Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for the 65th Infantry Regiment (Video)

From C-SPAN:

"Congressional leaders presented the Congressional Gold Medal in
honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers,
which was made up of predominantly Puerto Rican soldiers. Presi-
dent Obama signed a bill in June 2014 awarding the medal."

Scroll down in window below to watch video (approximately 1 hour
and 8 minutes).

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 18, 2016

COPS SUSPENDED OVER WHEELCHAIR INCIDENT

From The Daily Mail:

"Authorities in Puerto Rico have suspended two police officers after one was
caught on video throwing a man in a wheelchair to the ground while the other
looked on without intervening. Police say Victor Muniz Martinez and Juan Ri-
vera Zayas were notified Saturday of their immediate suspension with intention
to expel them from the force. Police Superintendent Jose Caldero says the offi-
cers could also face criminal charges once the internal investigation has conclu-
ded..."

CAROLINA MAYOR BACKS FISCAL BOARD

From Caribbean Business:

"Carolina Mayor José Carlos Aponte justified the implementation of a
federal fiscal control board on Puerto Rico amid what he called the ine-
fficiency of the commonwealth government in providing solutions to
the island’s problems or in channeling efforts toward economic growth.
“I think controls are needed; I believe the debt must always be paid,” the
mayor said as an aside during the the celebration of Children’s Day in Ca-
rolina. While agreeing with the establishment by the U.S. Congress of “a
regulating entity that intervenes in with the composition, approval and im-
plementation of the budget of Puerto Rico,” the municipality’s leader stre-
ssed that “the central government has failed to solve the island’s fiscal cri-
sis..."

CLARO FINED $155K FOR CRAMMING

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board has issued a fine
against carrier Claro de Puerto Rico of more than $155,000 for apparent “cra-
mming” practices in its wireless and bundled Internet services. By definition
“cramming” is the practice of adding unauthorized charges to a customer’s
phone invoice, a practice that is prohibited by both the Federal Communica-
tions Commission’s “Truth-in-Billing” rules and the Puerto Rico Telecommu-
nications Act of 1996..."

PIERLUISI SAYS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi said a New York Times report about
the income earned by the company owned by his wife María Elena Carrión
since he arrived in Congress will not affect his candidacy for governor of Puer-
to Rico. He said the Times report, which appeared in the April 13 edition of the
STAR, will not affect him in the least because it does not contain complaints a-
gainst him and experts in congressional ethics have found no violation. Pierluisi
denied any conflict of interest between his work and that of his wife, who dedi-
cates herself to advising on financial matters..."

Pierluisi Statement on Developments in Congress Regarding Puerto Rico

Press Release

Del. Pedro Pierluisi


Washington, DC—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi issued the
following statement on today’s developments in Congress regarding
Puerto Rico:

“This morning, I spoke on the House floor about the crisis in Puerto
Rico, and about the urgent need for Congress to enact legislation that
gives Puerto Rico the tools it needs to surmount this crisis.

“Subsequently, Congressman Sean Duffy, Republican from Wiscon-
sin, filed the Puerto Rico Financial Stability and Debt Restructuring
Choice Act.  The bill would provide Puerto Rico with the same abili-
ty to restructure debt as the states have, while establishing a tempora-
ry financial stability council to assist Puerto Rico in managing its fi-
nances.  The Puerto Rico government could opt not to use the restruc-
turing authority, in which case the council would not be established.
However, if Puerto Rico does elect to use the restructuring authority,
the council would take effect for a period of time.  The choice would
be Puerto Rico’s.  I commend Congressman Duffy for his leadership
in acknowledging that Puerto Rico requires a federal mechanism to
restructure debt.  I hope Congressman Duffy will work with me to re-
calibrate the oversight portion of his bill, which I believe has proble-
matic aspects.

“Also today, on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer of New
York, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of
New York, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, Senator Robert Menen-
dez of New Jersey, and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut
spoke at length about Puerto Rico.  Senator Schumer sought consent
from all senators to approve the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity
Act.  All this bill would do is empower the U.S. territory of Puerto
Rico to restructure its debt in the exact same way that each U.S. sta-
te is empowered to restructure its debt.  The fact that we even have
to fight for equal treatment in this area proves the point I made in my
floor speech this morning, when I compared the relationship between
the federal government and Puerto Rico to ‘the relationship between
a master and his servant’ and called it a ‘national disgrace.’  Our poli-
tical status must be discarded for a new status, namely statehood, that
does not require us to beg Congress for fair and equitable treatment.

