The Briefing Room
General Category => National/Breaking News => Topic started by: txradioguy on September 30, 2017, 02:01:25 pm
-
A mountain of food, water and other vital supplies has arrived in Puerto Rico's main Port of San Juan.
But a shortage of truckers and the island's devastated infrastructure are making it tough to move aid to where it's needed most, officials say.
At least 10,000 containers of supplies -- including food, water and medicine -- were sitting Thursday at the San Juan port, said Jose Ayala, the Crowley shipping company's vice president in Puerto Rico.
Part of the reason for the distribution backlog is that only 20% of truck drivers have reported back to work since Hurricane Maria swept through, according to a representative for Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
On top of that, a diesel fuel shortage and a tangle of blocked roads mean the distribution of supplies is extremely challenging. Even contacting drivers is a problem because cell towers are still down.
"When we say we that we don't have truck drivers, we mean that we have not been able to contact them," Rosselló said.
On Thursday the White House authorized a 10-day waiver of the Jones Act, a federal law that limits shipping to US ports by foreign vessels. Puerto Rico's governor and other US officials had argued that a waiver would expedite supplies to the island.
But as Ayala has indicated, shipping companies already have aid and supplies either waiting at the port to be delivered -- or held up at ports on the US mainland.
Of the 3,000 containers that Crowley alone had sent to San Juan's port as of Wednesday, only 4% had been dispatched from there, Ayala said.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html
-
Note to the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of San Juan...Here's a thought, instead of wearing stupid T Shirts that accomplish nothing, how about showing some leadership and getting the people needed in a time of crisis back to work. It's not the mainland that has abandoned Puerto Rico, it's the citizens on the island that aren't helping their own. Namely the people that have the skills to get the goods at the port to the people that need it. But hey, I guess it's better optics and garners more sympathy to go on TV and whine that no one is helping you and that you're "dying".
-
Note to the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of San Juan...Here's a thought, instead of wearing stupid T Shirts that accomplish nothing, how about showing some leadership and getting the people needed in a time of crisis back to work. It's not the mainland that has abandoned Puerto Rico, it's the citizens on the island that aren't helping their own. Namely the people that have the skills to get the goods at the port to the people that need it. But hey, I guess it's better optics and garners more sympathy to go on TV and whine that no one is helping you and that you're "dying".
Sitting on their AZZES waiting for someone else to do it for them! Just like what happened in New Orleans during Katrina!
-
Trump is going to Make Puerto Rico Great Again whether they like it or not.
-
Sitting on their AZZES waiting for someone else to do it for them! Just like what happened in New Orleans during Katrina!
Yup! They could at least be clearing the roads.
-
Yup! They could at least be clearing the roads.
Nope they are waiting for other people to come in and do it for them.
-
Sitting on their AZZES waiting for someone else to do it for them! Just like what happened in New Orleans during Katrina!
@Bigun that's exactly what I was thinking when I read the article. You look at how Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana handled devastating Hurricanes that hit those states. Three of the four started to get to work the minute the storms passed...look at the volunteer boat brigade that came to Texas after Harvey. They didn't sit and wait to be rescued.
Meanwhile when Katrina hit..
-
President Trump speaks about Puerto Rico in impromptu news conference yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeIBGnNtAaA
-
Nope they are waiting for other people to come in and do it for them.
This is pretty infuriating.
-
President Trump speaks about Puerto Rico in impromptu news conference yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeIBGnNtAaA
He's right about one thing...the mayor of San Juan is definitely NOT showing any leadership skills at a time when she should be.
-
PR's doing a pretty good job of demonstrating why they should not be admitted as a State.
-
PR's doing a pretty good job of demonstrating why they should not be admitted as a State.
Exactly. America already has enough (too many) ungrateful Gimmedats as it is. Why punish ourselves with more dependent "citizens"? We're not (yet, at least) at that point of stupidity like most of Europe. American citizens should be willing to work FOR the nation, not perpetually with their hand out to get something FROM the nation.
