Former Gov. Sila Calderón denounced as a “tragedy” on Saturday Gov. Fortuño’s proposal to repeal the law creating the Special Communities Office and transfer its responsibilities to an advocacy office.
“The proposed repealing of Law 1 of 2001, which creates the Special Communities Program, is a tragedy that should make the people of Puerto Rico indignant,” Calderón said.
“In hiding, in haste, without consulting those affected, and under the excuse of the restructuring of the executive branch, they are erasing with a single stroke what has been one of the biggest achievements of the poor in our country,” said the former governor, who considers the $1 billion program the key initiative of her administration.
Calderón said the concept of an advocate office is contrary to that of the special communities, which provides for the empowerment of those in greater need in Puerto Rico.
More than 45 percent of Puerto Ricans live under the federal poverty level, according to official statistics.
“Almost half of our population is protected by this law [Law 1],” the former Popular Democratic Party governor, as she called for community leaders to express their opposition to the repealing the program through individual and group actions.
Calderón noted that the purpose of the special communities’ project is to eliminate the “culture of dependency” that affects not only those who suffer it, but Puerto Rico as a whole.
“It seeks to get the residents in disadvantaged communities to stand up and take their own responsibility,” Calderón said.
“There is no way anyone can think we are going to come out of the economic recession we now face if we don’t focus on the almost 2 million people who live in poverty in Puerto Rico,” she added.
But for Gov. Fortuño the necessary services and tools for the community empowerment Calderón is lobbying for can be provided through the advocacy office.
“I can guarantee those services can be offered regardless how it is called, whether advocate office or special office or however you want to call it,” Fortuño said. “I totally support the empowerment of all communities. So, in that sense, there is no difference between the former governor and me.”
The “real tragedy” of the Special Communities Program is that it gave people false hope.
“That program created false expectations in the people. I’m sure it was not her [Calderón’s] fault, but indeed false expectations were created,” he said. “Community developments were promised when there was no money left to finance the projects. We started out with many obligations and no money work with. That is the truth. Creating false expectations is indeed a great tragedy.”
Calderón declined to characterize Fortuño as “untruthful” since he had originally expressed his support for the program.
“I am not going to judge anyone. I can say, though, that he [Fortuño] personally told me — before the [2008] election —that he believed in the law,” Calderón said.
Fortuño admitted his past support.
“I’m always thankful for any comments former governors may offer me, and always receive them in good faith … I have to make clear, though, that the original idea, as it was stated in the law, will be preserved,” Fortuño said. “But we also have to be clear we cannot create false expectations in the people.”