Perth Amboy welcomes Puerto Rican officials

PERTH AMBOY - Mayor Wilda Diaz welcomed the Honorable Javier Jimenez Perez, mayor of San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, and Honorable Felix Lassalle Toro, Puerto Rico’s 16th District Representative, to the city on Friday. 

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico almost three months ago and the island continues its recovery process, with many still lacking electricity and water. This public conference is part of the continuous efforts of Diaz to assist the victims of those affected by Hurricane Maria. 

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In mid-October, Diaz announced the efforts that Perth Amboy and community partners had made in the previous month to provide relief to Puerto Rico at a press conference. These efforts included the deployment of local police officers to Puerto Rico, a collection drive, relocation assistance for families, and fundraising efforts. 

Perth Amboy police officers were sent off to the island on Oct. 21. The officers visited the island to assist with relief efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane as part of the greater state effort to assist in the recovery of the island. In late September, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order designating municipal and county law enforcement personnel, as well as emergency responders, as state emergency forces. New Jersey planned to send 1,000 responders, of which 150 to 200 would be local police officers. 

Through the Celebrate Perth Amboy- San Sebastian Relief Fund, more than $45,000 was raised and a shipment of eight full containers through Sea Freight Logistics was made. Of these, six were shipped to San Sebastian, where Jimenez and his staff distributed the goods to more than 400 families. Perth Amboy shipped more than 200 pallets of goods — that was 300,000 pounds of essential supplies, including, first-aid kits, batteries, flash lights, hygiene products and most importantly, canned goods and water.

In addition, the City of Perth Amboy has since welcomed more than 100 families from Puerto Rico seeking relocation. Through the work of Perth Amboy staff and community partners, families have settled into the community seeking housing, employment, education and healthcare.

Fundraising efforts launched by New Jersey for Puerto Rico, spearheaded by the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey and statewide leaders, have raised tens of thousands of dollars for Puerto Rico. To assist, visit www.nj4pr.org.