Puerto Rico News Digest For May 29, 2018

THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES: MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CAROLINA

As reported by El Vocero, a man was found shot to death early Tuesday morning on 73rd Street in the Villa Carolina neighborhood of the municipality of Carolina. The victim -- who remains unidentified -- was described as being dark-skinned, about 5 feet, nine inches tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds. He was dressed in a black shirt, red and white pants and black athletic shoes. An anonymous 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunshots in the area shortly after midnight. Police are investigating.

ROSSELLO AND BOARD DEFEND LABOR CHANGES

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares rejected yesterday that the repeal of the Unjust Dismissal Act (Law 80-1976) would leave the island´s working class in a vulnerable position, especially women and senior employees, because there are other labor laws to protect them..."

PREPA BUDGET FACES FIVE YEARS OF SHORTFALLS

From Caribbean Business:

"The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said Friday that the approved fiscal-recovery plan for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) faces billions in financial risks that will hinder the transformation of the grid..."

PUERTO RICO RETAIL SALES GROW 6.7% FOR JANUARY

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico’s retail sales for the month of January 2018 totaled $2.8 billion, representing a 6.7 percent growth when compared to the same period in 2017, when total sales were $2.6 billion..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 1, 2016

HURRICANE SEASON STARTS TODAY

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"U.S. government forecasters expect a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season,
after three relatively slow years. But they also say climate conditions that influ-
ence storm development are making it difficult to predict how many hurricanes
and tropical storms will arise over the next six months. The National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration’s outlook released late last week called for a
near-normal season with 10 to 16 named storms, with four to eight hurricanes
and one to four “major” ones with winds reaching 111 mph and up..."

SENATE HONORS VETS ON MEMORIAL DAY

From Caribbean Business:

"The Senate received Monday a group of veterans and their families, as well as
officers, to commemorate Memorial Day in a ceremony at a Capitol monument
honoring the fallen in various wars. Sen. Miguel Pereira, chairman of the Judici-
ary, Security and Veterans Committee, hosted the activity and received Col. Mar-
ta Carcana, adjutant general of the National Guard of Puerto Rico, who delivered
a message to attendees. Also attending the ceremony were Jorge Cases, spokes-
man for the Veterans Advocate Office; former Puerto Rico National Guard Adjt.
Gen. Luis González Vale and former San Juan Mayor Héctor Luis Acevedo, who
retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1998..."

OMB: PAYING DEBT COULD MEAN LAYOFFS

From News Is My Business:

"If the government of Puerto Rico were to pay the full amount due next year in
GO debt would require laying off more than 3,400 public workers, among other
adjustments, Luis Cruz, executive director of the Office of Management and Bud-
get, told members of the House Finance Committee during budget hearings Mon-
day. In his testimony, Cruz said the $209 million set aside from the General Fund
will go to cover GO interest payment, but no principal amount, which would total
$1.4 billion next fiscal year..."

SAN JUAN TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST UBER

From Fox News Latino:

"Traffic chaos prevailed in San Juan on Tuesday as taxi drivers and  truckers
protested the arrival in Puerto Rico of Uber, the private ride-hailing service,
which links passengers and drivers via a mobile application. On Tuesday mor-
ning it was difficult to find taxis on the capital streets, while some tourist excur-
sions had to be cancelled when drivers with certain tourist operators refused to
work..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 24, 2016

VOTE ON CONTROL BOARD TOMORROW

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee confir-
med that it will hold a hearing Wednesday to vote on legislation that impo-
ses a fiscal control board on Puerto Rico. In an official statement issued late
last week by the committee chaired by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), the comm-
ittee established that it would begin the mark-up of the bill on Tuesday at 5
p.m. and the process would extend until Wednesday between 10 a.m. and
12:30 p.m., according to a report by CyberNews..."

'LOS LOBOS' GANGSTERS CAUGHT NEAR MEX BORDER

From Breitbart:

"Two members of a dangerous Puerto Rican gang that operates in a manner
similar to a drug cartel  have been arrested near the Texas border. Federal au-
thorities recently arrested Carlos E.  “El Negro” Carrion Nieves and Orlando
“Elvin” Martinez Nunez near this border city. The two men are named in a six-
count federal indictment out of Puerto Rico, accusing 17 members of the group
with multiple crimes in furtherance of the criminal organization. While federal
authorities do not refer to the Puerto Rican criminal organization as a cartel, a
close look at the indictment reveals that their method of operation is very simi-
lar to those used by drug cartels in Mexico..."

SAN JUAN MAYOR GETS 'F' ON FINANCES

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Comptroller Yesmín Valdivieso blasted San Juan Mayor Car-
men Yulín Cruz on Monday, giving a grade of “F” to the mayor’s handling
of the capital city’s finances and refuting the mayor’s claims of having a sur-
plus in the municipal coffers. During an AM news radio interview in Notiuno
630, Valdivieso said that Cruz had earned a failing grade because “she is car-
rying a debt of [around] $888 million as of June 2014.” The comptroller added
that the mayor’s claims of a surplus were “not real because the so-called surplus
is the result of a loan...”

GOVERNOR PITCHES $9.1 BILLION BUDGET

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla on Monday unveiled a proposed
budget for Fiscal 2017 of $9.1 billion, down $700 million from the original
budget that was approved last year and $192 million less than the adjusted cu-
rrent budget. The proposed budget — which must be approved by the Legisla-
ture by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year — is based on an actual pro-
jection of revenues and includes a reduction in the government’s operating ex-
penses of nearly $3 billion, compared with the last spending budget filed by
the previous administration..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 12, 2016

AGP MEETS WITH CREDITORS IN NYC

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla met with a group of unidenti-
fied advisors to the Commonwealth’s creditors to communicate, first hand,
the need for Puerto Rico reach a broad restructuring of its $70 billion public
debt to sustainable levels, his office said Tuesday. At the meetings, the go-
vernor emphasized that Puerto Rico is only willing to accept agreements lea-
ding to “sustainable long-term restructuring that will result in economic gr-
owth for the island...”

US HOUSE BILL ON PR FACES DELAYS

From Reuters:

"Republicans on a U.S. House of Representatives panel said they were ma-
king progress on a Puerto Rico debt relief bill that will take the same basic
approach as an earlier failed version, despite cancelling plans to unveil new
legislation on Wednesday...House Democratic leadership now expects legis-
lation from the committee before the end of the week. Competing forces have
fought over the bill and raised concerns that creditor rights and long-establi-
shed municipal bond market hierarchy would be set aside in a broader plan to
fix Puerto Rico's festering debt problems that have resulted in a breakdown in
the island's social services..."

NPP REP WANTS PROBE OF JETBLUE DELAYS

From Caribbean Business:

"New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Uroyoán Hernández announced Wednes-
day that he filed a resolution seeking to investigate the complaints of several
JetBlue passengers about the allegedly constant delays of the airliner’s flights
departing from the Puerto Rico capital. “During the past few weeks, we’ve
heard dozens of Puerto Ricans who’ve made their voices heard,” Hernández
said. “Whole families have had to wait for hours in the airport terminal ascri-
bed to JetBlue...because there are no pilots available and they must be flown
in from Orlando, Florida, or due to a mechanical failure in the plane. There’s
always an excuse...”

GOVERNOR SAYS BUDGET READY 'SOON'

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla said Tuesday that the budget for the next fis-
cal year “is being worked on in a responsible way” and that it will be delive-
red to the Legislature “soon.” In a written statement distributed by La Forta-
leza, the governor said he is “close” to presenting the budget to the Legisla-
ture. The statement came after Senate President Eduardo Bhatia criticized La
Fortaleza for the tardiness in delivering the budget..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 15, 2016

GOV'T TO MAKE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

From News Is My Business:

"The government of Puerto Rico is making budget adjustments amoun-
ting to some $254 million, which is about half of the shortfall in revenue
collections the Treasury Department anticipated late last year. In a news
conference at La Fortaleza, Luis Cruz, executive director of the Office
of Management and Budget, confirmed a reduction in the budgets for
agencies offering health, security and education services. The govern-
ment will also not be making payments to the Commonwealth retire-
ment system and will clawback about $119 million in revenue that was
supposed to be directed for payments on the Puerto Rico Infrastructure
Financing Authority debt..."

MAYOR OF GUAYANILLA RESIGNS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Guayanilla Mayor Edgardo Arlequín Vélez finally resigned his post after
being suspended on March 6, 2015 and less than a month after being sen-
tenced to four years in prison for sexual misconduct and using his post for
benefits, according to Inter News Service. Popular Democratic Party (PDP)
spokesman Ángel Raúl Matos said the resignation will become final once
the municipal legislature formally accepts it..."

