PUERTO RICO - $28 million in AIDS funds returned to feds - The San Juan Star - 5/9/08

$28 million in AIDS funds returned to feds - Fortuno seeks HHS support for bill aimed as direct funding - By Robert Friedman of Washington Bureau - The San Juan Star - 5/9/08 - Page 5...

The Star is not on the internet and has no URL. This news report is a shocker. Here are some excerpts:

The Puerto Rico government has had to return some $28 million in federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS funds between 2005-2007 because it could not spend the money in the time allotted, said Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno.

Fortuno called the amount of the return "unbelievable," considering the high rate of AIDS on the island. -- "This is not just irresponsible, but purely incompetent when there are 30,000 AIDS patients in Puerto Rico," said the resident commissioner.

Both the commonwealth and San Juan municipal government have come under heavy fire for the way they are handling the federally funded AIDS program. Federal officials are probing the use of AIDS grants to island governments. The HRSA supposedly is developing a plan to improve services for Puerto Rico HIV/AIDS sufferers.

On Wednesday, Fortuno asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to get behind legislation that could empower HRSA to bypass the island governments and directly distribute the funds to the community-based organizations. --- the law was needed because the commonwealth was "by far the worst of the state governments, the most delinquent" in administering the funds.

In his letter, the resident commissioner noted that Puerto Rico, whose AIDS rate is the sixth highest in the nation, received almost $75 million in Ryan White funds in 2006. --- "Despite the significant federal funding allocated to Puerto Rico, and not withstanding the extraordinary efforts of the AIDS advocacy community on the island," Fortuno wrote, "too many of my constituents living with HIV/AIDS find it terribly difficult to obtain --- and, in come cases, cannot obtain all --- the services they need to stay healthy and enjoy life. "

He added: "This state of affairs is the direct result of chronic mismanagement of federal funds on the part of the government of Puerto Rico." --- the island "remains mired in a situation where available federal money sits in a bank account somewhere while patients in Puerto Rico receive substandard care and community-based organizations eager to help are instead forced to reduce services."

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

What I do not understand is the fact that the national media does not care what is happening to American citizens living in Puerto Rico being denied timely and proper disbursement of federal funds for their disabilities. Not only is it governmental corruption. It is cruelty to our lest fortunate citizens.

I have been praying that the national media would descent on Puerto Rico en masse and start asking Governor Anibal Acevedo Vela whether it is true that he is "incompetent" as Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno claims. Also, it time to learn whether Acevedo and his Administration are corrupt in handling federal funds. We need to know to what extend his shameful delinquency is harming Puerto Rico and its people.

Gov. Acevedo wants the Puerto Rican people to believe that their enemy is the United States Justice Department out to persecute him. We need media investigations and reporting as to who is the real enemy.

[A Few Good Men]

The National News Media like on the Primary Weekend will be down here with Bathing Suits and Towels and their Umbrella Drinks...

Will stay at the Isla Verde Hotels on the Strip, Partying and at the Casinos and of course will "talk" about Puerto Rico's problems...

Give me a break....Were you born yesterday???

This 28 Million Bucks..obviously they had no place to hide it......

The enemy is anybody that doesn't wave the Monastrella Flag, watch the Miss Universe Contests and glue their eyes to the La Comay Show...

The is the land of morons...

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

A Few Good Men wrote:

The National News Media like on the Primary Weekend will be down here with Bathing Suits and Towels and their Umbrella Drinks...
Will stay at the Isla Verde Hotels on the Strip, Partying and at the Casinos and of course will "talk" about Puerto Rico's problems...
Give me a break....Were you born yesterday???
This 28 Million Bucks..obviously they had no place to hide it......
The enemy is anybody that doesn't wave the Monastrella Flag, watch the Miss Universe Contests and glue their eyes to the La Comay Show...
The is the land of morons...

CowquiLogan, KFC Sanders, Mark Lauer -- You can not hide your identity with a variety of pseudo names. Your unique behavior of being mean, stupid and nuts identify you immediatedly.

