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Rallies For Puerto Rico Call For More Federal Support
By Caitlin Whyte | February 5, 2018
Credit Caitlin Whyte / WXXI News
ROCHESTER (WXXI) – Rallies across New York State were held Saturday to call on the federal government for continued support in Puerto Rico.
IBERO President and CEO Hilda Rosario Escher says it's also a way to remind people of the ongoing crisis on the island, now lasting over five months.
She says the government needs to do more to help get people their basic needs back.
"While the federal government thinks that they have done excellent – when you still have Puerto Ricans, American citizens, who do not have electricity and running water, I would not say that the federal government has done its job."
Governor Cuomo joined Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló at a rally in the Bronx.
On behalf of the governor's office, Secretary of State Rossana Rosado was at the Rochester rally. She says the damage is a humanitarian crisis, and that some are only getting light back now after hurricane Maria struck in September.
But Rosado said the events were also to celebrate and thank New Yorkers for their help.
"For their incredible support of Puerto Ricans on the island, and the way that they have welcomed Puerto Ricans here in Rochester. Puerto Rico is an amazing place, but this very bad thing happened."
Rosado says Puerto Ricans are resilient but it's still hard for many on the island.