“Chairman Hatch announced this morning that he will introduce a bill
today called the Puerto Rico Assistance Act of 2015.  I have reviewed
a summary of the bill, but not the legislative text itself.  Based on that
summary, there are aspects of the bill that are positive—such as the
bill’s recognition that Puerto Rico is treated inequitably under federal
health programs, the allocation of up to $3 billion in federal funding to
assist the territory, and federal payroll tax relief for island workers for
five years—and aspects that I have concerns with, such as the absence
of a federal mechanism to enable Puerto Rico to restructure any of its
debt.  But, overall, I am grateful to Chairman Hatch for his attention to
this issue, and I know he is approaching this matter in good faith. I look
forward to continuing to work with him, Ranking Member Wyden and
others in an effort to enact a meaningful legislative package into law
before Congress recesses.  If Congress declines to take action by then,
it does so at its own peril.


“Viewed in their entirety, the individual developments today demons-
trate that congressional leaders fully understand the severity of the cri-
sis and are actively considering concrete steps to empower Puerto Rico.
Now is the time to work together on a bipartisan basis to enact a sensi-
ble package of legislative provisions into law.”        

Puerto Rico News Digest For November 30, 2015

AGP, PIERLUISI TO TESTIFY BEFORE US SENATE

From Caribbean Business:

"The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 1, on Puerto Rico’s fiscal problems. With jurisdiction over
bankruptcy policy, the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck Grass-
ley (R., Iowa), is expected to discuss extensively the commonwealth’s eff-
orts to secure inclusion under Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. The commi-
ttee has invited Gov. Alejandro García Padilla and Resident Commissioner
Pedro Pierluisi to testify as part of the hearing’s first panel. For the second
panel, the witnesses are: University of Puerto Rico finance Prof. Carlos A.
Colón De Armas; Alex J. Pollock, a resident fellow at American Enterprise
Institute in Washington, D.C.; Stephen Spencer, managing director at Houli-
han Lokey; Richard Carrión, executive chairman of Banco Popular; and Ri-
chard Ravitch, former lieutenant governor of New York..."

BOND PAYMENT, SCOTUS DECISION LOOM THIS WEEK

From News Is My Business:

"The government of Puerto Rico is facing a busy week with  the development
of three key events on- and off-island, headed by a decision to make a $354 mi-
llion bond payment by the Dec. 1 deadline. The Government Development Bank
has that payment obligation in Senior Notes looming, of which $273.3m is back-
ed by the Commonwealth’s General Obligation constitutional guarantee...Also
pending is a $120 million disbursement for Christmas bonuses for public emplo-
yees,  which the government has also yet to confirm it will make. Meanwhile,
sometime today, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide on the govern-
ment’s petition for review of the decisions by the U.S. District Court of San
Juan and the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston declaring uncons-
titutional a law passed on the island that would allow it to restructure its debts
through an orderly process..."

ASES CHIEF REPORTS PROGRESS ON DEBT

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Health Insurance Administration (ASES) Executive Director Ricardo Rivera
Cardona says ASES has made a sixth payment of $25.7 million to service pro-
viders under the Government Health Plan for debts accumulated under the old
tertiary provider administration model that ended on March 31. “We continue
to pay the debt little by little, according to the availability of funds every mon-
th,” Rivera Cardona said. “We authorized the payment [Monday]. We paid a li-
ttle over $202million, or 61 percent, on the accumulated debt of $333 million,
and liquidated the debt for pharmacy services...”

COAST GUARD FINDS MISSING MAN'S BODY

From Fox News Latino:

"The U.S. Coast Guard has found a body floating off Puerto Rico's northwest
coast that officials believe to be a Chilean man reported missing from a cargo
vessel traveling through the region. The body was dressed in a uniform belon-
ging to the Chilean-flagged Berkay N and was found near where the vessel's
first engineer Luis Leyva Aliaga went missing. The 62-year-old was last seen
at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and was reported missing Thursday after he did
not show up for his assignment..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For October 16, 2015

GOVERNOR IN DC FOR FISCAL MEETINGS 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla left for Washington, D.C. on Wednes-
day to discuss alternatives for helping Puerto Rico deal with its debt,
which as of July was $69.7 billion, including allowing the island to be
covered by the federal bankruptcy law. The Government Development
Bank (GDB) is facing a $354 million debt payment on Dec. 1 and the
commonwealth government is expected to make a huge payment on
its general obligations (GOs) in January. The White House has made
it clear it won’t bail out the  commonwealth and Congress appears not
to be willing to help either. On Oct. 22, the Senate Natural Resources
Committee is slated to evaluate the government’s fi scal state in a hea-
ring that is expected to include options for Congress moving forward..."

