Donald Trump has a decades-old history of racist activity. He took out full-page ads in the New York newspapers trying to influence New Yorkers that five young black men should be convicted. He judged them guilty of attacking and raping a white woman in Central Park, then wished for the death penalty to return. The real jury convicted the innocent young men. Still, Trump must be trying to dig up votes from people of color with his latest effort.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will release over $8 billion in disaster aid to Puerto Rico. Recently, the American territory has been besieged with earthquakes, and the president had not released its aid money from the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. A now-infamous video showed him tossing paper towels into the crowd, like tee-shirts at a football game.
Puerto Rico, which suffered devastating losses from hurricanes in 2017, has received just $1.5 billion of HUD’s congressionally authorized disaster funds. The delay in receiving the island nation’s additional funds had angered both U.S. lawmakers and commonwealth officials.
The administration will publish the Federal Register notice about the grant details, especially how Puerto Rico can spend it. HUD missed the deadline by nearly four months. Its excuse was it needed to verify financial safeguards in the tourist destination.
POLITICO reported it’s source said:
‘Now that a full financial monitoring team is assembled and active, we can move forward with confidence that these disaster recovery funds will reach those who need them the most.’
As the sole representative for the island, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzáles told POLITICO:
‘We’ve been fighting for this for many months so I’m happy that finally [the Office of Management and Budget] and HUD approved the notification. [Puerto Rico needs it] tnow more than ever after the earthquakes. It’s the best news in months.’
Trump definitely needed more votes and the goodwill of people of color. However, the Democrats ramped up its message to Trump. House Not only that, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requested that the White House “cease and desist that illegal activity.”
As the manager of the country’s pursestrings, Pelosi indicated HUD would be punished to the tune of almost $20 million. The money would not resume until Puerto Rico’s money was refunded.
Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee Representative David Price (D-NC) said the Democrats were serious. He told The Newsweek magazine:
‘We’re determined to show that we’re serious about this and we’re using the tools we have. If this administration is going to behave in unprecedented ways to hold up legitimate processes, we’re going to have to figure out ways to influence that. It’s just as simple as that.’
HUD Spokesperson Brad Bishop said:
‘House Democrats have tried everything they can to keep HUD from implementing policies that protect the American taxpayer. They are withholding funds that would make the agency more efficient, effective, and accountable, because HUD refuses to release Puerto Rico’s [Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery] funds without any financial controls being put in place? The irony is not lost here.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.
