PBS NewsHour Weekend; PBS NewsHour Weekend : KQED : July 28, 2018 5:30pm-6:01pm PDT

Captning sponsored by WNET EC

>> Sreenivasan: A L HALF HOUR FOR YOU TODAY: PUERTO RICO STILL IN CRISIS OVER HURRICANE RECOVERY AND MOUNTING DEBT. IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, HOW ONE TO IN THE U.S. IS ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR WORKERS FROM PUERTO RICO. AND, THEONG ROAD AHEAD. AN UPDATE ON THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGESACING PUERTO RICANS WHO CAME TO THE MAINLAND FROM THE STORM. ALL ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLEY: BERNARD AND IRENE SCHWARTZ. SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III. THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY. DR. P. ROY VAGELOS AND DIANA T. VAGELOS. THE J.P.B. FOUNDATION. ROSALIND P. WALTER. BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG. CORPORATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA-- DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED INDIVIDUA OUP RETIREMENT PRODUCTS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVIDED BY: D BY THE CORPORATION FOR B PUBLADCASTING, AND BY WEONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM V LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. UD FROM THE TISCH WNET S AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US. TONIGHT, WHAVE A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE PROGRAM, FOCUSED ON THE CRISIS AND RECOVERY IN PUERTO RICO. PD'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THERE, AND WE WILLE OUR EXTENSIVE REPORTING OVER THE .AST THREE YEARS, RIGHT AFTER OUR NEWS SUMMA THE MASSIVE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE, BURNING SINCE MONDAY, NEARLY DOUBLED IN SIZE OVERNIGHT, AS HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH WINDS CONTINUE. WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE CARR FIRE IS THE LARGEST OF MORE THAN DOZEN WILDFIRES THAT HAVE ERUPTED ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

>> THIS AFTERNOON, AUTHORITIES FOUND THE BODIES OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR GREAT GRANDMOTHER, WHO WERE REPORTED MISSING THURSDAY. THAT BRINGS THE DEATH TOLL TO FIVE. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED FIGHTING THE FIRE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> Sreenivasan: THE CARR FIRE STARTED NEAR A HIGHWAY NORTHWEST OOF REDDING, AND HAS SPRER MORE THAN 125 SQUARE MILES. THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTO D.C., CARDINAL THEODORE McCARRICK, WHO FACES MULTIPLE SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES, RESIGNED. THE 88-YEAR-OLD McCARRICK WAS JUNE AFSTR A CHURCHMINISTRY HAD SEXUALLY ABUSED ATIONS TEENAGER 47 YEARS AGO TO BE ENEDIBLE. SINCE THORE ABUSE VILEGATIONS HAVE COME TO LIGHT, ALONG WITH ENCE THE CHURCH EDEW ABOUT THEM. POPE FRANCIS ORDcCARRICK TO REMAIN IN SECLUSION UNTIL A CHURCH TRIAL IS HELDES THOUSANDS PRD ACROSS RUSSIA TODAY CHALLENGING A GOVERNMENT PLAN TO RAISEHE PENSION AG MARCHERS DEMANDED A NATIONAL REFEREUM ON A PLAN TO RAISE THE PENSION AGE FROM 60 TO 65 FOR MEN AND FR 55 TO 63 FOR WOMEN. THE OPPONENTS SAY WOERS WON'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THEIR PENSIONS. SPAIN'S MARITIME RESCUE SERVICE SAYS IT HAS SAVED NEARLY ONE THOUSAND NORTH AFRICAN MIGRANTS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE EDITERRANEAN SEA IN JUST PAST TWO DAYS. 20,000 MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN SP SEA SO FAR THIS YEAR. MANY ARE NOW TRYING TO CROSS FROM ALGERIA AND MOROCCO INT SPAIN; AFTER THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT CRACKED DOWN ON MIGRANT BOATS OFF ITS COAST. MORE THAN 1,500 MIGRANTS G TRAVEL SMALL BOATS HAVE DIED TRYING TO CROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA SO FAR THIS YEAR. AND WE HAVE A CORRECTION TONIGHT. LAST TEL AVIV, INSTEAD OF JERUSALEM, AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL CITY. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR.