CARJACKING RAPIST FOUND GUILTY BY JURY

From US Attorney's Office:

"Carlos Cruz-Rivera, aka “Cano Llorens,” was found guilty on all
counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of vio-
lence (carjacking) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,
announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
United States District Judge José A. Fusté presided over the trial.
The convict had pled guilty to three counts of carjacking  in the sa-
me accusation on October 6, 2015. On September 9, 2015, a fede-
ral grand jury returned a seven-count superseding indictment char-
ging a Cruz-Rivera with three counts of carjacking, three counts
of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime
of violence, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon. During the three day trial, the government presented pictu-
res and witness’ testimonies that narrated the criminal incidents
of rape, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery that that the defen-
dant perpetrated against the innocent victims..."

SENATE PASSES EDUCATION REFORM

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rico Senate approved Bill 1456, authored by the body's
president, Eduardo A. Bhatia, which intends to bring about educa-
tional partnerships to operate public Lider (Spanish acronym for
charter) schools, grant schools greater autonomy and to have more
of the budget’s allocation for education reach the classroom..."

GOVERNOR SUBMITS FISCAL BOARD BILL

From News Is My Business:

"Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla submitted late Thursday to the legis-
lature the bill that will give way to the creation of a five-member fis-
cal oversight board that among other things, will be responsible for
enforcing compliance with approved budgets. The proposed “Fiscal
Responsibility and Economic Revitalization of Puerto Rico Law” es-
tablishes the independent, non-partisan entity will also be responsible
for approving the proposed Economic and Fiscal Growth plan and en-
sure that future Commonwealth and agency budgets comply with the
provisions of that plan..."

Pierluisi Announces Major Step Forward for Caño Martín Peña Project

Sep 12, 2015 

Press Release

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes draft feasibility report and envi-
ronmental impact statement

San Juan, Puerto Rico—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced to-
day that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has published the draft feasibility
report and environmental impact statement for the Caño Martín Peña environ-
mental restoration project.  These documents, which are over 2,000 pages and
divided into three volumes, propose a plan for how the project will be imple-
mented.

The public now has 45 days in which to submit comments to ENLACE, the
non-federal sponsor for the project, regarding the proposed plan. The public
comment period ends on October 26, 2015.  Once all comments are conside-
red, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, will
be in a position to make a final decision on whether to approve the project and
adopt it a formal part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works pro-
gram.

ENLACE will also host two public meetings on Wednesday, October 14th,
about the project.

“Today’s public notice of the draft feasibility report and environmental impact
statement represents a major step forward in the planning process for the Caño
Martín Peña project.  For the past several years, ENLACE and the Grupo de las
Ocho Comunidades Aledañas al Caño Martín Peña—known as the G-8 - have
worked closely with the Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resour-
ces and other stakeholders, to prepare an excellent and thorough plan. The plan
prioritizes the interests of the community and balances environmental considera-
tions,” said Pierluisi.

“I congratulate ENLACE and the G-8 on this progress, and I urge all those inte-
rested in the restoration of Caño Martín Peña to file their comments in support
of the project and the proposed plan by the deadline,” added the Resident Co-
mmissioner.

The published plan calls for the Corps of Engineers to dredge approximately
2.2 miles of the eastern half of the Caño to a width of 100 feet and a depth of
10 feet, with slight variations in channel width and depth at the several bridges
that cross the Caño.  The walls of the dredged Caño will be constructed with
concrete and steel.  The project, once constructed, will restore the natural tidal
connection between the San José Lagoon and the San Juan Bay, significantly
improving water quality and habitat in the Caño and the surrounding San Juan
Bay estuary.  Residents in the eight communities along the Caño would be able
to enjoy a healthy waterway, revitalized neighborhoods, and greater economic
opportunities.

