Puerto Rican Evacuees Need New Bedford’s Support
Over two dozen local families face public housing eviction if they continue to shelter the Puerto Rican evacuees of Hurricane Maria.
The New Bedford Housing Authority has been very fair in allowing the Puerto Rican families to stay with residents of the New Bedford Public Housing, but now the deadline has passed and the evacuees, all U.S. citizens, have to uproot and move once again.
It would have been better to have welcomed the families with a more stable housing plan. These families have been through enough by losing almost everything and, in many cases, nothing to go back to.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and they deserve better treatment than they are getting these days.
And now the families in New Bedford will probably go to a motel and wait to be displaced yet again. With all they have been through, this is no way to treat them.
All this was so unnecessary if the families were only taken to Camp Edwards located on Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod. It would have been more comfortable for them and less hectic. It also would have given them a chance to hold on to their FEMA money for their future.
I've always maintained that a goal without a well thought out plan is just a good intention.
Editor’s Note: Phil Paleologos is the morning talk show host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6am-10am. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.