Economic Hardships on a Large Scale

Picture courtesy of kasamaproject.org/ interviews/

Puerto Rico’s governor submitted a bill earlier this week that would reduce it’s seats in the US legislature by thirty percent (House from 51 to 39 seats and Senate from 27 to 17 seats). If this bill passes it would make Puerto Rican lawmakers the highest paying salaries of any state under the American flag, yet they would have less pull in the legislative process.

This decision did not come lightly. It is a result of the economic environment and the suffering it has imposed on our small island territory. Fortuno’s (the govenor of Puerto Rico) administration claim that the reform would reduce annual operating gost by $11 million. In addition, it would simulataneously save tax payers money and improve government efficiency.

However, this proposal contest Fortuno’s pro-statehood party agains oppostion who favor Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status, head by Ferrer.

Like the rest of the America, Puerto Rico is suffering from these hard economic times. But their hardship is probably harder felt as their career opportunities are limited already because of the size of the area in comparison to their population of highly educated individuals.

“A Caribbean island of roughly 4 million people, Puerto Rico is in its fourth year in recession. Bankruptcies have increased by 30 percent and more than 10,000 people are on a waiting list for public housing.” - David McFadden: Associated Press

Standing Up

Picture courtesy latina.com

Students of The University of Puerto Rico, the most prestigious and only government maintained educational facility in Puerto Rico, have organized to protest the $100 million funding deficit they are facing. Such a lack in funding will cancel all summer classes, eliminate the Honor programs and the Sports programs funding, as well as affect the financial support of all bachelor degrees.

On April 9, 2010 a small group of students blocked the stairs and main halls to the buildings to prevent anyone from arriving to their classes on time. Two students were injured by Police Campus enforcement.

The Humanities Committee stated, “This is not a defense of the University, it is a redefinition of the university, the one that is horizontal, not hierarchical, participatory and democratic." The students are considering a 48-hour strike starting April 15.

Ricky Martin

Picture courtesy of eonline.com

This is a little bit of late, unrelated news from Puerto Rico, but as you may already know Ricky Martin came out March 29. However I would like to reiterate the fact that there is much more to a man or a woman than his or her sexuality, and in my opinion it is small to define a person solely as such.

So here are some things you may not know about Ricky Martin:

He rose to fame in a Latin American boy band, Menudo. It was formed in the 1970’s and was very popular in Latin and Hispanic cultures. Menudo is still making records to this day.

He is a double threat – singe/actor. He acted in the telenovela, Alcanzar una estrella as well as appearances on General Hospital.

Ricky Martin is also the proud father of twin baby boys, Matteo and Valentino. He has slightly stepped out of the spotlight to focus more on his family and baby boys.

This is not meant to be a complete biography but rather offer that fact that people have many different aspects to themselves other than their sexual orientation.