“I continue to strongly support this project and will make every effort to secure
its incorporation into the President’s budget request to Congress as soon as the
planning process is completed and Assistant Secretary Darcy approves the pro-
ject,” said Pierluisi.

The Resident Commissioner has been working to build support for the Caño
Martín Peña project in Congress.  In June, Pierluisi led a congressional letter
signed by 15 Representatives and 5 Senators to Assistant Secretary Darcy and
Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick, the top civilian and military leaders of
the Corps of Engineers, urging them to expedite completion of the feasibility
review process for the Caño Martín Peña project.

Pierluisi has also personally met several times with Assistant Secretary Dar-
cy to discuss progress in the planning process for the project, and made visits
to ENLACE and the Caño, including a visit in February 2015 with Congress-
man Bill Shuster, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over the Corps of Engineers.  Additiona-
lly, Pierluisi has secured language in the committee reports accompanying the
Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bills for the Corps of Engineers and the EPA,
emphasizing the importance of the Caño Martín Peña project and urging the
two federal agencies to work together on solutions to fund the project.

The draft documents are available in both English and Spanish on the Army
Corps’ website at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/DivisionsOffices/
Planning/EnvironmentalBranch/EnvironmentalDocuments.aspx#CMP

The documents are also available on ENLACE’s website at: http://dragadomar
tinpena.org/.

PR Resident Commissioner Announces Status Hearings

Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi

Press Release

June 17, 2015


Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the Subcommittee
on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs within the House Natural Resources
Committee will hold a hearing on Puerto Rico’s political status on Wednesday,
June 24th.  The Chairman of the Subcommittee is Congressman Don Young of
Alaska and the Ranking Democratic Member is Congressman Raul Ruiz of Ca-
lifornia.  The Resident Commissioner is a member of the Subcommittee.

On April 23rd, Pierluisi sent a letter to the leadership of the House Natural Re-
sources Committee, requesting that a hearing be scheduled.  Specifically, the
Resident Commissioner urged the Committee or Subcommittee to invite witne-
sses to testify about H.R. 727, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process
Act, and about the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, which became Pu-
blic Law 113-76 and which includes important language on the status issue.

Pierluisi introduced H.R. 727 on February 4, 2015.  The bill authorizes a federa-
lly-sponsored vote to be held in Puerto Rico within one year of the bill’s enact-
ment.  The ballot would contain a single question:  “Shall Puerto Rico be admi-
tted as a State of the United States?”  If a majority of voters affirm their desire
for admission, the bill provides for an automatic series of steps to occur that
would culminate in Puerto Rico being admitted as a state in January 2021.

“H.R. 727 already has 108 cosponsors.  There have been approximately 2,800
bills introduced in the House of Representatives so far this Congress, and H.R.
727 has more bipartisan support than 99 percent of those bills.  Given this level
of support, it is appropriate for the Subcommittee to hold a hearing to discuss
the legislation,” said Pierluisi.

The Resident Commissioner also led the fight for passage of P.L. 113-76, which
responds to the historic 2012 status referendum in Puerto Rico in which voters re-
jected the current territory status and expressed a preference for statehood.  The
law provides an appropriation of $2.5 million to fund the first federally-sponsored
status vote in Puerto Rico’s history.  This funding will remain available until it is
expended by the Puerto Rico government.  While P.L. 113-76 does not prescribe
the exact format of the ballot, leaving those details to the Puerto Rico government,
it does require the U.S. Department of Justice to certify that the ballot and voter
education materials are consistent with U.S. law and policy.  The Resident Commi-
ssioner has called for this funding to be used to conduct a straightforward, up-or-
down vote on whether Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state.

“Unfortunately, although more than 16 months have elapsed since P.L. 113-76 be-
came law, the Puerto Rico government has not submitted a proposed ballot to the
U.S. Department of Justice or taken any meaningful action to schedule this federally
-sponsored vote.  It is my hope that the Subcommittee will explore this matter in
detail at the hearing,” said Pierluisi.

Puerto Rico is currently experiencing the most severe economic and fiscal crisis in
its history.  The root cause of this crisis is Puerto Rico’s undemocratic and unequal
political status.


“As I have repeatedly stated, no people in history have prospered while being de-
prived of basic political and civil rights, and it is not reasonable to expect Puerto
Rico to be an exception to this rule.  This hearing is timely because it will provide
a forum to discuss the inextricable connection between Puerto Rico’s territory sta-
tus and its economic challenges,” said Pierluisi.

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 17, 2015

GIRL IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SHOOTING

As reported by El Vocero, a 5-year-old girl is in critical condition at Centro
Médico after having been injured along with her mother when  they were
shot as they drove down Road 188 in the San Isidro sector of Canóvanas
last night. Police are investigating whether the shooting was an ambush or
if the vehicle drove into a shooting between other parties. The child suffered
a bullet wound in the chest, while her mother is also in the hospital with
non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle they were in was being driven by
a female friend, who was uninjured.

PREPA TAPS RESERVE FUND FOR PAYMENT

From Reuters:

Puerto Rico's troubled utility, PREPA, made another withdrawal from
its reserve account to make a quarterly bond payment on April 1,
according to a regulatory filing posted by the utility. While the  with-
drawal amounted to just $8.8 million, the filing posted on Wednesday
shows the utility is remaining current on it debt payments  ahead of a
much larger bond payment of around $400 million which comes due
on July 1 and that some analysts expect PREPA to miss.

PIERLUISI SEEKS SSI PARITY FOR PR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced on the floor of the  U.S. 

House of Representatives on Wednesday the filing of legislation to extend 

the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) to Puerto Rico -- as well

as to the other territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin  Islands and American 

Samoa. “Of all the disparities that Puerto Rico  faces because it is a territory 

and not a state, few are as morally egregious and practically damaging as 

its exclusion from SSI,” Pierluisi said. “SSI provides monthly cash assis-

tance to blind, disabled or elderly individuals who have limited or no inco-

me. We are talking about the most vulnerable members of our society.” 

The resident commissioner said SSI applies in all 50 states and the District 

of Columbia. However, since the program’s inception in 1974, it has not 

been extended to Puerto Rico. 

USVI PESTICIDE ALSO FOUND IN PR

From The Daily Mail:

The toxic pesticide that poisoned a U.S. family on vacation in the Virgin 

Islands has also been improperly used in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency said Thursday after a federal investigation. Officials said 

documents suggest methyl bromide may have been improperly applied in 

various locations in Puerto Rico.  EPA regional administrator Judith Enck 

said the agency and Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture are investigating 

where and when the pesticide was used and how much was applied.

PONCE SEES REVENUE SPIKE BEFORE JUSTAS

From Caribbean Business:

Ponce Mayor María Meléndez said municipal licenses and permits increa-

sed revenue for the municipality ahead of "Las Justas de la Liga Atlé

tica Interuniversitaria" intercollegiate sports competition (Las Justas), 

which kicked off Thursday. Meléndez said Ponce was ready to welcome the 

more than 180,000 people.

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 1, 2015

PUERTO RICO DECLARED INDEPENDENT BY CONGRESS

In an unexpected move that is sending shock waves through
both San Juan and Washington, the United States Congress
approved full independence for Puerto Rico in a vote late
last night. House bill HR 4115, the "Sovereignty for the
Puerto Rican People Act", sponsored by Illinois Congressman
Luis Gutierrez, passed by a vote of 320-199, with 10 members
abstaining or absent. The bill provides for the granting of
full sovereignty to Puerto Rico, which would then become
effective immediately once President Obama signs it into law.
The details of the transition are yet to be worked out, and
the sudden news is being met with consternation on the island.
Prices for Puerto Rico municipal bonds have dropped dramati-
cally in the markets this morning, as investors process the
unexpected development. Keep checking The Puerto Rico
Monitor for the latest updates on this story.

GOVERNOR GARCIA PADILLA RESIGNS

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla is resigning his
post effective May 1st of this year. The one-term Popular Demo-
cratic Party Governor stated that "There ees, eeehhhh, nothink
mowr I can du too fix, este queeee, economee an stoff, so I go
now. Fock it". Secretary of state David Bernier will be sworn
in as Governor upon Padilla's resignation and will serve out
the remainder of his term. Padilla will reportedly open his
own language school upon leaving La Fortaleza, to be called
"Agapo's Engrish Languach Instituting".

