by Kevin Garcia, PRCC Staff
On Wednesday, March 19th, Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez, Ald. Roberto Maldonado and other Puerto Rican elected officials held a press conference at the Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture to discuss the Puerto Rican fiscal and humanitarian crisis. Gutiérrez demanded the U.S. be held responsible for debt that has affected Puerto Rico and its citizens. He and Maldonado spoke about the legislation enacted by Congress in 1984, which denied bankruptcy for Puerto Rico’s municipal governments, agencies and bureaus. Under U.S. law, cities and towns can file for bankruptcy, but states and territories can’t; Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. Ald. Gilbert Villegas, Ariel Reboyras and Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr. spoke briefly at the press conference. ASPIRA of IL Board Chair Fernando Grillo and PRCC ED José E. López also participated. Jessie Fuentes, Puerto Rican Agenda co-chair, emceed. Over 60 members of the Puerto Rican Agenda, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and activists attended the event.