KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló spoke at a town hall Friday in Kissimmee to discuss the island's recovery after Hurricane Maria.
Rosselló told the crowd Friday at the Kissimmee Civic Center that a line will be drawn in the sand after failed promises to help the country recover after Hurricane Maria. He said action is needed to help get the country on the road to recovery and that comes from voting.
"Those of us who live in PR don't have the political power but those who live here do," Rosselló said. “The US citizenship represents equality, opportunity and hope."
Rosselló said that those on the mainland have the ability to effect change in the upcoming elections in November.
"The U.S. citizenship represents equality, opportunity and hope."
Rosselló said that those on the mainland have the ability to affect change in the upcoming elections in November.
Rosselló also said that there is an issue of second-class citizenship that has not been resolved, and that treatment led to slow recovery efforts on the island.
The day before the town hall Rossello asked the Justice Department to investigate a report that material needed to restore power to the island was overlooked for months in a government-owned warehouse, according to The Associated Press.
Speakers at the town hall included Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvare, Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson.
Since Oct. 3, more than 318,000 people have arrived in Florida from Puerto Rico through airports in Miami, Orlando and Tampa, according to the state division of emergency management. The majority of Puerto Rican evacuees are staying in Central Florida, primarily Orlando and Kissimmee.
Read on the ground reports from Puerto Rico: Schools in Puerto Rico I Residents in Mayaguez communities still without power I Hurricane Maria damage
ClickOrlando.com will livestream the event so check back for updates.