>> Sreenivasan: TONIGHT, WE ARE DEVOTING MOST OF OUR BROADCAST TO PUERTO RICO IN CRISIS. WE'LL FE REPORTING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND LOOK AT HOW PUERTO RICANS BOTH ON THE ISLAND AND ON THE MAINLAND ARE COPING. GHT WE BEGIN WITH THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND NOW, AND FOR THAT, WE TURN TO REPORTER DANICA COTO OF WHO JOINS US NOW FROM THE CITY OF SAN JUAN VIA SKYPE.

>> WORTH OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE POWER GRID. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO DONE. THE TOTAL COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN $17 BLION. AND I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE FEMA HEAD HERE WHO SAID ABOUT $1.4 BILLION STILL REMAINS UNSPENT. IN ADDITION TOHAT, THEY RECEIVED FUNDS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, AND THAT'S MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE REBUILD. BUT SO FAR, THERE ARE MORE THAN 38,000 PUERTO RICANS WHO HAVE T'EN DENIED ASSISTANCE BY FEMA.

>> Sreenivasan: TALK ABOUT THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF POWER. DO MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIVING ONO PUERTO RICY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TURN THEIR LIGHTS OU RLY?

>> MOST PEOPLE ARE NOW CONNECTED BACK TO THE POWER COMPANY. ERE'S ABOUT 260 CUSTOMERS THAT REMAIN WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. MOST OF THEM ARE IN ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN MUNICIPALITYS, YOU KNOW, MANY IN RURAL AREAS. BUT POWESR OUTAGE REMAIN COMMON. YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE DAY THE POWER COMPANY REPORTS OUTAGES, SO THERE'S NOT A STABLE SYSTEM IN PLACE YET. PEOPLE ARE STILL SPENDING MONEY TO RUN GERATORS. OTHERS HAVE OPTED TO GO SOLAR. AND THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT ADE POWER GRID ISN'T Y TO WITHSTAND ANOTHER STORM. THE REMNAN SOF TROPICARM BARROW THAT HIT PUERTO RICO EARLIER THIS MONTH CAUSED TURNPIKE 47,000 PEOPLE TO REMAIN WITHOUT POWER. AND THAT WAS NOT A STORM. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF HURRICANE SEASON, AND BOTH LOCAL OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY KIND OF STORM, EVEN A CATEGORY 4 STORM THAT HIT LAST YEAR, WOULD GREATLY DAMAGE THE GRID.

>> Sreenivasan: ALSO, TELL US A LITTLE BITHE ABOUTUSTERITY MEASURES. >>W IS THAT IMPACTING THE PEOPLE TODAY? ELL, THERE'S A BATTLE RIGHT NOW IN COURT OVER THOSE L STERITY MEASURES. THE FEDERAL CONTARD THAT IS OVERSEEING PUERTO RICO'S FINANCES IS IMPLEMENTING ITS OWN BUDGET, DESPITE E PROTEST FR THE GOVERNOR, WHO SAYS THESE AUSTERITY MEASURES ARE NOT NEEDED, THAT THEY WOULD FURTHER DAMAGE THE ECONOMY. A JUDGE RECENTLY HEARD BOTH SIDES EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND A RESOLUTION IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. IS COULD SET A PREEDENT, YOU KNOW, FOR BASICALLY ESTABLISHING HOW MUCH POWER THE BOAD HASND HOW MUCH POWER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION H. OBVIOUSLY, MARIA DID A GREAT DAMAGE, A LOT OF BUSINESSES LLOSED, PEOPLE ARE STIL STRUGGLING, A LOT OF THEM LOST THEIR SAVINGS. CURRENTLY, AUSTERITY MEASURES ARE NOT-- ARE NOT SUPORTED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND DEFINITELY NOT BY THE PEOPLE.

