FEMA approved over $45 million in post-disaster funds for Puerto Rico, including about $44.8 million under its Public Assistance program, announced October 29. Meanwhile, households pay a record 33.86 cents per kWh for electricity, and the proposal to exempt prepared foods from the sales tax for two months drew questions from the Oversight Board over its fiscal impact.
Government and politics
- Rivera Schatz Says Legislature Did Its Part as Oversight Board Questions IVU Exemption: Oversight Board executive director Robert Mujica questioned La Fortaleza’s proposal to exempt prepared foods from the IVU for the next two months, citing its fiscal impact.
- Governor Defends Family Secretary Roig Fuertes Again, Attacks Senate President Rivera Schatz: Governor Jenniffer González Colón said Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, a candidate for governor, is trying to dismantle her cabinet and oust agency heads.
- FEMA Approves Over $45 Million in Post-Disaster Funds for Puerto Rico Projects: FEMA approved over $45 million in post-disaster funds for Puerto Rico, including about $44.8 million under its Public Assistance program, announced October 29.
- Puerto Rico Economists to Present Survey on Oversight Board’s Performance 10 Years After PROMESA: Ten years after the enactment of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) law and the creation of the Financial Oversight and Management Board (the Oversight Board (JSF)).
Energy
- Puerto Rico Government Rules Out Emergency Fund for Now to Ease Electricity Cost Hikes: La Fortaleza says the Emergency Fund is not being tapped for electricity relief, though using it would require Oversight Board authorization.
- Puerto Rico Residents Fear Another Night Without Power as Genera PR Races to Restore Generation: Genera PR aims to recover San Juan Central unit 5, down since a lubrication pump failure, before the 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. peak on Wednesday, October 28.
- LUMA Asks Puerto Rico Energy Bureau for Another Power Rate Adjustment for November and December: LUMA filed its rate readjustment request with the Energy Bureau on October 15, covering November and December.
- Over 100 Protest at LUMA’s Santurce Offices After Bayamón Business Owner Closes Over Power Costs: Residential customers began paying a record 33.86 cents per kWh in October after the Energy Bureau largely granted LUMA’s adjustment request on September 30, based on Genera PR’s fuel costs.
Economy
- Puerto Rico Business Groups Back Two-Month Sales Tax Exemption on Restaurant Food: The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (CCPR) and the Restaurant Association (ASORE) support a request by Gov.
- Puerto Rico Restaurant Association Study Finds Diners Cutting Back as Costs Rise: A study by the Puerto Rico Restaurant Association (ASORE) found that Puerto Rican consumers are being more selective about when and where they buy prepared food amid a difficult economy.
Safety
- FEMA Obligates $753,618 for Puerto Rico Infrastructure and Flood-Control Projects: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated $753,617.84 for Puerto Rico projects covering infrastructure, public facilities.
Health and schools
- Health Officials Warn of ‘Medicaid cliff’ as Congress Urged to Act Before October 2027: Puerto Rico seeks a $4.815 billion Medicaid allocation for federal fiscal year 2028, versus $4.2 billion this year and a permanent-statute maximum of about $500 million.
Roads and travel
- Puerto Rico Senate Hears Plans for Vieques Ferry Pier, New Bus Routes and Tren Urbano Study: ATI expects to publish the Mosquito Pier ferry request for proposals in January 2027, award the contract in May, and build from June 2027 through 2028, cutting travel time to Vieques by about 30 minutes.
- Security Protocol Activated at San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Airport Over Suspicious Object: Passengers are being asked to follow instructions from security staff, authorities, and their respective airlines while the situation is addressed.
Around the island
- ICE Agents Threaten Feminist Collective Members in Río Piedras: ‘You’re not going to like this’: ICE agents pointed pepper spray and a taser at two Colectiva Feminista en Construcción members who were documenting an operation in Río Piedras on Saturday afternoon.
- Puerto Rico Life Expectancy at Birth Reaches 80.4 Years, with Women at 84.1 and Men at 76.6
Water: the week in the reservoirs is in Water Week in Review.
The live picture is on the power tracker and the legislature tracker. This is the 9th Week in Puerto Rico (last week’s is here).
Sources: the reporting linked above.