Addressing the unstable and under-resourced energy grid, along with advancing statehood, remain fundamental objectives
By John McPhaul
jpmcphaul1@gmail.com
Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón expresses a sense of vindication when discussing her victorious campaign for governor.
“People criticized me, saying I couldn’t manage a family while campaigning for governor, yet I proved them wrong. It wasn’t just me; it was God, my family, and my husband,” she stated during an interview with the STAR. “I’m just like any other woman balancing work and family while being a catalyst for change.”
She emphasized her commitment to empower the younger generation.
“I understand that I have a duty to create opportunities for kids and young women to pursue politics or any field they choose,” she remarked. “I have a responsibility to show that girls can achieve whatever they aspire to.”
The governor-elect highlighted that her inspiration for entering politics stems from the pursuit of statehood.
She recounted how her father was deeply engaged in politics, taking a young Jenniffer to advocate for Puerto Rico’s statehood at the United Nations.
Since that experience, her focus has been on attaining statehood for the island.
González Colón commented that statehood represents the prevailing will, especially following the outcomes of the November 5 plebiscite, where statehood received 57% approval.
She affirmed that the presence of a resident commissioner from the pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party, Resident Commissioner-elect Pablo José Hernández Rivera, in Congress will not hinder her commitment to prioritizing statehood.
“I believe the people of Puerto Rico made their stance clear in favor of statehood during the referendum,” the governor-elect stated. “… The same individuals who supported him also backed statehood and me. You can’t call on those in the States to favor statehood if he’s uninterested in a status change; I am, and I will advocate for it.”
She noted that her primary focus, aside from statehood, is to resolve Puerto Rico’s broken electricity generation system.
Energy generation was the topic of the second meeting of the Committee for Energy Transformation, held on Monday, according to her.
“How can local manufacturing thrive without power?” González Colón asked. “You can’t have economic growth if there’s no electricity.”
“My initial bill will address permit processes to streamline actions, similar to Florida — submit for a permit, receive it instantly, and then have days to provide additional details,” she elaborated. “We can implement this in Puerto Rico to advance stalled projects.”
The second proposed bill includes appointing an energy czar who will engage with operators about power generation on the island and will be tasked with utilizing the $18 billion allocated for energy that remains untapped.
For her next focus, she recently announced a tax reform committee aimed at examining the inventory tax and recommending reductions in rates for corporations, individuals, and capital gains.
“The subsequent goal is to establish savings accounts for individuals with significant disabilities on the island — currently, we lack such provisions,” González Colón stated.
Another objective involves providing vouchers for families with children, expanding beyond just those in Head Start programs.
“If we can implement these tax reforms early in the year, it will establish new regulations to set things in motion across the island and mitigate the economic hardships we face,” she remarked.
If you travel around the island, you’ll see groups of idle young people congregating at gas stations and similar spots, reflecting the island’s economic struggles. How does the governor-elect plan to tackle this challenge?
“Firstly, I believe we can shift our educational focus toward STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] and enhance education in those fields,” González Colón suggested. “We are discussing reforms to the University of Puerto Rico’s curriculum and there is funding available for such changes.”
Another significant issue, she described, is the conditions within many schools across the island.
“Without maintaining a more conducive environment, how can we keep kids engaged in school?” the governor-elect questioned. “Additionally, we must provide opportunities for those unprepared for high school to gain work experience. I believe we need to involve everyone in the workforce, though sometimes they are reluctant to work for fear of losing their benefits.”
In the continental United States, income thresholds linked to public assistance are higher, allowing individuals to work while still receiving support, González Colón pointed out.
“If we were a state, we wouldn’t be addressing these concerns,” she concluded.