>> Sreenivasan: U'VE ALO BEEN REPORTING RECENTLY ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION IN THE FORENSICIT INE, AND BASICALLY AN UNDERINVESTMENT IN IT. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> CURRENTLY THERE ARE AU FIVE PATHOLOGISTS AT THE FORENSICS INSTITUTE. WHEN OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 15 ARE NEEDED. THE GOVERNORECENTLY REQUESTED, YOU KNOW, HEALTH OFFICIALS IN THE U.S. TO HELP. SOTHN MONDAYE WILL BE A GROUP COMING TO PUERTO RICO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AND THEN THEY'LL BASICALLY ASSESS TH SITUATION AT THE FORENSICS INSTITUTE, AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ND A TEAM. THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE A TEAM TO REMAIN AT LEAST ONE TO TWO YEARS.U OW, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING THAT THEY ARE NORECEIVED AUTOPSY REPORTS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER THE BODY OF THEIR LOVED ONES. UD THE FORENSIC INSTITUTE SAYS BASICALLY THEY'ERSTAFFED AND UNABLE TO HANDLE THE INCREASE IN BODIES.iv

>> Srean: ALL RIGHT. DANICA COTO OF THE ASSOCIATED ICESS JOINING US VIA SKYPE FROM PUERTOTONIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON PUERTO RICO, VISIT www.pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: BRANSON, HAS LONG BEEN HAILED AS A TOP TOURIST DESTINATION IN THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA. IT'S ALSO WHERE, IN THE LAST RSUPLE OF YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A MIGRATION OF WORROM PUERTO RICO. NEARLY 400 PUERTO RICANS HAVE BEEN RECRUITEDN THE LAST YEAR FOR WORK THE OZARKS. THEY SEE OPPORTUNITY IN PART DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF VISASFOOR IGN TEMPORARY WORKERS AND BECAUSE OF THE DIRE ECONOMIC SITUATION BACK ON THE ISLAND.

>> Sreenivasan: A YEAR AGO, BRENDA ALICEA WAS UNEMPLOYED AND HAVING A TOUGH TIME FINDING WORK IN HER TOWN OF SAN LORENZO, PUERTO RICO. IN THE MIDST OF THE LARGEST FINANCIAL CRISIS IN THE ISLAND'S HISTORY, JOB PSPECTS DIMMED BY THE DAY ON THE U.S. TERRITORY. THEN, HER BROTHER-IN-LAW TOLD TY OF JOBSWERE PL HERE IN BRANSON, MISSOURI. LOCATED IN THE OZARKS, IT'S THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "LAS VEGAS OF THE MIDWEST." THE CITY OF ABOUT 11,000 RESIDENTS SEES UP TO NINE MILLION TOURISTS EVERY SEASON. BUT IT ALSO FACES A LABOR SHORTAGE, WITH AROUND 2,000 JOB VACANCIES, MOSTLY IN HOSPITALITY.

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN BRANSON IS THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF JOBSECAUSE WE ARE A HOSPITALITY TOWN.

>> Sreenivasan: STARTING IN EARLY 2017, EN BEFORE HURRICANE MARIA, BRANSON'S MAJOR EMPLOYERS AND ITS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHED AN ISLAND-WIDE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN IN PUERTO RICO, HOPING TO WOO SEASONAL WORKERS.

>> IT'S VERY PEACEFUL. YOU HAVE A LOT OF NATURE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. AT LEAST, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

>> Sreenivasan: SHE MOVED TO BRANSON LAST SEPTEMBER, AND WOED AS A HOUSEKEEPER, BEFORE EVENTUALLY GETTING A JOB AS A TICKET AGENT AT THE BRANSON HER HUSBAND FOUND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION WORK.

>> I SAID, "IF THE SCHOOLS ARE BECAUSE I WANTED MY SON TO GRADUATE.

>> Sreenivasan: THEY BROUGHT THEIR 14-YEAR-OLD SON, KELIER, WHO HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A NGLEARISABILITY IN PUERTO RICO.

>> HE IS NOW DOING BETTER. HE DOES IS SAY, "YOU KNO WHAT? I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. I WANT TO KEEPN STUDYING." AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

>> Sreenivasan: SHE LEFT HER THEN 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WITH A RELATIVE, TO FINISH HER SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> M NOT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TREATING ME SO NICE. YOU GO TO A WALMART STORE AND THEY JUST, "HI, HOW ARE YOU? HOW WEE YOU DOING?" ON'T KNOW THEM. WE'RE LIKE, WOW! MAKING IT EVEN HARDER FOR THEEER ALREADY CASH-STRAPPED GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES LIKE ELECTRICITY AND WATER. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THERE IS ALMOST 10%, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> THEY STILL NEED HELP. ALSO, THE STREETS, THERE'S A LOT OF POTHOLES. LIKE, THEY'RE BIGGER THAN EVER.

