Puerto Rico News Digest For June 22, 2016

MAN ARRESTED FOR MOLOTOV COCKTAILS

From US Attorney's Office:

"United States Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal
complaint charging Noel D. Cruz-Torres (“Cruz-Torres”) with malicious use
of explosives...According to the information contained in the criminal com-
plaint and affidavit, on June 18, 2016, at approximately 3:30 am, someone
called 911 to report an explosion near DuPont Pioneer. When police and fire
fighters arrived, they saw a vehicle burning nearby. A security guard reported
that an individual was throwing Molotov cocktails at the building. The offic-
ers walked around the building and saw Cruz-Torres wearing a black t-shirt
wrapped around his face and carrying a black backpack. While police purs-
ued Cruz-Torres, he threw various Molotov cocktails at the officers. He also
threw another lit Molotov at the fire truck..."

BHATIA: UN RESOLUTION TO HAVE LITTLE EFFECT

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Senate President Eduardo Bhatia said the resolution passed by
the United Nations, which reaffirms the island’s right to self-determination
and independence will have little or no effect. “Sadly, it is very little what the
UN can do to change the internal politics of the U.S.,” Bhatia, a leader within
the Popular Democratic Party, told reporters during an interview in the San Ju-
an Capitol. After expressing his respect for the international body, he said the
UN “hasn’t been very effective,” adding, “We have to be realistic. That forum
has not managed to move the U.S. in any way in the past 30 years..."

700K+ PR YOUTH LIVE IN HIGH-POVERTY AREAS

From News Is My Business:

"Children and youth in Puerto Rico continue to live in families facing enorm-
ous economic challenges, with some 84 percent residing in areas of extreme
poverty and the parents of more than half lacking full-time, year-round emp-
loyment. These and 14 other indicators of child well being are revealed in the
2016 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is
represented in Puerto Rico by the Youth Development Institute (YDI), a Kids
Count network partner. “Traditionally we talk about the percentage of our ch-
ildren and youth who are living below the poverty line. In Puerto Rico, that is
58 percent of our kids,” said Gloriann Sacha Antonetty, communications dir-
ector of the YDI..."

PATAKI COULD SERVE ON FINANCIAL BOARD

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The seven-member Financial Oversight and Management Board that will be
appointed by the U.S. president as part of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Manage-
ment, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), could include former New
York governor George Pataki, the Bond Buyer reported Monday. Pataki has a
residence on the island, according to the daily municipal finance news outlet..."