Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 31, 2018

Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine rolled out a meaningful video endorsement Tuesday, via San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto. Cruz rooted the endorsement in Levine’s reaction in the immediate wake of last year’s hurricanes that devastated Puerto Rico. “Out of nowhere,” Cruz related, “I got a phone call from this guy I had never heard […]

Associated PressOctober 3, 2017

On the ground in Puerto Rico nearly two weeks after a hurricane ravaged the island, President Donald Trump heaped praise Tuesday on his administration’s relief workers and, more selectively, Puerto Rican officials after earlier dismissing critics of the federal response as “politically motivated ingrates.” Trump told officials and relief workers assembled in an airplane hangar […]

Associated PressOctober 2, 2017

In Puerto Rico’s hurricane-ravaged capital, it seems Carmen Yulin Cruz is everywhere these days: handing out bags of ice, wading through chest-deep floodwaters, hugging people in need of comfort. Cruz has long won attention across the island for her hands-on style of leadership in San Juan. But this week she rose to international prominence as […]

Associated PressSeptember 28, 2017

First, Hurricane Maria knocked out power and water to Puerto Rico. Then diesel fuel, gas and water became scarce. Now, it’s money. The aftermath of the powerful storm has resulted in a near-total shutdown of the U.S. territory’s economy that could last for weeks and has many people running seriously low on cash and worrying […]

Associated PressSeptember 25, 2017

Margarita Aponte and her relatives cleared the road in front of her house with two oxen, then drove an hour from her devastated hometown in central Puerto Rico to the old telegraph building in the capital of San Juan. There, thousands of Puerto Ricans gathered for a chance at a resource nearly as precious as […]

Associated PressSeptember 25, 2017

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Puerto Rico’s nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday that Hurricane Maria’s destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage. “The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years,” said Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez. “I can’t deny […]

Scott PowersAugust 29, 2017

Florida state Reps. Bob Cortes, Rene Plasencia, and David Santiago are headed to Puerto Rico Wednesday for continuing talks on developing relationships between the commonwealth’s government and Florida’s government. The trio of Central Florida Republicans all have Puerto Rico heritage and represent districts with large populations of Puerto Rican migrants. Cortes is from Altamonte Springs; […]

Melissa RossApril 18, 2016

The National Transportation Safety Board is set to resume its search today for the critical data recorder from the sunken El Faro cargo ship. The 790-foot freighter sank during Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1, 2015, after leaving JAXPORT in Jacksonville, bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico. All 33 of the El Faro’s crew died at sea. The NTSB says purpose […]

Associated PressAugust 25, 2015

Central Florida was the top destination of Puerto Ricans moving from metro San Juan to the mainland two years ago. New data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 6,200 Puerto Ricans moved to metro Orlando from the island’s capital in 2013. The New York metro area was the next most popular destination, […]

Tag: San Juan
Donald Trump gets a rude awakening.

Mayors stick together, as Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto backs Philip Levine

Donald Trump in Puerto Rico, lauds administration’s relief effort

San Juan mayor in hurricane spotlight after Donald Trump tweets

Now even money is running out in hurricane-hit Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans hunt for precious Wi-Fi and cell signals

Official: Hurricane Maria set Puerto Rico back decades

David Santiago, Rene Plasencia, Bob Cortes headed for Puerto Rico for talks

NTSB search resumes today for the sunken El Faro cargo ship

Orlando top spot for residents leaving Puerto Rico’s capital