>> Sreenivasan: SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE IL SUFFERING?

>> YES. IT'S DEVASTATED.

>> Sreenivasan: SOME 400 PUERTO RICANS LIKE BRENDA HAVE COME TO WORK IN BRANSON SINCE THE CITY BEGAN ITS MASS RECRUITMENT EFFORT. TOWNS LIKE BRANSON ARE RECRUITING FROM PUERTO RICO IN PART BECAUSE TEMPORARY WORKER VISAS, THE H2B AND THE J-1, BECAME MUCH HARDER TO GET OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND PEOPLE FROM PUERTO RICO ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.

>> UNCERTAINTY IS NEVER A GREAT BUSINESS PLAN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND WITH THE VISA PROGRAMS.

>> Sreenivasan: JEFF SEIFRIED IS PRESIDENT OF THE BRANSON/LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WERE DENIED, AND SO WE WENT INTO EMERNGGENCY MODE ON TRO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO FILL THE MORE THAN 2,000 VACAHENCIES, OPEN POSITIONS IN MARKETPLACE.

>> Sreenivasan: HE S GS THAT THE U.ST WORKER PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. T THINGS GOT ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT LAST YEAR AFTER CONGRESS FAILED TO EX EXEMPTION FOR RETURNING GUEST WORKERS. THE EXEMPTION PREVIOUSLY ALWED THOSE WORKERS TO COME FROM ABROAD, SEASON AFTER SEASON, AND THEY D NOT COUNT TOWARD THE ANNUAL CAP OF 66,000 H2B VISAS AVAILABLE.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IMMIGRATION, OBVIOUSLY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE TEMPORARY WORKFORCE OGRAMS HAVE GOTTEN MIXED UP IN THIS IMMIGRATION DISCUSSION, AND FRKLY, INAPPROPRIATELY SO.

>> Sreenivasan: WHILE SEIFRIED AND HIS TEAM CONTINUE TO LOBBY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR TEMPORARY WORKFORCE VISA REFORM, RECRUITING WORKERS FROM PUERTO RICO IS A TOP PRIORITY. EMPLOYERS FROM BRANSON ARE ALSO BRANCHING OUT TO FLORIDA, WHERE STATE RESEARCHERS PROJECT MORE THAN 50,000 PUERTO RICANS WILL PERMANENTLY SETTLE AS A RESULT OF THE HURRICANE.

>> OUR MAIN CONCERN IN BRANSON IS TO ME RE THAT ANYONE WORKING HERE TEMPORARILY IS GOING TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE. WHETHETHAT'S DOING CULTURAL IMMERSION CLASSES OR SPANISH CLASSES, EDUCATING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ISOF THIS WHOLE TTNDSCAPE.

>> Sreenivasan: CT NEW WORKERS, MANY EMPLOYERS OFFER ROUND-TRIP PLANE TICKETS, SOME MOVING EXPENSES,STND HOUSING ASCE.

>> FOOD WAS PROVIDED. AIRPLANE TICKET TO GET OVER HERE WAS PROVIDED. WE CAME ER HERE WITH MAYBE $200 BUCKS IN OUR POCKET. ANNOW WE GOT EVERYTHING.

>> Sreenivasan: LAST MAY, ANA REY AND ER HUSBAND, JOSE RAMIREZ, WERE RECRUITED BY THE STAFFING AGENCY, EXPRES EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS, AND THEY MOVED TO BRANSON WITH THEIL TWO REN. PUERTO RICO'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHUT DOWN THEIR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL IN THE TOWN OF CAROLINA BECAUSE OF THE ISLAND'S FINANCIAL CRISIS.

>> WE LOOKED UP THE EDUCATION HERE IN BRANSON, ANDLLT SOUNDED EXT.