Of course, if/when leftists get back in control, that will all change. We have a reprieve from the down spiral. Let's hope it lasts long enough to recover ....for what's coming.
-
PR's doing a pretty good job of demonstrating why they should not be admitted as a State.
@Cyber Liberty
Great point.
-
Puerto Rico aid is trapped in thousands of shipping containers
Gosh. I hope they put some air holes in those containers so the aid doesn't suffocate.
-
Teamsters organize truckers to move supplies in Puerto Rico
CNN, Sep 30, 2017
The Teamsters union and the AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 50 unions, are working together to recruit truckers to travel to Puerto Rico and help distribute a stockpile of relief supplies
Thousands of shipping containers full of food, water, and medicines were sitting unused at Puerto Rico's Port of San Juan.
Relief workers haven't been able to distribute the goods, in part because only about 20% of Puerto Rico's truck drivers have reported back to work since Hurricane Maria swept through, according to a representative for Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
More: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/30/news/teamsters-union-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/
-
If this is true (link below), how can US Teamsters come in and do the job?
Report: Puerto Rico Teamsters Union, “Frente Amplio”, Refuse to Deliver Supplies – Use Hurricane Maria as Contract Leverage…
Conservative Treehouse, Sep 30, 2017, Sundance
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/09/30/puerto-rico-teamsters-union-frente-amplio-refuse-to-deliver-supplies-use-hurricane-maria-as-contract-leverage/
-
I think Puerto Rico likely won the federal lottery by having this hurricane strike. They were totally bankrupt before it hit and now aid is going to come pouring in for years likely erasing much of the mismanagement that went on for decades before.
I find it interesting, to put it kindly, that Puerto Rico can't even find drivers to move supplies to help themselves... That's pathetic.
-
I think Puerto Rico likely won the federal lottery by having this hurricane strike. They were totally bankrupt before it hit and now aid is going to come pouring in for years likely erasing much of the mismanagement that went on for decades before.
I find it interesting, to put it kindly, that Puerto Rico can't even find drivers to move supplies to help themselves... That's pathetic.
I think you're right.
-
Spot on, @DB
-
Report: Puerto Rico Teamsters Union, “Frente Amplio”, Refuse to Deliver Supplies – Use Hurricane Maria as Contract Leverage…
Posted on September 30, 2017 by sundance
Puerto Rican born and raised, Colonel Michael A. Valle (”Torch”), Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, and Director of the Joint Air Component Coordination Element, 1st Air Force, responsible for Hurricane Maria relief efforts, has the following comment:
…They have the generators, water, food, medicine, and fuel on the ground, yet the supplies are not moving across the island as quickly as they’re needed.
“It’s a lack of drivers for the transport trucks, the 18 wheelers. Supplies we have. Trucks we have. There are ships full of supplies, backed up in the ports, waiting to have a vehicle to unload into. However, only 20% of the truck drivers show up to work. These are private citizens in Puerto Rico, paid by companies that are contracted by the government”..
more
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/09/30/puerto-rico-teamsters-union-frente-amplio-refuse-to-deliver-supplies-use-hurricane-maria-as-contract-leverage/
-
If this is true (link below), how can US Teamsters come in and do the job?
That union leader should be shot
-
That union leader should be shot
Teamsters forced truckers away in New York when they came from other states delivering transformers for the electricity repair in NY during Sandy. Called them "scumbags." "Shot" isn't good enough for them.
-
Report: Puerto Rico Teamsters Union, “Frente Amplio”, Refuse to Deliver Supplies – Use Hurricane Maria as Contract Leverage…
Posted on September 30, 2017 by sundance
Puerto Rican born and raised, Colonel Michael A. Valle (”Torch”), Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, and Director of the Joint Air Component Coordination Element, 1st Air Force, responsible for Hurricane Maria relief efforts, has the following comment:
…They have the generators, water, food, medicine, and fuel on the ground, yet the supplies are not moving across the island as quickly as they’re needed.
