a long way to go before life returns to normal for Puerto Ricans both on and off the island.
Their Deaths Were Labeled 'Victim of Cataclysmic Storm.' So Why Aren't Their Names on Puerto Rico's List? A government database of death certificates obtained by CNN and Puerto Rico’s Centro de Periodismo Investigativo shows that 38 deaths in Puerto Rico have been labeled as “victims of cataclysmic storm” by the local government, but are not being included in the official death count from the hurricane. (John D. Sutter, Leyla Santiago and Cristian Arroyo, Michael Nedelman, Sergio Hernandez / CNN)
Help CNN Investigate Hurricane-Related Deaths in Puerto Rico: CNN has issued a call for help to identify individuals whose deaths were related to Hurricane Maria.
'We're Just Hoping For A Miracle': Hurricane Maria Evacuees Brace For End Of Housing Assistance: FEMA housing assistance granted to victims of Hurricane Maria will end on June 30. WBUR reports on how families in Massachusetts will be impacted. (Shannon Dooling / WBUR)
Puerto Rico Struggles with Jump in Asthma Cases Post-Maria: Puerto Rico already had high rates of asthma, but local doctors are seeing a rise in the number and severity of cases on the island. (Danica Coto / Associated Press)
About a Quarter of Puerto Rico’s Schools are Shutting Down. Here’s a Look Inside One. “A community without a school...is a vacant community. It’s actually a dead community.” – Verónica Dávila, a second-grade teacher in rural Puerto Rico (Alexia Fernández Campbell and Rebecca Kiger / Vox)
In Puerto Rico, a New Hurricane Season Threatens the Elderly: Hurricane season has begun, and Puerto Rico’s senior citizens are especially at risk. (Nick Brown, Jessica Resnick-Ault and Ricardo Ortiz / Reuters)
Puerto Rico Pensioners are Facing Devastating Effects of Bankruptcy: “As Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy proceeds through the federal court system, the island’s retirees are facing a startling reality of fighting with bondholders for their fair share. But Puerto Rico’s pensioners did not bankrupt the island. We worked hard and were confident in that the modest pensions we earned would be available to us in retirement. That promise has already been shredded, and to take even more from us now would be unjust and, even more so, unwise.” (Miguel Fabre Ramirez, president of the Official Committee of Retired Employees of Puerto Rico for The Hill)
Can Farming Save Puerto Rico’s Future? And finally, some good news: “Farmer brigades” in Puerto Rico are working to repair and restore farms throughout the island by using a holistic approach called agro-ecology. (Audrea Lim / The Nation)
Thanks for reading. If you have news you think should be considered for inclusion in next week’s issue, please email palante.news@gmail.com.
Pa’lante!