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Boston's Local Puerto Rican Community Responds In The Wake Of Hurricane Maria

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Rescue team members Candida Lozada, left, and Stephanie Rivera, second from left, Mary Rodriguez, second from right, and Zuly Ruiz, right, embrace as they wait to assist in the aftermath of the hurricane in Humacao, Puerto Rico on Wednesday. (Carlos Giusti/AP)
Rescue team members Candida Lozada, left, and Stephanie Rivera, second from left, Mary Rodriguez, second from right, and Zuly Ruiz, right, embrace as they wait to assist in the aftermath of the hurricane in Humacao, Puerto Rico on Wednesday. (Carlos Giusti/AP)

Tuesday, President Donald Trump delivered some prepared remarks in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Spain. Trump said he's sending, "America's hearts and prayers to the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

The president went on to say that Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló had called to offer his compliments. "As Governor Rosello just told me this morning, the entire federal workforce is doing great work in Puerto Rico," said Trump. "And I appreciated him saying it, and he's saying it to anybody who will listen."

On Monday, the president also tweeted about Puerto Rico, "Puerto Rico which was already suffering from broken infrastructure and massive debt, is in deep trouble... much of the island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly must be dealt with."

In response, Gov. Rosselló said, "Puerto Rico had already started to do their part. I was embarking on a very aggressive fiscal agenda, we have reduced, cut, over five billion dollars in our budget." He added that "this is a completely different set of circumstances. This needs to be taken into consideration. Otherwise, there will be a humanitarian crisis."

Guests

Otoniel Figueroa, co-founder of the Alliance for Puerto Rico.

Greg Molina, director of communications at the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts, which tweets @prfestivalma.

This segment aired on September 26, 2017.

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