>> IT LOOKED LIKE A NEW PLACE, A NEW BEGINNING. THEY WERE SHOWING US PICRES ABOUT THE AREA AND WE LOVED IT. I MEAN, IT'S NOT CROWDED. IT'S NOT CITY-LIKE. SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT OUR KIDS, OUR FUTURE, AND WE TOOK IT.

>> Sreenivasan: ANA WORKS AS A HOUSEKEEPER AT A LOCAL RESORT, WHERJOSE ALSO WORKS AS A SECURITY GUARD.

>> EVERY TWO WEEKS, WE SEE SOMEBODY NEW FROM PUERTO RICO. T "HEY, I'M FRS PART OF THE ISLAND." "I'M FROM THIS OTHER PART OF THE ISLAND." "HOW LONG YOU BEEN HERE?" "ONE WEEK. I'M SCARED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO." "HEY, MAN, WE BEEN HR A YEAR AND A HALF. AND IT'S A TRANSITION, BUT 2., AND ANA MAKES JUST OVERAN THEY SAY WITH A LOWER COST OF LIVING IN BRANSON, THEIR MEY GOES FURTHER HERE THAN IT DID BACK HOME.

>> THEY CAN MAKE UPWARDS OF $12, $13, $14, $15 AN HOUR, AND THEN TAKE THAT MONEY AND GO HOME WHEN THEY'RE READY.

>> Sreenivasan: THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO PUSH BACK AND SAY, "L TISTES IS A WAY FOR BUSINESSES TO GET AWAY WITH PAYING PEOPLE LESS. YOU'RE AY CTUACREASING THE FLOOR HERE. YOU'RE KEEPING WAGES SUPPRESSED BY BRINGING IN LABORE,ROM OUTSIDE HE REGION."

>> YOU KW, I CHALLENGE BACK ON THAT TOPIC, BECAUSE WHATE HEAR FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS, WE WOULD GLADLY PAY THE GOING RATE, AND FOR OUR MARKET, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE GOOD WAGES. AND SO TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HIRE LOCALS OR WE DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN LOCALS IS JUST NOT TRUE. THE REALITY IS, WE CAN'T FIND AN AVAILABLE LABOR POOL LOCALLY TO MEET THE NEED.

>> Sreenivasan: BRANSON, MISSOURI ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE RECRUITING WORKERS FROM PUERTO RICO BECAUSE OF LABOR SHORTAGES. FIR CMS IN MAINE, SOUOLINA AND MASSACHUSETTS HAVE DONE SO AS WELL. SEVERAL OFFER HOUSING, AND ONE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKER IN WARSAW, INDIANA, EVEN PROVIDED THEIR NEW HIRES WITH CARS. COXHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, THE BRANSON AREA'S LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, JUST HIRED 20 NEW NURSES FROM PUERTO RICO DUE TO A NURSG SHORTAGE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SOME MOVING EXPENSES, THE HOSPITAL WILL ASSIGN EACH NEW HIRE WITH A MENTOR. WILLIAM MAHONEY IS THE BRANSON HOSPITAL'S PRESIDENT. WHEN YOABU FIRST HEART THE IDEA TO RECRUIT FROM PUERTO RICO, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A GRT IDEA. AND THINK ABOUT THIS, YOU CAN COME HERE AND MAKE OVER $40,000 A YEAR, UP TO $100,000 A YEAR. WE'RE HELPING PAY FOR CERTIFICATIONS THEY CAN GAIN. AND THE MORE CERTIFICATIONS YOU GAIN, THE MORE PAY THAT YOU CAN EARN. O WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE WELL, THEY TAKE CAOUR E HOSPITAL PROVIDE THE HERE AT OPPORTUNITY FOR YEAR-ROUND WORK. YOU'RE NOT LIKE A HOTETI YOU NEED FUL, 12-MONTHS-A- YEAR COVERAGE.

>> WE WANT YOU TO MOVE HERE. NOT ALLY-- WE WANT YOUR FAMILY TO BE HERE. AND I THINK W WE WORK WITH THE FIRST GROUP THAT WORKS HERE, THAT'S OUR BEST SELLING POINT, IS TO TELL THEIR FRNDS AND NEIGBORS WHO THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, "HEY, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE."

