Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Puerto Rico Crippled Before Hurricane Hit
Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
12 Dec 2017
🖨️ Print Article

Harsh austerity measures imposed by a federal financial oversight board set Puerto Rico up for disaster, said Lara Merling, a researcher for the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research. A new study shows about 1,000 more deaths resulted from Hurricane Irma than were officially reported. “It’s not surprising that the Puerto Rican government had no ability to respond” to the storm, as a result of the spending cuts, said Merling.

Puerto Rico

Related Podcasts

BAR Radio Logo
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio March 6, 2026
06 March 2026
In this week’s segment, we discuss past and present U.S.
Puerto Rico independence movement
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution and Struggle for Independence in Puerto Rico
06 March 2026
Brianna Alvarado Ramos of Diaspora Pa’lante Collective discusses the challenges
BAR Radio Logo
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio September 19, 2025
20 September 2025
In this week’s segment, we discuss a new book that analyzes the latest iteration of fascism currently emerging in the United States.

More Stories


  • Black Agenda Radio June 3, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio June 3, 2022
    03 Jun 2022
    The effort to end qualified immunity in New York, rezoning and housing in Harlem, and the National Day Laborers Organinizing Network at the People's Summit.
  • Ending Qualified Immunity in New York
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Ending Qualified Immunity in New York
    03 Jun 2022
    Qualified immunity is the legal doctrine that shields public officials accused of civil rights violations. Police and corrections officers face limited repercussions for acts of brutality, even for…
  • Harlem Rezoning and Housing
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Harlem Rezoning and Housing
    03 Jun 2022
    Leah Goodridge is a member of New York City Planning Commission. She opposed the One45 project, which was to have been located on West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue. The project was opposed by the…
  • National Day Laborers Organizing Network at the People's Summit
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    National Day Laborers Organizing Network at the People's Summit
    03 Jun 2022
    Gonzalo Mercado is Director of Transnational Programs at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) which is among the convening organizations for the People's Summit for Democracy, which…
  • The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and the Decline of the American Empire
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and the Decline of the American Empire
    03 Jun 2022
    The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for Prosperity is another futile U.S. effort to diminish China's economic prowess. But IPEF also demonstrates systemic failure and a crisis of legitimacy.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us