New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said Puerto Ricans are being treated like "second-class Americans" and offered to send hundreds of work crews to assist with repair work.
The U.S. territory is still reeling following a massive hurricane that hit on Sept. 20, and many on the island are still without electricity, food and running water.
"This is like day 36, and they have no power. These are American citizens," he said on CNN Newsroom.
"Just imagine if this was any other state in this country. If these were Texans or New Yorkers or Californians, the outrage, the media coverage that you would be seeing. Puerto Ricans are Americans. Let's treat them that way.”
Cuomo's comments come the same day the head of Puerto Rico's government power company said it would scrap a $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings once it finishes current work on recovery efforts, which will likely delay work by 10 to 12 weeks.
Cuomo suggested sharing resources as part of a mutual state aid agreement.
"It all starts with power ... and there has been very little progress on the power ...
"The federal government knows how to do this. We do this on literally a monthly basis in this country. When Texas had a problem, Florida had a problem, New York state sends utility crews, they get assistance, and they come back, there is no reason for this to take 36 days.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.