“It’s a lack of drivers for the transport trucks, the 18 wheelers. Supplies we have. Trucks we have. There are ships full of supplies, backed up in the ports, waiting to have a vehicle to unload into. However, only 20% of the truck drivers show up to work. These are private citizens in Puerto Rico, paid by companies that are contracted by the government”..
more
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/09/30/puerto-rico-teamsters-union-frente-amplio-refuse-to-deliver-supplies-use-hurricane-maria-as-contract-leverage/
And it's our fault somehow?
This makes me sick.
-
The DNC is orchestrating what is going on in PR, but it's going to wind up blowing up in their faces.
I think they are terrified of Trump going down there and exposing just how corrupt things are there.
-
And it's our fault somehow?
This makes me sick.
Yes, it does. We need to rethink this whole "Puerto Rican statehood" thing.
-
THOUSANDS Of Containers ROTTING At San Juan Port After STRIKING Union Drivers Allegedly REFUSE To Deliver Goods…LIBERAL Mayor Has Some Explaining To Do
San Juan’s mayor railed against President Trump’s acting DHS Secretary for expressing optimism about the progress the US has made in their relief efforts for residents of Puerto Rico. San Juan’s mayor, Carmin Yulin Cruz, used CNN as a vehicle to criticize the efforts of the US in getting much-needed supplies to the residents of San Juan. Only hours after the mayor of San Juan criticized the efforts of the Trump administration, tweets from the Mayor of San Juan, (that were sent out before Hurricane Maria) surfaced on Twitter responding to Hillary’s tweet, as she trashed President Trump, saying he “doesn’t deserve to be President.”
https://100percentfedup.com/thousands-containers-rotting-san-juan-port-striking-union-drivers-allegedly-refuse-deliver-goodsliberal-mayor-explaining/
-
It's time for martial law in Puerto Rico.
At the very least, time for the President to "federalize" the delivery drivers there and order them back to work.
If they won't go, literally "send in the troops" -- U.S. Army, with a military governor and military drivers to break the gridlock (and hopefully break the union as well).
Let the left howl.
Time for the Trump administration to show 'em how it's done!
-
In Houston, the Red Cross's logistics were so bureaucratic that the county government, that's right, the government, had to step in to speed things up: http://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-red-cross-had-a-lot-of-rules-during-harvey-that-harris-county-was-disinclined-to-follow-9816085
-
Several threads merged.
-
Yes, it does. We need to rethink this whole "Puerto Rican statehood" thing.
I don't. I never liked the notion in the first place,and my opinion of it has only soured over the years.
-
Teamsters organize truckers to move supplies in Puerto Rico
CNN, Sep 30, 2017
The Teamsters union and the AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 50 unions, are working together to recruit truckers to travel to Puerto Rico and help distribute a stockpile of relief supplies
Thousands of shipping containers full of food, water, and medicines were sitting unused at Puerto Rico's Port of San Juan.
Relief workers haven't been able to distribute the goods, in part because only about 20% of Puerto Rico's truck drivers have reported back to work since Hurricane Maria swept through, according to a representative for Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
More: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/30/news/teamsters-union-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/
That story, and the other one you commented on, have me scratching my head. I thought Teamsters was an "International Union." How can the Teamsters of PR contradict the Teamsters on the mainland, and call them "scabs?" When you consider there are laws preventing strikes in case of national emergencies, the union officials in PR should be arrested.
-
Yes, it does. We need to rethink this whole "Puerto Rican statehood" thing.
@Sanguine
I found this on Twitter. It serves to illustrate just that.
If it's too graphic-heavy, mods let me know and I can delete it.
(https://i.imgur.com/lRVCY0F.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pBhFtA8.jpg)
-
Thanks, @CatherineofAragon.
