大咖福利影院

Nanraughley wrote:

My husband and I just moved here. I hope we're not going to be left with only a lot of old retired people like us. 馃槮

Don't worry, after all that dancing and rum, they will make new Puerto Ricans.

Congratulations seem to be in order, hope you will grace us with a new thread where you tell us all about your experience and the place!!!!!

ReyP wrote:

At the moment, the bill for the Plebiscite is around 7.8 million for all the preparations and the printing of 2.5 million ballots. It will be interesting to see how many people participate, but either way, if only the ones that want PR to be a state show up to vote, then the results are known already since there will be little opposition, mostly stragglers that refuse to not vote against it and not obeying the boycott.

Apparently the Election Board has yet to receive all the money from the PR government. Had the Federal Justice department endorsed it, the Federal government would have released 2.5 million but they have not.

Typically in a bankruptcy the debtor seeks and receives authorization from the bankruptcy court to continue payment of administrative expenses necessary to operate essential functions of the government in this case.聽 I would have trouble understanding why payment of USD 2.5 M for a completely meaningless election would be authorized by the bankruptcy judge.

SawMan wrote:

ReyP wrote:

At the moment, the bill for the Plebiscite is around 7.8 million for all the preparations and the printing of 2.5 million ballots. It will be interesting to see how many people participate, but either way, if only the ones that want PR to be a state show up to vote, then the results are known already since there will be little opposition, mostly stragglers that refuse to not vote against it and not obeying the boycott.

Apparently the Election Board has yet to receive all the money from the PR government. Had the Federal Justice department endorsed it, the Federal government would have released 2.5 million but they have not.

Typically in a bankruptcy the debtor seeks and receives authorization from the bankruptcy court to continue payment of administrative expenses necessary to operate essential functions of the government in this case.聽 I would have trouble understanding why payment of USD 2.5 M for a completely meaningless election would be authorized by the bankruptcy judge.

I also wonder why the Federal Control Board, and all the litigant bond holders have not raised an issue with the judge about the government expenses. It is curious that it has not been raised in court.

lgustaf wrote:

I don't know what about my post was a problem. I said it before here without issue. And it is a fact, he himself admits it.

It is a controversial subject that can be inflamed, did you check the PM I send?

Gary wrote:

Rey, Gustaf, maybe you guys should take this discussion to private messages?
Just a suggeston...

Done.
I will stop posting news and get it over with that way.
Everyone can read articles and be informed on their own.

lgustaf wrote:

Research it yourself, Rey. It's not speculation. Mr. T has publically stated he is at odds with PR because he couldn't get his way, and as far as he's concerend PR deserves no relief whatsoever, let alone statehood. Whether or not PR is given any debt relief or granted statehood has everything to do with the economy.

This is not news to the Puerto Ricans. I first heard of it myself from homeowners in VSJ, who were around when it all came down.

You're way off.聽 Very few people have any interest in seeing the U.S. bail out PR and few people see a compelling reason to admit PR as a state.聽 聽It's not political - it's lack of interest in fixing someone else's financial problem, whether its Stockton, CA, Orange County, CA, Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL or the state of Illinois.聽 Believe me, there's no interest among politicians or on Main Street for PR's economic woes.

ReyP wrote:

Careful, we don't want to continue fighting.
Disagree in private like Gary suggested.

I will not be posting any additional news, not even water outages.

Rey,

Please don't stop posting about the news. It's important to this forum, I believe most will agree.

NomadLawyer wrote:

PR needs to reform to become business friendly and economically competitive.

Exactly, that's the only way.

Example: yesterday I was talking with a guy who has had a tour guide operation on the island for 20 years or so. Every year they need to get the required permits again.
This year there's a problem since a certain form that was supposed to be available for download wasn't and someone had to go to San Juan in person to get the form which of course took hours and hours of waiting. Because of that聽 they filed a day late and might have to wait for months before they get the permit, meanwhile being out of business. I don't know all the details but for an established well known and good operated company with employees this is ridiculous.
First the fact that permits have to be renewed every year, even for a long established company and second that they couldn't get (and just as normal nowadays file) the form online.
Third the thing that filing one day late could delay the permit so long that they are going to be out of business because of that.

Just one small example of how the rules are killing companies.

lgustaf wrote:

Is that a US rule or a PR rule, Gary? And how far in advance can the operator apply for a new license?

I guess PR rule, Gustaf. No clue about the details, we were sitting at the pool with a couple of cold ones and he really didn't want to explain the whole process. (and honestly I didn't need to hear it as well)
Thing is that there's a lot of red tape for (small) business owners and a huge reform is needed. It would make things easier to start and run a business and also reduce the (way too high) number of government employees. They would most likely find a job in a private company easier.

In the case of a tour guide operation I'd say a permit should be one time thing. After that there should be checks every now and a simple way for clients to file a complaint which would trigger another check by a government inspector.
If companies don't play by the rules they would get three months or so to fix things and after that a fine would be due if they didn't fix the issue. When they really screw up all the time they lose the permit.
Right now they have to get the permit one way (the normal way) or another (the corrupt way) and there's never ever a check. Clients have no way to file a complaint either.
So the permits are only there to bring some money in the government's pocket and in the corrupt civil servant's pocket.

ReyP wrote:

I would assume that the SBA in PR can help orient small businesses on the processes and procedures.

I guess they can but they can't change the system, they might be able to guide potential business owners through the maze.

Gary wrote:

ReyP wrote:

I would assume that the SBA in PR can help orient small businesses on the processes and procedures.

I guess they can but they can't change the system, they might be able to guide potential business owners through the maze.

That is what it is needed, guidance and advice, they should be able to do that or get a new gig. We need to live with whatever efficiency or inefficiency is in place until things change. It is outside of their mission to make changes based on what little I know.

There are also other outfits trying to generate new young business, I don't know about you but at 64 I am young so I should qualify, LOL.

lgustaf wrote:

From what I've been able to research, tour guides in most states not only need a license but a certification, where they take special courses and must pass a test for certification -- sort of like becoming a real estate agent. If tour guides in PR are not certified, I can understand why a yearly licensing requirement might be advisable.

I understand they need a certification and a license. Here in PR you need at least one license and at聽 least a couple of聽 permits for any business, especially if you are servicing the general public. Business to business is (somewhat) easier.

NomadLawyer wrote:

And there's this: "Research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that college graduates make up roughly the same proportion of emigres as they do in the island鈥檚 general population, suggesting that the departures have touched every corner of the commonwealth."

That really surprises me! Actually it's good news.