COCAINE FOUND IN BUSHES IN ISABELA BEACH

From Military.Com:

"Federal authorities announced Monday that they discovered more than
$4 million worth of cocaine stashed in bushes along Puerto Rico's north
coast as they find more drug shipments but with smaller payloads in the
U.S. Caribbean. Some 340 pounds (154 kilograms) of cocaine were found
at a popular beach in the town of Isabela, according to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection. One man was arrested. It's one of the largest seizures in
recent months..."

PUERTO RICANS WIN POWERBALL PRIZES

From Caribbean Business:

"In Puerto Rico, the winning tickets for four $100,00 prizes were purcha-
sed at La Borinqueña in Caguas, La Milagrosa store in Camuy and the
other two in Plaza Loíza del Norte Shopping Center in San Juan, said
Armando Pérez Cruz, assistant director at the Electronic Lottery of Pu-
erto Rico. The winners of the $50,000 prizes made their plays at Cabre-
ra Services Station in San Juan and the San Gabriel Pharmacy in Caro-
lina..."

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DROWNS IN DORADO

From Yahoo! News:

"Authorities in Puerto Rico say a cruise ship passenger from California
has drowned along the U.S. territory's north coast amid rough seas. Au-
thorities say the 71-year-old from Angeles was swept away Thursday
along with his brother-in-law in the popular beach town of Dorado..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 6, 2015

NO RELIEF FROM DROUGHT THIS WEEK

A tropical wave that is likely to pass over the south of the island on Tuesday is
not expected to leave significant rainfall behind, according to the island's water
utility and the National Weather Service. Water rationing was expanded last
Thursday to cover Guaynabo, parts of Bayamón and Montehiedra in Río Piedras.

RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS EXEMPT FROM NEW TAX

From Caribbean Business:

A House bill that calls for exempting condominiums, cooperatives and resident
associations from the 4% professional services tax set to kick in October 1 was
signed into law by La Fortaleza, avoiding a potential hike to maintenance fees
for hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rico residents. Although H.B. 2534, led by
New Progressive Party (NPP) House Minority Leader Jenniffer González, was
part of a list of key bills the Senate didn’t vote on during the last day of the past
legislative session, the lower chamber decided the same day to concur with the
upper chamber’s original amendments to the bill, allowing the House to send
the measure to the governor’s desk for immediate enactment.

GOV'T MAKES PAYROLL WITH TRANS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Government workers should not worry about their paychecks because the govern-
ment will keep paying them, at a cost of $250 million every 15 days, House Spea-
ker Jaime Perelló says. A key bill that has secured legislative passage and that is
expected  to be signed into law this week will boost cash flow for government
operations by allowing it to raise $400 million in tax and revenue anticipation no-
tes (TRANs). The government will raise the cash for the notes from three public
nsurance corporations, according to various media outlets.

PASTAFARIAN CHURCH COMES TO PR

As reported by Metro PR, the satirical and liberal leaning Church of the Flying
Spaghetti Monster has been officially registered as a non-profit organization with
the Puerto Rico Department of State. The religion's adherents, known as  Pastafa-
rians, claim to promote a culture of peace and diversity. The Church has stated that
it will conduct same-sex weddings in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 20, 2015

COP GOES ON SUICIDAL RAMPAGE

As reported this morning by El Nuevo Dia, a 26 year old police officer

shot two fellow officers inside a house in the Santa Rosa neighborhood

of Bayamon early this morning, and then shot himself to death. According 
to police, the as of yet unidentified officer had an argument with an ex-
girlfriend, who is also a police officer in a different location. After the 
argument, the female officer went to the house that she was sharing with 
other police  officers. The man followed her to the house, where their ar-
gument escalated. The officer then shot at his ex-girlfriend and another
police officer who was present, injuring but not killing them. The shooter 
then immediately put the gun to his own head and shot himself. The inju-
red officers were taken to Centro Médico for treatment.

UPDATE: Heriberto González Padilla, one of the officers who was shot,
died this morning in hospital. The deceased shooter has been identified
as police officer José David Carrión Gómez.

GOVERNMENT TO PRESENT BUDGET TODAY

From Caribbean Business:

The administration of Gov. Alejandro García Padilla will present 

its fiscal year 2016 budget plan Wednesday. It will total $9.8 

billion and will include about $600 million in government spending 

cuts, La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Víctor Suárez said Tuesday. He 

added that Puerto Rico will seek to access the markets for tax-

revenue anticipation notes (TRANs) at the beginning of fiscal 2016, 

or July 1, to provide the commonwealth with much-needed liquidity 

to address cash flow issues during the first few months of the fis-

cal year. Suárez warned about the need to approve both the new tax 

bill and the budget plan “to provide certainty to financial markets.”