>> Sreenivasan: BUT SO FAR, MOST OF THE 0 PUERTO RICAN WORKERS HAVE COME TO WORK TEMPORARILY IN HOSPITALITY, LIKE 33-YEAR-OLD HECTOR OCHOA. HE CAME TO BRANSON LAST OCTOBER TO WORK AS A TRAVEL CONSULTANT AT A RESORT.

>> MOSTLY I WANTED TO LEARN HOW BIG BUSINESSES LIKE THIS WORK, HOW THE MARKETING SIDE TO IT WORKS, HOW THE SELLING PROCESS OF IT WORKS. I CAME HERE WITH THAT MINDSET.

>> Sreenivasan: ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO 'MSTAY? >>GOING TO TRY TO STAY AS LONG AS I I CAN, AND EE FIT TO, YOU KNOW, RETURN TO PUERTO RICO. I PLAN TO RETURN TO PUERTO RICO.

>> SreeO.nivasan: YOU

>> YEAH, OF COURSE. I DO. FOR ME, MIT WE LIKE-- LEAVING FOR A WHILE AND CONCENTRATING ON WHAT I WANT TO DO A O, YOU KNOW, KIRETURN WITH, LIKE, A GOOD BASE UNDER MY ?EET, YOU KNOW

>> Sreenivasan: HECTOR MAKES $11 AN HOUR. EVERY WEEOK HE PAYS $75 BACK T HIS EMPLOYER FOR A SHARED ROOM IN THIS TRAILER THAT HOUSES SEVEN GUEST WORKERS. SO IS THISKI W OUT FOR YOU FINANCIALLY?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S WORKING. IT'S NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE, FINANCIALLY. SO THE FINANCES RIGHT NOW, I'M KIND OF PUSHING THEM TO THE SIDE, EVEN THOUGH I'M MAKING MONEY.

>> Sreenivasan: AS FOR BRENDA ALICEA, THOUGH SHE FOUND PERMANENT WORK AND MAKES $10.50 AN HOUR, SHE SAYS IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO MAKE ENDS MEE HER HUSBAND'S TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION WORK IN BRANSON WAS INCONSISTENT, AND T PLANS TO MOORLANDO, FLORIDA TO TRY HIS LUCK THERE. BRENDA BELIEVES SHOWLL LIKELY FORELUCTANTLY, BECAUSE HER SON HAS BEEN THRIVING AT HIS NEW SCHOOL J.UST OUTSIDE OF BRANS

>> NOW HE'S NOT IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. HE'S DOING WELL. I'VE DONE IT ALL FOR HIM.

>> Sreenivasan: YEAH? WORTH IT?

>> YES, SIR. DEFINITELY.

>> Sreenivasan: UNLIKE BRENDA AND HECTOR, JOSE AND ANA PLAN TO MAKE A LIFE HERE IN BRANSON, KNOWING THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE STILL BACK IN PUERTO RICO.

>> IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO LEAVE THEHEMD. EVERY TIME I TALK TO THEM, IT HURTS. NS ME.DE BUT I TELL THEM, IF YOU'RE READY AND YOU WANT TO COME, JUST LET ME KNOW.

>> IT WORKED OUT FOR US. 100%.

>> Sreenivasan: I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE IVETTE FELICIANO, WHO HAS PRODUCED MOS WOF PBS NEWSHOKEND'S REPORTS ON PUERTO RICO, AND PUERTO RICANS ON THE MNLAND. NOW YOVE GOT FAMILY THERE. YOU'VE GOT A CONNECTION TO THE ISLAND.