-
That story, and the other one you commented on, have me scratching my head. I thought Teamsters was an "International Union." How can the Teamsters of PR contradict the Teamsters on the mainland, and call them "scabs?" ...
That was my question, too ......
-
That was my question, too ......
It's enough to make me doubt the veracity of the story about the PR Teamsters. :shrug:
-
It's enough to make me doubt the veracity of the story about the PR Teamsters. :shrug:
Agree. But from all I've been reading (quite the eye-opener) I doubt the union would actually have to tell its members not to go to work. :whistle:
-
Agree. But from all I've been reading (quite the eye-opener) I doubt the union would actually have to tell its members not to go to work. :whistle:
Unions will beat the crap out of people they don't like, and get away with it. I have always thought Teamsters had the most brutal thugs, so just about any story about bad behavior is pretty easy to believe. Would not surprise me the Union would hurt the people to "punish" the Governor, it's right up their filthy alley. They'd beat their mainland Brothers, and worse, if they had to.
-
Unions will beat the crap out of people they don't like, and get away with it. I have always thought Teamsters had the most brutal thugs, so just about any story about bad behavior is pretty easy to believe. Would not surprise me the Union would hurt the people to "punish" the Governor, it's right up their filthy alley. They'd beat their mainland Brothers, and worse, if they had to.
The Teamsters are simply organized crime.
-
He's right about one thing...the mayor of San Juan is definitely NOT showing any leadership skills at a time when she should be.
Beyond that. Not even being cooperative.
-
The Teamsters are simply organized crime.
I'm told 4 out of 5 Teamsters aren't showing up to haul relief supplies from the port because cell phone towers are down. Do you buy that? What, they've never heard of CB radios? Every car had one in the 70's.
-
I'm told 4 out of 5 Teamsters aren't showing up to haul relief supplies from the port because cell phone towers are down. Do you buy that? What, they've never heard of CB radios? Every car had one in the 70's.
I had a '79 Lincoln Town Car which had factory CB in it. You don't see them so much any more, and the terrain isn't conducive to long transmit ranges.
-
I had a '79 Lincoln Town Car which had factory CB in it. You don't see them so much any more, and the terrain isn't conducive to long transmit ranges.
It's amazing what short range will do. We knew about Smokies miles from us.
-
I had a '79 Lincoln Town Car which had factory CB in it. You don't see them so much any more, and the terrain isn't conducive to long transmit ranges.
I've had a couple of those cars. GM used this gray module on the mast with a splitter and Ford just used the regular mast and a splitter for their factory CB's. Their range stunk. I have a 10 ft whip antenna on my Custom Cruiser that is good for at least 10 miles on flat terrain.
-
It's amazing what short range will do. We knew about Smokies miles from us.
Sure we did--u[ and down fairly straight and pretty level highways, or along valley floors and when we were lucky, along ridges and downhill from there. But AM is not terrain following like FM and doesn't do well in hill country.
(http://welcome.topuertorico.org/outsource/mp_full.2.jpg)
Topography
The territory is very mountainous (covering about 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area.
The mountainous interior is formed by a central mountain chain commonly known as the Cordillera Central, extending across the interior of the island, from Mayagüez to Aibonito, which transects the island from east to west. These mountain ranges are La Cordillera Central, La Sierra de Cayey, La Sierra de Luquillo, and La Sierra Bermeja.
The largest mountains are Cerro La Punta (1,338 m) in Jayuya; Rosas (1,267 m) found between Jayuya and Ciales, Guilarte (1,205 m) in Adjuntas, Tres Picachos (1,204 m) in Jayuya, and Maravilla (1,182m) in Ponce. Toward to the northeast is Sierra de Luquillo, whose highest peaks are: Toro Hill (1,074 m) found between Río Grande, Naguabo and Las Piedras, and El Yunque Peak (1,065 m) found in Río Grande. Another mountain chain is the Sierra de Luquillo in the northeast.
