San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, left, hugs a woman during her visit to an elderly home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept. 22,2017. Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz was being interviewed by CNN Friday morning when the network played a clip of Duke…
In an emotional response to an upbeat assessment by acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, the mayor of San Juan denied that Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria was a “good news story.”
Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz was being interviewed by CNN Friday morning when the network played a clip of Duke saying she was pleased with how things were going for the 3.4 million American citizens on Puerto Rico.
Related slideshow: Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria >>>
“I am very satisfied,” said Duke in a statement outside the White House Thursday. “I know it’s a hard storm to recover from, but the amount of progress that’s been made — I’d really appreciate any support we can get. I know it is really a good news story in terms of our ability to reach people and the limited number of deaths that have taken place in such a devastating hurricane.”
Cruz paused before responding, becoming emotional as she spoke.
“Well, maybe from where she’s standing it’s a good news story,” said the mayor, who has been pleading for help since Maria hit the island over a week ago. “When you’re drinking from a creek, it’s not a good news story. When you don’t have food for a baby, it’s not a good news story. When you have to pull people down from their buildings — I’m sorry, but that really upsets and frustrates me.