>> YES, HARI. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO, BUT MY FAMILY IS ACTUALLY FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDE OF PUERTO RICO, THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE ISLAND.IT IT'S A CALLED LATIS. AND EVERY SUMMER GROWING UP,WOE D GO TO PUERTO RICO, SO I DEFINITELY HAVE A VERY STRONG CONNECTION TO PEOPLE THERE. AND WHEN HER CANE MARIA HIT IN SEPTEMBER, AND MILLIONS OF PUERTO RICANS HERE ON THE MAINLAND LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE ON THE ISLAND BECAUSE OF THE BLACKOUT, MY FAMILY WAS IN THE SAME BOAT. MY MOM WASN'T ABLE TO REACH HER SIBLINGS FOR MONGSTS. SO THAT EXPERIENCE WAS VER EMOTIONAL, AND THANKFULLY EVERYBODY WAS OKAY, BUT IT INSPIRED ONE OF THE FT PIECES WE DID AFTER THE HURRICANE INPE LEHIGH, SYLVANIA. IT'S A HISTORIC PUERTO RICAN ENCLAVE AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THERE, AND BEYOND THAT, JUST SORT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO, THE UNINCORPORATED NATURE OF BEING A NTERRITORY OF THE U.S. BU A PART OF THE U.S., AND WHA THAT'S MEANT FOR TAXATION, FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, AND FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND FEDERAL FUNDING AND W THAT'S LEDP TO THE DEBT CRISIS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

>> SreenivasanR YOU KNOW, IN ST INTERVIEW IN THE PROGRAM, WE GOT INTO DETAIL ABOUT PUERTO RICO'S DEB CRISIS. HOW DOES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE THERE ON A DAILY BASIS?

>> YEAH. WELL, THE DEBT CRISIS CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE STRAIN ON THELA IS. WE WERE ACTUALLY THERE LAST A SUMMER. ABOUAR AFTER CONGRESS PASSED PROMISA LAW, AND STITUTED A FINANCIAL OEFERS SIGHT BOARD TO OVERSEE HOW PUERTO RICO IS GOING TO DIG ITSELF OUT OF THIS DEBT CRISIS. AND TENSIONS WERE REALLY HIGH WHEN WE WERE IS THE. PEOPLE WERE REALLY FRUSTRATED THAT CONGRESS INSTITUTED THIS NONDEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED BOARD THAT IN MANY WAYS HAS MORE POWER THAN THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AED THE PUERTO RICAN GOVERNMENT TO SLASH ITS BUDGET BY ABOUT A THIRD THROUGH AUSTERITY MEASURES LIKE PRIVATIZING UTILITIES, CUTTING PENSION, AND ALSO LOTS OF CUTS TO EDUTION. AND WE ACTUALLY FILED THAT REPORT LAST SUMMER AND SPOKE WITH STUDETS AT PUERTO RICO'S ONLY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND GOT A REACTION ON SOME OF THESE MEASURES.

>> Sreenivasan: LET'TAKE A LOOK.

>> Reporter: THIS SPRING, STUDENTS AND FACULTY PROTESTED A PROPOSED $450 MILLION BUDGET CUT TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OVETH E NEXT FOUR YEARS ARCHITECTURE STUDENT MINIET WAS PART OF A DELEGATION THAT MET WITH THE FISCAL OVERSIGHT BRD.

>> WE ASKED THEM POINTBLAIRVEG DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE OF THOSE CUTS? WHAT THE CONQUENCES TO THE STUDENTS. THEY'RE JUST CEETING OUT OF NUMBERS WITHOUT KNOW ANYTHING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING THOSE CUTS. E> AND THIS SPRING, THERE WERE ACTUALLY MIDESPREAD PROTESTS ON THE ISLAND AND IN THE MAINLAND OVER THESE AUSTERITY MEASURES. THIS WHOLE SITUATION HAS REALLY WRE REIGNITED A LONG-STANDING DEBATE ON THE ISLAND OVER PUERTO RICO'S FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. THE GOVERNOR JUST MADE A NEW PUSH FOR PUERTO RICO TO BECOME A STATE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS. SOME PEOPLE WANTET COMPL POLITICAL AND ECONOM INDEPENDENCE FOR PUERTO RICO, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. BUT, OF COURSE, FOR ANY CHANGE PUERTO RICO'S STATUS, CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT, AND,SH, THE PRESIDENTHA WOUL TO APPROVE.

>> Sreenivasan: OKAY, YOU'VE ALSO COVERED HOUSING ON THEIS ND. HOW-- PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR US. HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DID HURRICANE MARIA HAVE ON HOUSING IN PUERTO RICO?

