As Puerto Rico Suffers, Bridgeport Prepares For Children

Bridgeport is home to the largest Puerto Rican population in Connecticut. Under federal law, as CT Post scribe Linda Conner Lambeck reports, “displaced students who move to the city must be accepted by the district, and automatically qualify for free school meals, health care, special education and other services.” Superintendent of Schools Aresta Johnson says Bridgeport will make room. “I do understand your concerns over the fiscal conditions that the state is currently facing,” Johnson said. “However that is not at the fault of children.”

Liz Vosques came to Cesar Batalla School on Monday to gather information. She has nieces, nephews and cousins in Hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico and heard the district might be willing to accept them.

Jeanette Gwynn, who has a son at Bridgeport Military Academy, heard the same thing and came with concerns.

“Why Bridgeport,” asked Gwynn of a school with deep budget woes. “You have to embrace everyone but our city is already so poor we can barely take care of students in own school. Why not pick a richer city.”

Schools Superintendent Aresta Johnson told a full cafeteria of parents, kids and staff members that district money problems aside, the district would open its doors to any student from Puerto Rico who moves in with relatives here.

Full story here.

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9 comments

      1. Who’s blaming anyone, Andy? Read the fucking comment.

        Mr. Trump has been balking at the cost of rebuilding the island if Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. He had no compunction about sending money, materials and the military to the Texas Gulf Coast. probabltpy because he has personal friendships with many oil billionaires living in the greater Houston area. Puerto Rico is a different story, it’s elected officials “ineffective… Always wanting everything done for them.”

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  1. “I do understand your concerns over the fiscal conditions that the state is currently facing,” Johnson said. “However that is not at the fault of children.”

    What a statement.

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  2. Hurricane Harvey hit Houston Texas, as a Category 4 storm, Harvey triggered flash flooding in parts of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 

    Hurricane Irma grazed Puerto Rico in early September and took out power for 1 million people. Less than two weeks later Hurricane Maria  a Category 5 storm struck and decimated the island. Most residents don’t have electricity and don’t expect its return for months.

    At least 58 people were killed and at least 500 others were injured Sunday night when a gunman fired into an outdoor country musical festival crowd from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

    What do all of these tragic events have in common with each other? They all happen within the past 30 days but more importantly the American spirit of coming together and helping one another even without moral leadership from the President of the United States. What is moral leadership?

    Moral Leadership is a very different kind of leadership. Rather than aspiring to being followed, Moral Leaders aim to serve. Instead of showcasing their own skills, Moral Leaders tend to develop the capacities of others. Moral Leadership is not about rank – any person holding any position can be a Moral Leader, but such individuals are always characterized by a deep sense of ethics, are driven by core ideals (such as justice) and are motivated by the pursuit of a higher purpose. 45 has demonstrated that he doesn’t have the skills and ability to a moral leader for America.

    Trump: Puerto Rico threw budget out of whack
    http:/www.cnn.com/videos/us/2017/10/03/trump-puerto-rico-budget-death-toll-sot.cnn

    Trump Lobs Paper Towels During Stop at Puerto Rican Church
    https:/www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-s-roll-puerto-rico-n807216?cid=eml_onsite

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      1. Unforgettable Trump Moments In Puerto Rico:

        He threw paper towels at the crowd
        The president tossed paper towels at people trying to pull together the pieces of their lives. The vast majority of them remain without power.

        Trump told Puerto Rican leaders they should be “proud” that more of their people didn’t die
        At a meeting with Puerto Rican leaders, Trump told them to congratulate themselves and be “very proud” that only 16 of their people died in the national disaster.

        Trump told Puerto Rican leaders they should be “proud” that more of their people didn’t die
        At a meeting with Puerto Rican leaders, Trump told them to congratulate themselves and be “very proud” that only 16 of their people died in the national disaster.

        He complained about the recovery cost
        Trump told Puerto Rican officials, in a sarcastically joking manner, that the hurricane relief effort threw the federal “budget a little out of whack.”

        He told a victim to “have a good time”
        While touring a storm damaged neighborhood, Trump told a resident, “We’re going to work it out, have a good time.”

        He said Hurricane Maria wasn’t a “real catastrophe”
        Trump told Puerto Rican officials that Hurricane Katrina was “a real catastrophe,” remarking that hundreds of people died in Katrina but only 16 died in Maria.

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