ALEXANDRA LUGARO TO POSE FOR PLAYBOY

Independent gubernatorial candidate Alexandra Lúgaro announced
this morning at a press conference in San Juan that she has posed
for a nude spread for Playboy, which will appear in next month's
print issue of the men's magazine. "I think there's really no bad
way to promote my candidacy and the ideas behind it, and doing
this spread will definitely get some attention. It's not about the
sexuality, it's about pushing Puerto Rico forward. I also hope this
will help people forget about that FBI raid on my compa...I mean,
about  the dire economic situation." Some preliminary photos from
the Playboy shoot have been made available online here. When
reached for comment about the surprising announcement, aspiring
NPP nominee Ricky Rosello said "Well, I guess I'll have to pose
nude too."

NO VIOLENT CRIMES REPORTED OVERNIGHT

No one was shot, stabbed, raped, robbed, run over by a car,
set on fire or poisoned anywhere across Puerto Rico last night.
Police Superintendent Jose Caldero commented, "I don't know
what's going on, but I'm scared too."





April Fool's!

Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act Gains Traction

Caribbean Business

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced that fewer than two months
after it was introduced, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act has
obtained 90 cosponsors. The bill, H.R. 727, was filed by Pierluisi Feb. 4.

“As I have said before, and as I underscore again today, every cosponsor of H.R.
727 is extraordinarily meaningful. Each member of Congress who cosponsors
the bill is declaring, in essence, that he or she will support  Puerto Rico’s admi-
ssion as a state on a fast timeline once a majority of  voters in Puerto Rico con-
firm their desire for statehood in a federally sponsored vote on admission,” said
Pierluisi...[CONTINUE READING]

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 17, 2015

PIERLUISI SEEKS SUPPORT FOR STATEHOOD BILL

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Thursday that 10
members of Congress have joined him as co-authors of the bipartisan
legislation that will pave the way for Puerto Rico to become a state.
The sponsorship comes at a time when several Republicans are calling
for Puerto Rico to be placed under a federal board to manage its
financial aff airs. HR 727 calls for a status vote that will be held
a year after the approval of the bill or no later than the end of
2017. The legislationwill ask voters if they want to become a state.
According to the bill, if a majority of Puerto Ricans vote for
statehood, there will be a statehood declaration on Jan. 1, 2021.

ECONOMIST: 2015 WILL BE DECISIVE FOR PR

From News Is My Business:

The effects of the current administration’s value-added tax proposal
as part of a sweeping tax overhaul and the “liquidity time bomb” of
the Government Development Bank will make 2015 a “decisive year”
for making harsh decisions, analyst firm H. Calero Consulting pre-
dicted in the latest edition of its publication “Compass.”

In the analysis released last week, the firm offered its views of
2014, describing it as “another turbulent year for the Puerto Rican
economy.” “Businesses and households sadly miss the stable growing
years of the late 80s and 90s. This continued state of crisis
impacts house holders’ and business owners’ peace of mind. Many
households have lost confidence in Puerto Rico’s recovery and con-
sequently, they are migrating to the U.S. [mainland],” the firm
said, adding that other issues causing uncertainty, such as the
tax reform and other laws are fueling the outward shift.

FUNERAL HELD FOR MAN IN GREEN LANTERN COSTUME

From Fox News Latino:

A wake was held for a 50-year-old man who died last week in Puerto
Rico, with his family dressing him as the Green Lantern comic book
character, local media reported.

The body of Renato García, who succumbed last Monday to unspecified
health problems, was displayed on Sunday at his home in San Juan's
Rio Piedras neighborhood. According to his relatives, García made
the costume several weeks ago and since then he had been in the habit
of wearing it all the time and going out in public dressed that way,
and so the family decided to dress him like that for the funeral,
which is scheduled for Monday.

MALL OF SAN JUAN ADDS FIVE MORE STORES

From Caribbean Business:

Michigan-based Taubman Centers Inc., which owns the Mall of San
Juan luxury shopping center, revealed Monday several new entrants
to the Puerto Rico retail scene that are set to open as part of
the mall’s inauguration March 26. The stores in question are Brio
Tuscan Grille, an Italian cuisine restaurant based in Columbus,
Ohio; Burger & Beer Joint, a gourmet burger chain founded in Miami;
Hollister, a California teen-clothing store owned by Abercrombie
& Fitch Co.; Kona Grill, a Japanese-themed restaurant franchise
based in Scottsdale, Arizona; Tommy Bahama, a Seattle-based
causal clothing store, and Vans, a footwear and apparel
company.