>> WELL, HOUSING IS AO A HUGE PROBLEM ON THE ISLAND, EVEN BEFORE HURRICANE MARIA, BECAUSEAVE 10-YEAR ECONOMIC RECESSION IN PUERTO RICO THAT LED TO JOB LOSSES AND FORECLOSURES AND A POPULATION OU TO RICO, A HUGE PORTION OF PUERTO RICO'S HOUSING STOCK WAS VACANT. AND THEN COMES HURRICANE MARIA.

>> Sreenivasan: SO WHAT ARE PEOPLE THERE DOING NOW?

>> WEL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO THE MAINLAND, ABOUT 135,000 SINCE HURRICANE MARIA. WE ACTUALLY WENT TO HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND SPOKE TO FAMILIES STAYING A ONE HOTEL THERE.

>> . TWO DAYS BEFORE MARIA HI ISRAEL SOLD THE FAMILY'S TWO CARS, AND WITH SAVINGS BOUGHT FINE PLANE TICKETS TO THE MAINLAND.

>> ( translated ): I COULD HAVE STAYED. I'M AN ADULT. I DON'T CARE. BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT MY GIRLS. THE HURRICANE, THE FORCE WITH ICH IT WAS COMING-- CATEGORY 5. I SAID, "THIS WILL GROI EVERYTHING."

>> HE WAS RIGHT. MOST OF THEIR TOWN STILL HAS NO POWER. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS PLACED ALMOST 4,000 FAMILI IN HOTELS ACROSS 41 STATES AND PUERTO RICO. 168 OF THEM IN CONNECTICUT.

>> Sreenivasan: SO GIVE US AN UPDATE. ARE THESE FAMILIES STILL LIVING IN HOTELS?

>> SO AS OF THIS MON ARE ABOUT 1,000 FAMILIES STILL LIVING IN THE HOTELS. THE LATEST UPATE IS THAT THE PROGRAM, THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH THENNING OF AUGUST.

>> Sreenivasan: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NOTICE IN THOSE SHOTS IS THE KIDS. WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SCHOOL?

>> SINCE HURRICANE MARIA, ABOUT 24,000 SCHOOL-AGECHILDREN HAVE ENTERED U.S. MAINLAND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND WHILE WE WERE IN CONNECTICUT SPEAKING TO FAMILIES AT THE HOTELS, WE ALSO VISITED A HIGH SCHOOL IN CONNECTICUT.SE CONNECTICUT HAN 2,000 NEW STUDENTS IN ITS SCHOOL SYSTEM. T> THAT MEANS MY MOM, I DON' GET USED TO THIS. IT'S HARD. I'M DISTRACTED.

>> Reporter: DLEON, A JURN AT BUCKLEY CAME TO HARTFORD LAST FALL FROM PUERTO RICO AFTER HURRICANE MARIA STRUCK THE ESLAND. HER FAMILY HAD NCONSIDERED SENDING HER AWAY TO BE EDUCATED, BUT WHEN HER SCHOOTOL LOST ELECTRICITY AND WATER AND CLOSED, HER MOTHER DECIDED TO SEND HER TO LIVWIE H HER AUNT IN HARTFORD TO FINISH SCHOOL.

>> I'M ALWAYS GOING TO PREFER THAT LIFE I USED TO HAVE BEFORE

>> AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE DOOM AND GLOOMAND IT'S TRUE THAT THERE ARE SOME REALLY G PUERTOCRISES FAC RICO RIGHT NOW, BUT IN EVERY ONE OF THESE PIECES THAT WE'VE REPORTED, WE'VE SEEN STORIES OF RESILIENCE, OF COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER TO HELP EACH OTHER, AND OF ORGANIZATIONS ON THE OUND TRYING TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT AND DO IMPORTANT WO W. SO IF PEOPANT MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET INVOLVED, THEY SHOULD DEFINITELO TAKE A LOOK AT OF THESE THANK YOU.S.O, THANKS SO MUCH

>> Sreenivasan: AS WE MENTIONED, THE NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN CATALOGING PUERTO RICO'S STRUGGLES; BOTHTH FINANCIAL ONES BEFORE LAST YEAR'S HURRICANES AND THE RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER.N YOU ND ALL OUR PIECES AT www.pbs.org/newshour. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND. I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.IN THANKS FOR WAT HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. Captioning sponsorWNET Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH acce.wgbh.org HO

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