Ten days after historic earthquakes began in Puerto Rico the president has yet to sign major disaster declaration. How long do children + elderly need to sleep in tents/cars, with health conditions worsening and suicides spiking for this to be considered a disaster? 1/n
I don't hang big hopes on federal funds—2+ years after Maria the government is just starting to release *those* funds, and with major conditions that are not imposed on US states—but declaring a disaster is just THE BARE MINIMUM expected of the government 2/n
There's no explanation for this long delay in the disaster declaration other than the current administration showing clearly (as it always does) where Puerto Rico fits within US priorities and making sure we know our place. (as if we didn't already) 3/n
Since the president has not insulted us or hurled paper towels, the media has not placed much attention on Puerto Rico. With thousands of people living in makeshift tent cities after a disaster you'd expect all major news outlets covering the humanitarian crisis. 4/n
The only major news figure here is @DavidBegnaud for @CBSNews—he is doing an amazing job as always (particularly on social media) but I suspect even he is astounded by the generalized media silence around this major humanitarian crisis. 5/n
Folks from the states who wonder how to help Puerto Ricans: don't send us canned food, call your media outlets and your politicians. We are working hard to hold our folks accountable (see summer revolution) but we need folks stateside to do the same.