You said you were leaving Topix for good. Please keep your promise. You contribute nothing... It feels so good when you get lost...

By the way, have you made amends to your gay brother for insulting all gays with broad brush strokes as you also insult all Puerto Ricans gay or straight?

You are the moron not the people of Puerto Rico as you claim with hate and stupidity in your quoted message. If La Comay is so bad, why do you watch it everyday?

[gringo in tropics]

Yankee In Puerto Rico wrote:

<quoted text>
CowquiLogan, KFC Sanders, Mark Lauer -- You can not hide your identity with a variety of pseudo names. Your unique behavior of being mean, stupid and nuts identify you immediatedly.
You said you were leaving Topix for good. Please keep your promise.

How hypocritical can Yankee by? NO ONE has promised to stop poting here more than YIPR.

Coquilogan is correct. The US media couldn't care less about WHAT happens to HIV/AIDS patients in Puerto Rico. They don't even cover what happens to them in the US until the rate explodes, as it has in San Francisco again.

Face it, Yankee. Almost no one in the US even KNOWS that Puerto Rico is a part of the US. Of the ones who KNOW Puerto Rico is part of the US, a majority wish it weren't. There are a precious few of gringos who love and appreciate Puerto Rico for what it is.

You have been here too long without contacts to those from the heartland of America. Since you are exclusively East Coast, I suspect you never KNEW how Americans in the heartland felt about anything, much less what the few of them who know about Puerto Rico think about Puerto Rico. It isn't good.

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

A Few Good Men, CoquiLogan, etc. stated:
"This the land of morons... "

Gringo In Tropics do you believe Puerto Ricans are "morons" as stated by A Few Good Men? I must know a different group of Puerto Ricans than what you or CoquiLogan know. I don't find Puerto Ricans to be morons. I resent someone making a broad, inaccurate assumption that Puerto Ricans are "a land ofmorons."

I travelled all over the United States doing large, important industrial shows. Frequently, I have been in most towns of the United States.

Perhaps, those who hate Puerto Ricans with broad strokes are "stateside reckneck morons" who moved to Puerto Rico and never tried to appreciate the Puerto Rican people.

[gringo in tropics]

Yankee In Puerto Rico wrote:

A Few Good Men, CoquiLogan, etc. stated:
"This the land of morons... "
Gringo In Tropics do you believe Puerto Ricans are "morons" as stated by A Few Good Men? I must know a different group of Puerto Ricans than what you or CoquiLogan know. I don't find Puerto Ricans to be morons. I resent someone making a broad, inaccurate assumption that Puerto Ricans are "a land ofmorons."
I travelled all over the United States doing large, important industrial shows. Frequently, I have been in most towns of the United States.
Perhaps, those who hate Puerto Ricans with broad strokes are "stateside reckneck morons" who moved to Puerto Rico and never tried to appreciate the Puerto Rican people.

Here is the only thing I remember ever agreeing with Mark Lauer about (other than a FEW coincidentally and commonly held opinions we may share regarding you):

"Coquilogan is correct. The US media couldn't care less about WHAT happens to HIV/AIDS patients in Puerto Rico."

Most of the 'morons' I know in Puerto Rico live in your building.

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

gringo in tropics wrote:

<quoted text>
Here is the only thing I remember ever agreeing with Mark Lauer about (other than a FEW coincidentally and commonly held opinions we may share regarding you):
"Coquilogan is correct. The US media couldn't care less about WHAT happens to HIV/AIDS patients in Puerto Rico."
Most of the 'morons' I know in Puerto Rico live in your building.

You are nutty, mean and incendiary and not a reliable source. Why do you stoop to insults? You know nobody in my building so why make a judgement about them?