The second main physiographic feature is the coastal lowlands, which extend 13 to 19 km (8 to 12 mi) inward in the north and 3 to 13 km (2 to 8 mi) in the south. A series of smaller valleys lie perpendicular near the west and east coast. This area was originally formed by the erosion of the interior mountains.
The third important physiographic feature is the karst region in the north. This area consists of formations of rugged limestone dissolved by water throughout the geological ages. This limestone region is an extremely attractive zone of extensive mogotes or haystack hills, sinkholes, caves, limestone cliffs, and other karst features. The karst belt extends from Aguadilla, in the west, to a minor haystack hills formation in Loíza, just east of San Juan.
From http://welcome.topuertorico.org/geogra.shtml (http://welcome.topuertorico.org/geogra.shtml) Which contains much more info about the 100 mile X 35 mile island. But with mountains in the middle, the relay stations would have to go around, and reaching the interior might have similar difficulties to getting there by road. (trees down, etc., same basic troubles as anywhere else nailed by a Cat5 or Cat4 storm, and they got hit by two in rapid succession.
Then, there is the problem of having the fuel to keep the batteries charged to run the radios, and that is subject to a question of IF they are there at all.
I know I don't have one in a vehicle any more, and it is difficult to find the equipment locally (not like the old days).
-
I've had a couple of those cars. GM used this gray module on the mast with a splitter and Ford just used the regular mast and a splitter for their factory CB's. Their range stunk. I have a 10 ft whip antenna on my Custom Cruiser that is good for at least 10 miles on flat terrain.
I had an 8 ft. bumper mount on my old Dodge Coronet and could get 5 to 7 miles on a clear day and in favorable terrain. I haven't really had one in a vehicle since.
-
I had an 8 ft. bumper mount on my old Dodge Coronet and could get 5 to 7 miles on a clear day and in favorable terrain. I haven't really had one in a vehicle since.
So let's get this straight. Cell phones don't work, so truckers can't drive across town to find a dispatcher? Enough.
-
So let's get this straight. Cell phones don't work, so truckers can't drive across town to find a dispatcher? Enough.
There is a problem with the truckers, but fuel and roads are issues, too. Cell phone towers are down. Then you have to find out what is in the 10K containers and get the right ones on trucks without the computers or files in them with the manifests on the bar coded containers. They are working on it, but it isn't going to come easily, and then, there is the truckers union down there with a craniorectal insertion according to some accounts.
-
There is a problem with the truckers, but fuel and roads are issues, too. Cell phone towers are down. Then you have to find out what is in the 10K containers and get the right ones on trucks without the computers or files in them with the manifests on the bar coded containers. They are working on it, but it isn't going to come easily, and then, there is the truckers union down there with a craniorectal insertion according to some accounts.
According to some accounts the truckers union is actively sabotaging the efforts. I'm sure they wouldn't think twice about knocking over cell towers if meant it would slow down the relief.
These events go a long way toward explaining the actual shrinkage of PR's population over the years. The place is a craphole that rivals even Haiti.
-
According to some accounts the truckers union is actively sabotaging the efforts. I'm sure they wouldn't think twice about knocking over cell towers if meant it would slow down the relief.
These events go a long way toward explaining the actual shrinkage of PR's population over the years. The place is a craphole that rivals even Haiti.
Two Cat 4/5 hurricanes in rapid succession can account for downed cell towers. No sabotage necessary.
No other place in the US got storm-hammered like that, although the amount of rain from Harvey was a one-off.
The truckers are acting like Democrat Congressmen, milking the disaster for something they want.
-
Two Cat 4/5 hurricanes in rapid succession can account for downed cell towers. No sabotage necessary.
No other place in the US got storm-hammered like that, although the amount of rain from Harvey was a one-off.
The truckers are acting like Democrat Congressmen, milking the disaster for something they want.