Absent TRANs funds, the chief of staff said such measures as fur-

loughing public employees would be discussed, as “the budget and 

the cash flow are two different things.”

RIVERA SCHATZ SEEKS SUPPORT FOR RUN

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Although it is not offi cial, former Senate President Thomas Rivera

Schatz is reaching out to New Progressive Party (NPP) mayors and 

already has a jingle in support of his candidacy for governor.Sources 

said Rivera Schatz, who is known as the “White Shark” for his nonon-

sense personality, already has the support of several powerful mayors 

including Guaynabo Mayor Héctor O’Neill, but that information could 

not be confirmed. The former Senate leader spent the weekend on a jeep 

caravan around parts of the island to promote his candidacy.

P&G PLANT LEAVES PR FOR N. CAROLINA

From ABC News:

Procter & Gamble Co. says it is closing a manufacturing plant in Puerto 

Rico and laying off some 230 employees. A company statement Friday 

says the plant in the southern town of Cayey will close in the next nine 

to 12 months. Officials said the company will move operations to a plant 

in North Carolina as part of an overall restructuring.

NEW OLIVE GARDEN OPENS JUNE 15TH

From News Is My Business:

A year after the arrival of Olive Garden in Puerto Rico, Restaurant 

Operators Inc. announced Monday the company will open its second 

restaurant on the island, in Guaynabo’s San Patricio Plaza sector, 

June 15th.

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 15, 2015

TRIPLE MURDER IN AGUAS BUENAS

As reported today by  El Nuevo Dia, two men and a woman, ranging
in age from 25 to 30, were murdered late last night on Road PR-792
in the Las Villas sector of Aguas Buenas. The crime occurred at
around 12:40 AM and was reported to the Police through an anony-
mous phone call. It is believed the deceased were taken to a dark and
solitary area specifically to be shot to death. The bodies were found
lying on the pavement. A loaded .40 caliber pistol was found at the
scene. The victims were not carrying identification and have not been
named.

GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATORS AGREE ON TAX

From Bloomberg:

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and lawmakers reached
an agreement on a proposal to raise the island’s sales tax, a move that
may help it sell debt and ease a cash crunch. The plan would boost the
levy to 11.5 percent from 7 percent for nine months, in a transition to
implementing a value-added tax, the governor and members of his Po-
pular Democratic Party told reporters late Thursday in San Juan. The
increase is expected to bring in $1.2 billion of revenue. Lawmakers
also agreed to recommend $500 million in spending cuts as part of a
$9.8 billion budget for fiscal 2016.

STUDENTS PROTEST UPR CUTS IN SAN JUAN

From UPI:

A massive demonstration protesting budget cuts to Puerto  Rico's
state university filled a Capitol plaza in San Juan. Thousands of peo-
ple enrolled or employed at Puerto Rico University (UPR) met at the
Capitol building and marched to the home of the U.S. commonwealth's
chief executive Wednesday. The government has threatened a 20 per-
cent budget cut to the university. Julio Muriente, leader of the pro-inde-
pendence Hostosian National Independence Movement, attended the
demonstration, saying, "We want people to know the importance of the
university for the country, the value of the UPR, and this event is proof
of what the institution is."

SLOTS OPERATORS OPPOSE VIDEO LOTTERY

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Puerto Rican Commercial Recreation Businesses Inc. (EMPRECOM by
its Spanish acronym) members have categorically rejected Gov. Alejandro
García Padilla’s plan to pass new regulations for the operation of  enter-
tainment machines without holding public hearings, which they say opens
the door for the “video lottery” business. “We have been charging that La
Fortaleza was working on a new Operational Regulation for the Additio-
nal Lottery, which is nothing more than ‘bringing the video lottery in
through the kitchen,’” EMPRECOM President Pablo Rivera said in a
written statement. “The governor has given instructions so that this action,
which allows for the elimination of all  entertainment machines that are
currently in operation on the island, and thus makes way for the ‘video
lottery,’ is not talked about.”

$59M IN PROPERTIES AT AUCTION 

From News Is My Business:

Los Angeles-based Premiere Estates Auction Company announced
Thursday a multi-property auction that includes sprawling beachfront
sites in Aguadilla and Cabo Rojo, with a combined listing price of $59
million. The portfolio includes a 507-acre master planned destination
resort property overlooking Boqueron Bay in Cabo Rojo with a listing
price of $50 million, that has been pre-approved for a 600-room resort
hotel, 18-hole golf course, a 200-slip marina, retail village, 1,150 residen-
tial villas and 222 home sites.