Pa'lante: Sept. 3
Issue #16: The death toll from Maria swells to 3,000, Trump says the U.S. did a "fantastic job" and more
Happy Labor Day, readers. Here’s hoping everyone is enjoying a long, restful weekend. On to this week’s news:
Hurricane’s Death Toll in Puerto Rico Put at Nearly 3,000: The Puerto Rican government has updated the official death toll from Hurricane Maria from 64 to 2,975 following the release of an independent study by George Washington University. The new number makes Maria the deadliest storm to hit U.S. soil in more than a century. (Danica Coto / Associated Press)
Trump Says Government 'Did a Fantastic Job' With Puerto Rico Hurricane Response: After the release of the report, President Donald Trump doubled down on comments he made last year that the federal government handled the response to Hurricane Maria well. “I think we did a fantastic job in Puerto Rico. We're still helping Puerto Rico. The governor is an excellent guy and he's really happy with the job we've done,” Trump said. (Brett Samuels / The Hill)
Cuomo Vows to Sue Trump Over Hurricane Response in Puerto Rico: New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo alleges that Trump violated the U.S. Constitution by abandoning Puerto Rico in the wake of Maria. (Kevin Sheehan and Bruce Golding / New York Post)
San Juan Mayor Rips Trump for ‘Neglect’ of Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Carmen Yulín Cruz, who has been openly critical of President Trump, responded to his recent comments that the U.S. government did a “fantastic job” responding to Hurricane Maria. “The Trump administration led us to believe they were helping when they weren’t up to par, and they didn’t allow other countries to help us,” she said. (Maegan Vazquez / CNN)
Government Can Stop Paying to House Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims, Judge Rules: After several extensions, FEMA’s Transitional Housing Assistance program, through which more than 1,000 Puerto Rican families are still living in hotels, is set to expire this month. Those families may end up homeless. (Frances Robles / New York Times)
‘I’m So Tired of Asking for Help’: Letters From Puerto Rico: Splinter is publishing a series of letters from Puerto Ricans about how Hurricane Maria impacted them. Says one letter writer: “I don’t know which part of all of this we don’t understand. The United States never ever really cared about us. We are not profitable to them, they cannot get something from us, they squeeze every single country in their path.” (Molly Osberg / Splinter)
Study Finds Hurricane Maria Aid Workers Healed Selves by Helping Others: “One woman told me, ‘We are broken, but we are not defeated. We will rise again.’ This speaks to the resilience of the people of Puerto Rico. Keeping a positive outlook on life makes a difference.” – Ivelisse Torres Fernandez, an assistant professor at New Mexico State University’s College of Education (Adriana M. Chavez / New Mexico State University)
Meet the Arts Organization Directly Aiding Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria Victims, One Year Later: Hyperallergic profiles Arte al Rescate, an organization using art for relief efforts. (Zachary Small / Hyperallergic)
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!