The mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, said the biggest problem in responding to the hurricane disaster is cutting the red tape of bureaucracy, which she said Sunday is slowing the response time.
Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” used the theme of an all-day event President Trump is holding on Monday, called “Cut the Red Tape Day,” to underscore the plight of the U.S. island territory.
Cruz said she is not critical of the federal agencies’ response efforts, but needs Trump to cut the red tape of bureaucratic process to get the necessary aid to the territory faster.
“I’ve been quite complimentary of the people from HHS and FEMA. Their heart is in the right place. But we have to cut the red tape,” Cruz said on Sunday.
“Putting back the power grid as soon as we can” is the number one priority, she added. “Because that has an immediate effect on our ability to recover financially.”
Trump blasted Cruz in a series of tweets Saturday after she expressed displeasure with the administration’s characterization of the relief effort in Puerto Rico as a success story.
