Puerto Rico’s hybrid status also delayed hurricane aid

In response to your Monday editorial: The Jones Act is not the only anachronism blocking aid to hurricane victims on the Puerto Rico. The island’s 3.5 million American citizens are at a huge disadvantage when a crisis like this occurs. They cannot vote in presidential elections and lack the power of a congressional voting delegation like Nevada. This second-class status allows Congress and the White House to treat Puerto Rico differently than other states 365 days a year.

This leads to the begging that President Donald Trump accused Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz of San Juan of indulging in.

One of the great things that could come out of this mess is a plebiscite to permanently resolve the island’s status with the United States, the choices being independence or statehood.