The Fighting Mayor: San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz on Puerto Rico’s struggle & challenging Trump

When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, President Donald Trump minimized the damage and visited the island, famously tossing rolls of paper towels to desperate residents. By contrast, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz emerged as a hero, wading through flood waters to speak with residents and charging Trump and his administration of “killing us with inefficiency.” Trump subsequently attacked Cruz. Cruz was elected mayor of San Juan in 2012. A graduate of Boston University and Carnegie Mellon, she came to national attention following the hurricane, appearing frequently on national and international television. As Trump congratulated himself, Cruz pleaded for help in numerous media interviews. We spoke with Mayor Cruz about Puerto Rico’s recovery, the consequences of standing up, and why she says “Trump sucks as president.” (December 5, 2018 broadcast)

 

Carmen Yulin Cruz, Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico