By Ariadna Godreau Aubert | Founder and executive director
A few weeks ago, tropical storm Ernesto moved close to Puerto Rico in its pathway across the Caribbean. Heavy rainfall associated with Ernesto seriously impacted Puerto Rico, affecting bridges, community access, homes, and other infrastructure. Despite not having a landfall or powerful winds, a tropical storm was able to leave thousands of families without essential services, such as water and electricity, interrupting work and school and burdening people who once again saw their food get spoiled. A couple of days after Ernest, a tropical wave also brought rain. Once again, images of flood, cars, homes below water, and interrupted access were broadly shared. In the news, a woman said she has become afraid of rain. Being an island in the middle of the Caribbean, fear of the elements highlights the induced impossibility of a dignified life, a condition provoked by the government's negligent response and the impact of austerity. As the elections are approaching, the absence of candidates and people in office in disaster response attests to resistance to being held accountable.
Seven years after Major Hurricane María, narratives of the rebuilding process pose a conundrum to survivors. Reconstruction is hyper-highlighted when politicians want to talk about "la obra" or "the construction," their labor on behalf of survivors, and their ability to use millions of dollars in recovery funds. Yet, survivors see no advancement, and their pressing needs, such as safe housing, are being ignored, leaving them vulnerable to natural events of lesser seriousness, such as tropical rain.
This project bridges the gap between that narrative and the electoral process that demands accountability. The Community Paralegal Program aspires to provide mechanisms and tools to ensure community leaders can ask the necessary questions to those in office or seeking to be elected. Our next step is to work on toolkits, such as myth-busting fact sheets and questions that help people have informed and independent criteria to evaluate candidates based on their community needs and wants while ensuring the most out of their vote.
By Ariadna Michelle Godreau-Aubert | Founder and director
By Ariadna Godreau Aubert | Founder and director
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