Weeks After Hurricane, Puerto Rico Lacks Water, Working Hospitals, Electricity & Considers Solar
Three weeks after Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, President Trump asked Congress for $4.9 billion loan to help the island pay government salaries and other expenses. This comes as he allowed a 10-day waiver of the Jones Act to lapse, restricting shipments of food, fuel and medicine from foreign-flagged ships as nearly half of the island still lacks clean water and nearly 90 percent lacks electricity. This comes as military security firms continue to patrol the streets of Puerto Rico's capital San Juan, and Academi, formerly known as Blackwater, has a pending bid to provide security services for water transportation. Meanwhile, solar companies and nonprofits say they could help Puerto Rico regain power. We get an update from Democracy Now!'s Juan Gonzilez and speak with Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and the founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, who helped to gather aid to send to Puerto Rico, and has written a column published around the country this week titled "How to put Puerto Rico back on its feet."