I can't disagree with a word of that there. Plenty of roofs were blown off a week or two before Maria. And I wouldn't necessarily single out the truckers for that, either. The whole damned place is corrupt, and we'd be drop-dead stupid to let a place that backward to become a state. The problem with the truckers is just presenting the most immediate problem.
-
I have to believe that both FEMA and the military have mobile temporary cell towers with generators that can be setup in short order. They could be placed all over the island via helicopter and linked by satellite and wouldn't require any local infrastructure to use.
-
I can't disagree with a word of that there. Plenty of roofs were blown off a week or two before Maria. And I wouldn't necessarily single out the truckers for that, either. The whole damned place is corrupt, and we'd be drop-dead stupid to let a place that backward to become a state. The problem with the truckers is just presenting the most immediate problem.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/27/puerto-rico-recovery-is-addressed-by-trump/ (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/27/puerto-rico-recovery-is-addressed-by-trump/)
Here's a hoot for ya, from the Washington Times article linked above Earlier this week, Puerto Rico’s governor was asked by a National Public Radio reporter how he would assess the administration’s response to Maria. The reporter may have been hoping for a different response, but Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who lines up nationally with Democrats, was having none of it. He said, “We are very grateful for the administration. They have responded quickly. The president has been very attentive to the situation, personally calling me several times. FEMA and the FEMA director have been here in Puerto Rico twice. As a matter of fact, they were here with us today, making sure that all the resources in FEMA were working in conjunction with the central government. We have been working together. We have been getting results.”
San Juan’s mayor has also praised the administration for its quick response and for the advance planning that had to have been behind the ability to respond as quickly as it did, and the island’s non-voting delegate in Congress agrees. Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez told a Politico reporter on Monday, “This is the first time we got this type of federal coordination.”
-
I had an 8 ft. bumper mount on my old Dodge Coronet and could get 5 to 7 miles on a clear day and in favorable terrain. I haven't really had one in a vehicle since.
On the highway I get saved from more tickets with the CB than I do with my high end Valentine One radar detector.
-
On the highway I get saved from more tickets with the CB than I do with my high end Valentine One radar detector.
A CB is only as handy as there are people to talk to. What I liked about it was that my situational awareness was always peaked. I knew to the mile marker where I was, and what was going on in front of and behind me. Without it, I tend to dope off a little on where I am (one road, no towns, fifty miles, just go).
The single trick that saved me from more tickets on two lane roads was just waving at the policeman. (foot on the brake, until we pass). He waves back and doesn't lock in my speed until it has dropped.
-
On the highway I get saved from more tickets with the CB than I do with my high end Valentine One radar detector.
Same here. Wish I still had a CB to put in my car. Been thinking of buying a nice Cobra 19LTD
-
Note to the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of San Juan...Here's a thought, instead of wearing stupid T Shirts that accomplish nothing, how about showing some leadership and getting the people needed in a time of crisis back to work. It's not the mainland that has abandoned Puerto Rico, it's the citizens on the island that aren't helping their own. Namely the people that have the skills to get the goods at the port to the people that need it. But hey, I guess it's better optics and garners more sympathy to go on TV and whine that no one is helping you and that you're "dying".
Might be time to drop off the Cajun Navy with their 4 wheel drives, UTVs, ATVs, etc.... These good ole boys would have it straightened out in about 12 hours, just make sure they have enough duct tape bailing wire and WD-40. This is not meant as an insult to these truly great altruistic Americans.
-
Two Cat 4/5 hurricanes in rapid succession can account for downed cell towers. No sabotage necessary.
No other place in the US got storm-hammered like that, although the amount of rain from Harvey was a one-off.
The truckers are acting like Democrat Congressmen, milking the disaster for something they want.
Not to mention a power grid down and backup generators need fuel.
-
Not to mention a power grid down and backup generators need fuel.
I'd imagine a bunch of fuel was used trying to recover from the first hurricane, which had not happened when the second one hit. I can't think of anywhere on the mainland hammered quite like that.