Transparencia Thursday
Each week I will try to provide news for each country represented in the Latinx/Hispanic community. This week we start with Puerto Rico.
Trouble with the Unemployment Assistance Program
Thanks to the Coronavirus everyone is facing financial hardship but for the people of Puerto Rico, things are especially tough. Still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma and Maria and the earthquakes that rocked the island last year with little to no government assistance, 87,000 self-employed people have filed for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program since its launch on April 28th. Those are the lucky ones who actually managed to get through either on the phone or online. Unfortunately, only 3,000 of those claims have been processed.
Of course the finger pointing has already started between government officials and the tech provider about who's responsible for the delays and issues plaguing the program. Puerto Rico Labor Secretary Briseida Torres states a drive up center outside department headquarters in San Juan should help speed up claim processing with more centers expected to pop up around the island shortly. Economists warn 30% of Puerto Rico's population could see unemployment, adding to a poverty rate of 40% already.
Veterans Memorial Attacked Memorial Day Weekend
Vandals attacked the Puerto Rican Veterans Memorial located in Boston's South End late Saturday night. Among the damage was a stone pillar that'd been knocked over and a desecrated Puerto Rican flag lay on the ground. Crews have worked tirelessly over the weekend to make repairs in time for the memorial ceremony held Monday at noon. The memorial was unveiled in 2013 to honor the 200,000 Puerto Ricans who have served in the armed forces since 1898 when the island was acquired by the United States.
Governor Talks Limited Opening
After being on lockdown for two months to flatten the curve of Coronavirus cases, Governor Wanda Vazquez announced most businesses can reopen Tuesday but for limited hours. Beaches, restaurants, churches, hair salons and retail stores will be subject to a 7pm to 5am curfew until June 15. Restaurants can only operate as 25% capacity, hair salons and barber shops cannot have walk-ins, and anyone wishing to surf, jog, swim, kayak, or any other exercise at the beach may do so only between the hours of 5am and 7pm. Malls are expected to open June 8 with stores being allowed to open under restrictions such as not allowing customers to try on clothes. Flights to Puerto Rico are limited to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport for extra screening and businesses like gyms and movie theaters remain closed. Everyone venturing outside or visiting these businesses are required to wear a face mask.
Business owners still struggling in an economy plagued by earthquakes, hurricanes, and government corruption herald the news, however, doctors and scientists warn not enough testing is being done and Covid-19 cases are still on the rise. Puerto Rico reported over 2,900 confirmed cases with at least 126 deaths so far, though the Health Department suspects actual numbers are much higher.
This Month in History - May
May of 1969
The Chancellor of San Fernando Valley State College aka California State University, Northridge approved America's first ever college Chicano Studies Department. The first faculty members of this department included Dr. Rodolfo Acuña who, along with Rafael Perez-Sandoval, Gerald Resendez, Dr. Jose Hernandez and Carlos Arce.
May 5, 1970
Patrick F. Flores becomes the first Mexican American Roman Catholic Bishop.
May 12, 1968
Resurrection City goes up near the Lincoln Memorial. It was a tent city full of White, Black, Latinx, and Native American activists protesting the level of poverty in Chicano barrios around the country. Known as the Poor People's March, it stayed in place for several weeks.
May 14, 1987
Born Margarita Cansino in Brooklyn, NY to a Spanish flamenco dancer father and Irish/English Ziegfield Girl mother, Rita had her first speaking role in the movie, Under the Pampas Moon. Taking her mother's maiden name she soon changed her stage name to Rita Hayworth. On this day Miss Hayworth died of complications from Alzheimers in her NY apartment at the age of 68.
May 18, 1896
In the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, the US Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" facilities for Blacks is legal. Thus beginning the age of segregation in the United States for Black and Latinx Americans until it was finally overturned in the 1960s.
May 18, 1929
Mexican American groups Knights of America, The Order of the Sons of America, and The League of Latin American Citizens came together in San Antonio, Texas to form The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in order to join forces in promoting education and the advancement of civil rights for Mexican Americans.
May 27, 1968
The District Attorney of Los Angeles indicted "The LA 13" for conspiracy to disturb the peace. This group of high school students who lead multiple walk-outs included Sal Castro, Eliezar Risco, Pat Sanchez,Moctesuma Esparza, David Sanchez, Carlos Montes, Fred Lopes, Richard Vigil, Gilbert Olmedo, Joe Razo, Henry Gomez and Carlos Munoz, Jr. The felony charge, which carried a maximum sentence of 64 years, was dismissed two years later.
