To the editor: Here we are, two months after Hurricane Maria inflicted an estimated $95 billion in damage on Puerto Rico. About half of the people are still without electricity, and just about everyone is suffering. (“Two months after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico struggles to regain electricity and thousands flee the island,” Nov. 19)

What’s going on? Nearly half of the federal contracts that have been awarded have not gone through an open-bidding process. Exigency is long past and proper contracting procedures would attract the big construction companies, not tiny rural outfits like Whitefish Energy.

It’s hard to determine who is in charge, but it doesn’t seem to be the Army Corps of Engineers, the only government agency that could bring to bear the management and construction skills necessary to meet Puerto Rico’s needs.

Come on, Mr. President, it’s time to be the executive you told us you are.


Karl F. Schmid, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook