TOMS RIVER, NJ - Two members of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders seem to have little sympathy for the plight of Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria.

They made that very clear when Lakewood resident MaryAnn Sorensen Allacci went to the microphone during the public comment portion of Wednesday's board meeting. She asked the board to reach out to residents and businesses through county websites and social media to help raise awareness about the need for more disaster relief, according to an app.com report. Allacci - who holds a doctorate in philosophy - said about 10 percent of Ocean County's current population is Hispanic or Latino, and about 17,000 were of Puerto Rican heritage.



"What I would ask the county freeholders to do is to consider making this issue more visible and appealing to our residents and businesses for more support for this help," she said.

Freeholder Gerry P. Little and Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari acknowledged that Puerto was a U.S. territory and that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

"However, the government is not part of the United States, it's a separate government," Little said. "And the problem with Puerto Rico is … for the last couple of decades, they have spent billions and billions and billions of dollars more than they take in for their taxes. Puerto Rico was bankrupt before the hurricane." Puerto Rico lacks the resources to begin rebuilding, Little said.

"That's why the president has referred to this, that Puerto Rico has to do more for itself," Little said. "They have to become more responsible to get themselves back on track instead of calling on the United States and Congress to bail them out."

Vicari said that county officials are still focusing on getting "10,000 families" back into their homes after Superstorm Sandy hit five years ago this month.

"Right here...I think we have a first responsibility," Vicari said. "It's not that we're neglecting them, it's not that we don't care."

Vicari said the board would consider her request at a future agenda meeting.



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