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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Rossello Says Status Issue Is Legislative Matter… AAV, Fortuño Work Together On Medicaid, Ft. Buchanan… Toledo Raids Las Gladiolas… Unicameral Vote Canceled… McClintock: NPP Didn’t Pay For Senate Presidency Poll…El Yunque’s New Recreation Area… Comptroller Faults SJ Health Dept… Bush Will Study AAV’s Status Letter
Rossello: Status Issue Should Be Discussed In Legislature By LEONARDO ALDRIDGE February 17, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — After insisting Thursday that Anibal Acevedo Vila is an illegitimate governor, New Progressive Sen. Pedro Rossello affirmed that he will not meet with the governor to discuss status and that it should be the Legislature that raises its voice to debate the issue. Rossello criticized the meetings on status between Acevedo Vila and Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño as, "useless." "The place to establish public policy on fundamental issues such as (status) is the Legislature. The Legislature has invited him to come here to discuss his positions on the status of Puerto Rico," said the former governor, Rossello. Without directly mentioning their names, Rossello said the meetings between Acevedo Vila and Fortuño have not been fruitful and that they meet to enhance their image in the press. "It is clear that the resident commissioner from our party has met him and has not arrived at anything. It seems useless to me to continue having these meetings, that only serve to get their photos in the paper," Rossello said. Governor, Fortuño Work Together On Medicaid, Fort Buchanan February 17, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — Although they did not reach an agreement about status, Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno and Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila did decide to work together for an increase in federal Medicaid funds, and for the fight to keep Fort Buchanan open. "(The governor) is in agreement with me and we established a strategy to try to increase Medicaid allocations," Fortuño said. The island received $219 million annually in Medicaid funds. Contrary to the States, Puerto Rico is one of the U.S. territories that has a limit on access to the program, meant to offer health services to the poor. Toledo Raids Las Gladiolas Residences February 17, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — Police on Thursday took over several apartments in the Las Gladiolas public housing complex in Hato Rey, which allegedly had been used by drug traffickers. As in his first term as Police superintendent, Pedro Toledo woke the complex warning that next he will raid other residences. "To the delinquents, finish your vacations … We are not going to end here, there are other residences that we already have in mind," Toledo said in a press conference. But, different way from his time as superintendent under Pedro Rossello, Toledo did not eye occupying the communities with the National Guard as his first choice. Vote On Unicameral Government Is Canceled February 17, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — The New Progressive Party (NPP) majority in the Senate on Thursday afternoon shot down the electoral vote on a unicameral government that was scheduled for July 10. In a vote of 27 to nine, the Senate canceled the consultation vote in which voters would have chosen between the current House and Senate system or a new legislative order with only one parliamentary body. The Senate NPP spokesman, Jorge de Castro Font, said his party did not believe in unicameraility. "And also, this is not the priority at this time. The priority is status and this is what should be dealt with first. The fiscal situation also makes it not a good time to hold a unicamerality vote that would cost some $1.5 million," de Castro Font said. The NPP said the money would be better used for a vote on issues such as salary raises for the police. The vote proposal on unicamerality had been legislated by the previous Legislative Assembly, controlled by the Popular Democratic Party. McClintock: NPP Did Not Pay For Poll On Senate Presidency February 16, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — Senate President Kenneth McClintock denied that the New Progressive Party (NPP) had ordered an internal poll to determine party preference regarding a challenge to his presidency post. McClintock said he is part of NPP leadership and the organization never authorized payment for a poll on the matter. "I am part of the leadership board, and we did not authorize thousands of dollars in payments to do a poll. I am sure that a poll has not been done on behalf of the New Progressive Party," he said. Press reports cited an alleged internal poll done between Feb. 7 and Feb. 11, among 500 NPP members, which revealed 83 percent favor defeated gubernatorial candidate Pedro Rossello as Senate president, in place of McClintock. But the reports did not specify who was in charge of the poll, or other details such as margin of error or the scientific method used. New Recreation Area To Be Built In El Yunque February 16, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — A new recreation area will be built on the south side of the Caribbean National Forest, known as El Yunque, near Highway 191 in the Cubuy neighborhood of Naguabo. Forest supervisor Pablo Cruz said Wednesday that construction will begin Feb. 22, and could take nine months to a year. It will cost $1.3 million. "This is an ambitious project that the community has been waiting more than 30 years for, and it will have a positive impact on the Naguabo economy," he said at a press conference. According to Cruz, the area will have 10 outdoor picnic sites and will give access to El Toro and Vientos Alisios. Cruz also said the project will convert Highway 191 into a pedestrian street, with hopes to later add a bicycle path. The road has been closed to vehicle traffic due to landslides. Comptroller’s Report Faults City Health Department February 16, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — A report by the Commonwealth Comptroller found "serious deviations" from the law and operating regulations for the San Juan Health Department between January 2001 and June 2003. The main findings of the audit include the unjustified use of funds to benefit residents in other towns, the adjudication of an auction that did not go to the most qualified bidder, and the loss of funds due to administrative deficiencies in the federal Ryan White program. The first two points allegedly occurred under the administration of Jorge Santini, press reports said Wednesday. But the point related to the federal monitoring that caused the city to reimburse the federal government $352,094, is due to actions taken under the administration of Sila M. Calderon, and for one month under Santini. White House Will Evaluate Acevedo Vila’s Status Letter February 16, 2005 SAN JUAN (AP) — A spokesman for the White House confirmed that the president’s office will study the letter in which Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila notified President George W. Bush of his proposal to hold a referendum in which Puerto Ricans can choose between a Constitutional Assembly or a plebiscite with Congressional support to resolve the status issue. Maria Tamburri, of the White House, confirmed that Acevedo Vila’s letter, sent Friday, was received. "The White House has received the letter sent by Gov. Acevedo Vila and we are in the process of evaluating it," Tamburri said from Washington, D.C., according to local reports.
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