Need help: My MIL just told me that Puerto Ricans were having to pay

[Ilsa]

for care packages like they did in the 1960s when they had another bad hurricane. I told her I had not heard that, and doubted it could be true. She watches either MSNBC or CNN.

Did anyone hear something that could be mistaken by someone easily confused?

[mercuryblues]

1. A quick google search

found no such thing.

[Ilsa]

2. Yeah, I did that too, found nothing. nt

[demmiblue]

3. I heard the mayor of San Juan (?) discussing the need to get back to basics...

like airdropping supplies with parachutes as a possible solution.

[Ilsa]

5. I like that idea.

I told my MIL that she probably heard a woman claiming she couldn't buy anything because without electricity, credit and debit cards aren't working, only cash.

[dchill]

6. It works. It should already have been done.

[lunasun]

4. Why was she mentioning it ? Concerned they won't want the help she'd send or that they are being

charged ( which they are not of course)?

[Ilsa]

7. She went on a rant about "government corruption"

afterwards. I think she misunderstood something, like not having electricity to run credit/debit for store purchases, not aid packages.

[yardwork]

8. I read that the U.S. is forcing refugees from Puerto Rico to repay travel costs.

Before they can be evacuated, they are having to sign promissory notes to repay the costs of airline travel. Their passports are being held as collateral.

[SoCalNative]

9. Yep

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/352824-trump-administration-forcing-puerto-rico-evacuees-to-pay-for

[MiniMe]

10. I did see this: Trump administration forcing Puerto Rico evacuees to pay for airfare

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/352824-trump-administration-forcing-puerto-rico-evacuees-to-pay-for

Trump administration forcing Puerto Rico evacuees to pay for transportation: report
TheHill.com


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The Trump administration is reportedly forcing evacuees from Puerto Rico and Dominica to sign promissory notes ensuring full repayment for transportation costs and is keeping evacuees' passports as collateral.

MarketWatch, citing the State Department's website, reported on Thursday that the administration is using a longstanding but discretionary policy to ensure that evacuees pay transportation costs, which are based on “the price of the last commercial one-way, full-fare (not discounted) economy ticket prior to the crisis.”

According to the State Department's website, the policy applies to all evacuees who boarded U.S. government aircraft or other vehicles to evacuate. Evacuees' passports will restricted until payment is received. snip

more at the link

[Ilsa]

11. Those airfairs have been jacked up, too, from

what I heard. The airlines are using this disaster as an excuse to make money

[MiniMe]

14. Yup, full fare

No discount. Bastards

[FLPanhandle]

12. From a pilot friend

"Windsor jet has been doing rescue and supply runs for the last week. People picking up the supplies show up with tears in their eyes they are so happy. Right on the ramp."

If anyone was demanding payment, he would have said so. Sounds like corruption or a false rumor.

[romanic]

13. Heard from my relatives down there.

They haven't had to pay for relief packages, but there is a lot of gouging for things like fuel and transportation.

[Ilsa]

15. I figured independent businesses would gouge.

I hope they are prosecuted, but I won't hold my breath.