What to Know
- A third set of 100 New York college students and construction workers is headed to Puerto Rico to help rebuild after Hurricane Maria
- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the volunteer deployment Sunday
- The volunteers include State University of New York, City University of New York students and laborers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is making his fifth visit to Puerto Rico following last year's devastating hurricanes.
Cuomo will travel to the island territory Monday. He'll be accompanied by students from state universities, labor leaders, healthcare and non-profit executives and other elected officials including New York City Public Advocate Tish James and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The New York delegation will then disperse to work on rebuilding projects around the island. They follow several hundred New Yorkers who have already volunteered their time, including nurses, doctors, utility workers, police officers and SUNY students. In addition, the state has sent 4,400 pallets of drinking water, food, first aid kits and other supplies.
Cuomo has blasted the federal response to hurricanes Irma and Maria and has demanded an investigation. The storms knocked out power to the island and caused widespread damage.
Cuomo is scheduled to return to New York on Tuesday.
"The federal government's incompetent and inhumane failure to respond to the crisis in Puerto Rico has been a national disgrace," Gov. Cuomo said. "While the federal government turns its back on Puerto Rico, New Yorkers have stood with our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico since day one of this tragedy, and we will continue to stand with them until the job is done."
Local
Others joining the trip include Assembly members Marcos Crespo and Carmen de La Rosa; senators Martin Dilan and Gustavo Rivera; 1199SEIU President George Gresham; Ken Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association; and Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities.
