Puerto Rico has little choice left post Maria. The islands\u2019 revitalization must come from within. The reality of mixed political status, economic recession, large out-migration, environmental degradation, and a nonresponsive federal government, leaves the islands with few choices but to become more self-sufficient. In addition to academic research, the authors of this paper speak from their experience delivering legal and humanitarian aid as part of the islands\u2019 disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria. This paper starts by discussing Puerto Rico\u2019s experience with colonialism, the federal government\u2019s consistent reaffirmations of this status, and the unsustainable political, economic, and social outgrowth of this relationship.\u00a0 It then argues that PROMESA must be changed to protect municipal agency in local decision making. Keeping in mind the reality of Puerto Rico\u2019s legal status, it asserts economic development law should be changed to energize community-based economic development with the intent of localizing necessary economic goods. This localization produces an increase in individual economic wealth and helps retain that wealth within the local Puerto Rican economy, while simultaneously increasing political power. It explains that the focus on necessary economic goods ensures that the islands are resilient, self-sufficient, and responsive in the face of economic, environmental, and political shocks by reducing dependence on imports. Additionally, this model relies on community-level capacity building as the vehicle for its success. This paper then presents two applications of that model to Puerto Rico\u2019s agriculture and energy sectors. The implementation of this framework must occur at the local municipal level because it appears to be the only viable fiscal area for opportunity not expressly falling under the scrutiny of PROMESA. Drafting municipal-level policy that localizes necessary economic goods, invests in community capacity, and keeps wealth on the islands will bring sustainable prosperity. Moreover, this paper stresses the importance of government officials, law and policy-makers, and other leaders to create structures that promotes individual choice making and supports the islands\u2019 revitalization.<\/p>\n
Puerto Rico tiene pocas opciones posteriores a Mar\u00eda. La revitalizaci\u00f3n de las islas debe venir desde adentro. La realidad del estado pol\u00edtico mixto, la recesi\u00f3n econ\u00f3mica, la gran emigraci\u00f3n, la degradaci\u00f3n ambiental y un gobierno federal que no responde, deja a las islas con pocas opciones, pero para ser m\u00e1s autosuficientes. \u00a0Adem\u00e1s de la investigaci\u00f3n acad\u00e9mica, los autores de este documento hablan de su experiencia en la entrega de ayuda legal y humanitaria como parte de los esfuerzos de recuperaci\u00f3n de desastres de las islas despu\u00e9s del hurac\u00e1n Mar\u00eda. Este documento comienza analizando la experiencia de Puerto Rico con el colonialismo, las constantes reafirmaciones del gobierno federal sobre este estatus y la consecuencia insostenible de la relaci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica, econ\u00f3mica y social. Teniendo en cuenta la realidad del estatus de Puerto Rico, afirma que el esquema econ\u00f3mico debe cambiarse para dinamizar el desarrollo econ\u00f3mico basado en la comunidad con la intenci\u00f3n de identificar los bienes econ\u00f3micos necesarios. Esta identificaci\u00f3n produce un aumento en la riqueza econ\u00f3mica individual y ayuda a retener esa riqueza dentro de la econom\u00eda puertorrique\u00f1a local, al mismo tiempo que aumenta el poder pol\u00edtico. De esta manera, las islas se tornan resilientes, autosuficientes y receptivas frente a los impactos econ\u00f3micos, ambientales y pol\u00edticos al reducir la dependencia de las importaciones. Adem\u00e1s, este modelo se basa en el desarrollo de capacidades a nivel comunitario como veh\u00edculo para su \u00e9xito. \u00a0Finalmente, el escrito presenta dos aplicaciones de ese modelo para los sectores de agricultura y energ\u00eda de Puerto Rico. La implementaci\u00f3n de este marco debe ocurrir a nivel municipal local porque parece ser la \u00fanica \u00e1rea fiscal viable para oportunidades que no est\u00e1 expresamente bajo el escrutinio de PROMESA. Redactar una pol\u00edtica a nivel municipal que localice los bienes econ\u00f3micos necesarios, invierta en capacidad comunitaria y mantenga la riqueza en las islas traer\u00e1 prosperidad sostenible.<\/p>\n
Cita:<\/strong>\u00a0Eamon J.P. Riley, David J. Yovanoff & Jonathan J. Reyes Col\u00f3n,\u00a0\u201cYo Soy Boricua\u201d: Tapping into the Strength of the Puerto Rican Community to Reclaim Control over its Political, Social and Economic Future<\/em>, 87 Rev. Jur. UPR 972 (2018).<\/p>\n