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE. IF YOU BEHAVED THE SAME WAY IN A COURTROOM AS YOU DO ON TOPIX, THE JUDGE MUST HAVE KICKED YOU OUT OF THE COURTROOM FREQUENTLY. NO WONDER YOU WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS A LAWYER. A GOOD LAWYER DOES NOT SHOOT FROM THE HIP AS YOU DO.

YOU HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH COQUILOGAN AND THAT IS WHY YOU LIKE HIM... YOU MOSTLY RANT AND PROVIDE LITTLE REFLECTIVE REASONING. YOU SOUND LIKE A REDNECK FROM THE MIDWEST WHO -- LIKE COQUILOGAN THINKS ALL PUERTO RICANS ARE "MORONS."

I hope you enjoy all the capital letters above.

[gringo in tropics]

YIPR:

You're the only person I 'know' in your building.

Those capital letters are just you screaming in the wind. I merely attacked your specious argument about my 'agreeing' with Coqui with the same brand of innuendo you use to attack those who you disagree with when you have no valid argument.

I was successful enough as a lawyer to retire at 55. I've never been removed from a court room. This forum has no significance or decorum.

As I stated originally in this thread, you are a hypocrite. But you are so much smaller than that. I must stoop to your level out of boredom. Goading you into publicly loosing your temper and self-respect certainly isn't much of a challenge.

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

gringo in tropics wrote:

YIPR:
You're the only person I 'know' in your building.
Those capital letters are just you screaming in the wind. I merely attacked your specious argument about my 'agreeing' with Coqui with the same brand of innuendo you use to attack those who you disagree with when you have no valid argument.
I was successful enough as a lawyer to retire at 55. I've never been removed from a court room. This forum has no significance or decorum.
As I stated originally in this thread, you are a hypocrite. But you are so much smaller than that. I must stoop to your level out of boredom. Goading you into publicly loosing your temper and self-respect certainly isn't much of a challenge.

Sounds like the black pot is calling the kettle black. I never loose my temper and that is why I never stoop to insults as you do. It is funny how you accuse others of the very behavior you have. Next time when you get judgemental, look in the mirror and point at the person you see in the mirror and repeat your self-righteous refrain of how great you are and others are not.

Careful! Temper! Temper! Thank God you don't come to San Juan which you judged to be a cesspool. By your definition you did call it a cesspool. Do you think this cesspool is full of morons? You are a lawyer who makes judgements not based on facts, but what you fancy something to be.

Most of the successful lawyers and doctors that I know did not retire at age 55. They loved their profession so much that they did not retire. They were successful lawyers and doctors because of the love of their profession and not because of the need for money.

I have see redneck lawyers practise law in mid-American redneck towns in redneck courthouses. They are not on the same high level as federal courts here in Puerto Rico and the Northeast coast of the mainland.

It is a shame that you did not grow up in a non-redneck area of the states.

[gringo in tropics]

Yankee In Puerto Rico wrote:

<quoted text>

Most of the successful lawyers and doctors that I know did not retire at age 55. They loved their profession so much that they did not retire. They were successful lawyers and doctors because of the love of their profession and not because of the need for money.

You are correct. Most lawyers practice until they are old and incompetent. Many practice until they are your age. They practice until senility.

I don't mind you calling me a 'redneck lawyer.' It's still above what you accomplished in your life--you are Willie Lohman--without a family to give a damn.

[A Few Good Men]

Yankee in Puerto Ric.....Learn Spanish if you love the place so much....I hate everybody in Puerto Rico yet I speak and write and read Spanish like my 2nd language after German...

You are nothing but a self serving hyprocrite and hasn't learn an iota of Spanish in 21 years...that's the ultimate disgrace to native Puerto Ricans...

I dispise Gringos that live in Condado, Isla Verde and even Laguna Gardens who think they are Kings of this Island...

Christ, give me a break and learn some Spanish...it won't make you straight, I promise...there are Gay Persons that speak Spanish....

[A Few Good Men]

Come on YIPR....do your typical response and bashing me for not loving my Gay Brother...that's none of your fucking business jerkoff...

I never mentioned your family, not even once in over 8 years....where do you get the balls to get into my Family Matters???

You are a scorned woman and forgotten man....the worse of two kinds...now STFU!!!!

[A Few Good Men]

YIPR...Read my lips you freaking gay...learn Spanish or leave this Island...

You are not welcomed...you are an ugly tourist of 21 years and mkaing the local natives cater to your demadns and wishes..

You are garbage, trash, basura, a possessed pervert that cna't even learn another language in 21 years...you are worse than the Puerto Ricans that live on the Mainland...

Keep living in your English Ghetto of Laguna Gardens ;ike a Mole...

Learn the Language...Learn the Language....Now...stop your professor crap in English..who gives a f**k about your English??? tou /

[A Few Good Men]

Learn Spanish

[A Few Good Men]

Now!!!

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

gringo in tropics wrote:

<quoted text>
You are correct. Most lawyers practice until they are old and incompetent. Many practice until they are your age. They practice until senility.
I don't mind you calling me a 'redneck lawyer.' It's still above what you accomplished in your life--you are Willie Lohman--without a family to give a damn.

Did you retire redneck lawyer at 55 because you become senile?

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

A Few Good Men wrote:

Yankee in Puerto Ric.....Learn Spanish if you love the place so much....I hate everybody in Puerto Rico yet I speak and write and read Spanish like my 2nd language after German...
You are nothing but a self serving hyprocrite and hasn't learn an iota of Spanish in 21 years...that's the ultimate disgrace to native Puerto Ricans...
I dispise Gringos that live in Condado, Isla Verde and even Laguna Gardens who think they are Kings of this Island...
Christ, give me a break and learn some Spanish...it won't make you straight, I promise...there are Gay Persons that speak Spanish....

Does your gay brother speak Spanish fluently? Is your gay brother aware that you are an ignorant homophobe. Does your wife and grandson know you hate Puerto Ricans and insult Puerto Ricans with broad, hateful generalizations on the internet while hiding behind a thousand different pseudo names? How often do you call them morans because they are Puerto Ricans?

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

A Few Good Men wrote:

Come on YIPR....do your typical response and bashing me for not loving my Gay Brother...that's none of your fucking business jerkoff...
I never mentioned your family, not even once in over 8 years....where do you get the balls to get into my Family Matters???
You are a scorned woman and forgotten man....the worse of two kinds...now STFU!!!!

Is your brother also "a scorned woman and forgotten man... the worse of two kinds..." because he is gay?

[Yankee In Puerto Rico]

A Few Good Men wrote:

YIPR...Read my lips you freaking gay...learn Spanish or leave this Island...
You are not welcomed...you are an ugly tourist of 21 years and mkaing the local natives cater to your demadns and wishes..
You are garbage, trash, basura, a possessed pervert that cna't even learn another language in 21 years...you are worse than the Puerto Ricans that live on the Mainland...
Keep living in your English Ghetto of Laguna Gardens ;ike a Mole...
Learn the Language...Learn the Language....Now...stop your professor crap in English..who gives a f**k about your English??? tou /

Why do you say that the Puerto Ricans who live on the mainland are 'the worse'? I know thousands of Puerto Ricans who live in the states and in Puerto Rico. I do not consider them to be as you state in your posting: "...you are worse than the Puerto Ricans that live on the Mainland..."

I never think of Puerto Ricans as being worse ... more worse ... or the most worse as you do. I think of Puerto Ricans as being "... good... better... the best..."

Why do you not like Puerto Ricans? Why do you always judge Puerto Ricans in such negative ways? Are you jealous that they are totally beautiful and you are totally ugly?

[A Few Good Men]

I am ugly...I am ugly....I am going to cut my veins tonite and blame everything on YIPR...

I am going to leave a suicide note blaming YIPR for my demise....oh...woe is me...

I am ugly...Oh!!! Oh!!! I am ugly...I am not Snow White like YIPR...I am ugly...I am ugly...