My Prayer for Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO

How It Could have and Should Have Been.... 
                                            A Real Plan for Recovery


Fully involve the Puerto Ricans in a large scale way to gather their ideas and desires for what they want the revived territory to be. Give the citizens a major role in planning what the revival of the best and the repression of the worst of the unique Puerto Rican culture should be. Make multiple plans for the future of the island economy. Fully integrate these citizen inputs in all planning processes.

PUT EVERY PUERTO RICAN WHO NEEDS WORK A JOB IN THE REBUILD. PAY THEM DECENTLY, STRUCTURE TRAINING PROGRAMS WHERE NEEDED, TEACHING SKILLS THAT WILL BE MARKETABLE IN THE FUTURE ECONOMY OF THE TERRITORY. 

This will be key to giving Puerto Ricans a way to stay home... stay on the island.

   Make a comprehensive commitment to building a spectacular new Infrastructure

"Spectacular" meaning something that elicits local pride in its functions, dependability and esthetics. Those esthetics, for any of the infrastructure that is visible, should be world class, good enough to attract admiration. And tourists. The artists, architects and craftsmen should be Puerto Ricans.

ASAP, start the island-wide, major improvements.

Build renewable power systems.  Solar, wind, wave, geothermal power.  Build local and regional sub-grids capable of independence. FULLY HURRICANE PROOF.,.

Completely rebuild the permanent electric power grid, all completely buried. Consider HVDC. FULLY HURRICANE PROOF.

Completely modernize the public water system, FULLY HURRICANE PROOF.

Build and rebuild every hospital, school, public space, and government office FULLY HURRICANE PROOF.
Help every citizen rebuild storm-safe homes. Plan the new towns and cities for safety and efficiency. Use the ideas and philosophies developed in the citizen involvement projects guide at every point. Allow as much individuality in everything as possible. Above this, all the inherent artistic nature of Puerto Rico will shine through. Encourage it.
Rebuild and modernize the transportation system, FULLY HURRICANE PROOF.

These American citizens who have suffered mightily from storms, earthquakes and plagues have also suffered from neglect from mighty America. Let's right this wrong by building a new, dynamic Puerto Rico, a 21st century island for the future, capable of running smoothly, whatever the climate delivers.

Shine the bright light of hope on our Puerto Rico brothers and sisters.

It would do wonders for reestablishing America's world leadership. The security benefits would be vast. It would do exponentially more for the U.S.A. than another massive weapons program, and would probably cost a lot less.

*This is core of recommendations first posted as a longer message to President Trump two days after Hurricane Maria crushed the Island. I sent it also to various Senators.