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Return-Path: <john.podesta@gmail.com> Received: from [192.168.1.2] (pool-108-45-53-96.washdc.fios.verizon.net. [108.45.53.96]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPSA id s69sm11487831qge.15.2014.09.16.03.38.44 for <John_D_Podesta@who.eop.gov> (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA bits=128/128); Tue, 16 Sep 2014 03:38:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Fwd: Puerto Rico References: <54170889.30598c0a.797d.2043@mx.google.com> From: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=Apple-Mail-F7A345ED-1442-4935-B8EE-9780E092B8AA X-Mailer: iPad Mail (11B554a) Message-Id: <E2989471-979C-41B0-86F2-16ECFA994B54@gmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 06:38:44 -0400 To: John_D_Podesta@who.eop.gov Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 (1.0) --Apple-Mail-F7A345ED-1442-4935-B8EE-9780E092B8AA Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable JP --Sent from my iPad-- john.podesta@gmail.com For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: > From: Alejandro Garcia Padilla <co1971max@gmail.com> > Date: September 15, 2014 at 11:40:44 AM EDT > To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> > Subject: Puerto Rico >=20 >=20 > Dear John =E2=80=93 I write to seek your counsel on how to bring a greater= sense of urgency in the White House to Puerto Rico affairs. As you know, la= st week DOT announced the Tiger Grant awards for the 72 projects in 46 state= s that were selected. No project in Puerto Rico was selected. We invested su= bstantial effort in Tiger grant applications for Science City and an urban r= enewal and transportation project in the heart of San Juan. Science City in p= articular, a project by the Puerto Rico Science Trust and our state universi= ty, is essential for the island=E2=80=99s long term growth prospects. We eve= n committed $11,200,000 (40% of the total cost) to that project at a time wh= en we=E2=80=99re strapped for cash. I had conveyed the importance of the app= lication in various letters to, and meetings with, the Task Force. Puerto Ri= co=E2=80=99s allies in Congress also weighed in.=20 >=20 > Now with the resignations of Tony West and David Agnew, who=E2=80=99ve bee= n strong advocates of Puerto Rico, my concern is that no one in the White Ho= use is leading Puerto Rico issues. In early August I requested a meeting wit= h the Task Force to discuss projects that will promote Puerto Rico=E2=80=99s= economic development. I=E2=80=99m optimistic that the meeting will be conve= ned; however, I believe that if a senior Administration official was in char= ge of the Task Force we would=E2=80=99ve already met and, hopefully, some pr= ojects would be underway.=20 >=20 > We=E2=80=99re facing very challenging times and any recovery effort in res= pect of Puerto Rico needs robust support from the White House. I think that i= f a senior Administration official is not tasked with moving Puerto Rico mat= ters forward our outlook won=E2=80=99t be promising. >=20 > Any counsel you may provide is much appreciated.=20 >=20 > Alejandro Garc=C3=ADa Padilla --Apple-Mail-F7A345ED-1442-4935-B8EE-9780E092B8AA Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D= utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div><br><br><div>JP</div>--Sent from my iP= ad--<div><a href=3D"mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com">john.podesta@gmail.com</a= ></div><div>For scheduling: <a href=3D"mailto:eryn.sepp@gmail.com">eryn.sepp= @gmail.com</a></div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><bl= ockquote type=3D"cite"><div><b>From:</b> Alejandro Garcia Padilla <<a hre= f=3D"mailto:co1971max@gmail.com">co1971max@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b>= September 15, 2014 at 11:40:44 AM EDT<br><b>To:</b> John Podesta <<a hre= f=3D"mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com">john.podesta@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Sub= ject:</b> <b>Puerto Rico</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"c= ite"><div> <meta content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dwindows-1252" http-equiv=3D"Content-Ty= pe"> <div> <div style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif"><br>Dear Joh= n =E2=80=93 I write to seek your counsel on how to bring a greater sense of u= rgency in the White House to Puerto Rico affairs. As you know, last week DOT= announced the Tiger Grant awards for the 72 projects in 46 states that were= selected. No project in Puerto Rico was selected. We invested substantial e= ffort in Tiger grant applications for Science City and an urban renewal and t= ransportation project in the heart of San Juan. Science City in particular, a= project by the Puerto Rico Science Trust and our state university, is essen= tial for the island=E2=80=99s long term growth prospects. We even committed $= 11,200,000 (40% of the total cost) to that project at a time when we=E2=80=99= re strapped for cash. I had conveyed the importance of the application in va= rious letters to, and meetings with, the Task Force. Puerto Rico=E2=80=99s a= llies in Congress also weighed in. <br><br>Now with the resignations of Tony= West and David Agnew, who=E2=80=99ve been strong advocates of Puerto Rico, m= y concern is that no one in the White House is leading Puerto Rico issues. I= n early August I requested a meeting with the Task Force to discuss projects= that will promote Puerto Rico=E2=80=99s economic development. I=E2=80=99m o= ptimistic that the meeting will be convened; however, I believe that if a se= nior Administration official was in charge of the Task Force we would=E2=80=99= ve already met and, hopefully, some projects would be underway. <br><br>We=E2= =80=99re facing very challenging times and any recovery effort in respect of= Puerto Rico needs robust support from the White House. I think that if a se= nior Administration official is not tasked with moving Puerto Rico matters f= orward our outlook won=E2=80=99t be promising.<br><br>Any counsel you may pr= ovide is much appreciated. <br><br>Alejandro Garc=C3=ADa Padilla</div></div>= </div></blockquote></body></html>= --Apple-Mail-F7A345ED-1442-4935-B8EE-9780E092B8AA--