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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Americans Mark Thanksgiving With Parades… Patakis Spending Holiday In Puerto Rico… Drinking Water Program To Cost $136M… Expos Release SJ Schedule…Anti-Drug Bill Veto Urged… Extraordinary Legislative Session Set
A Day To Give Thanks And Enjoy The Pageantry Of The Holiday Season November 28, 2002 Americans marked Thanksgiving on Thursday with parades full of music and color and the comfort and joy of gathering with family and friends. The 76th annual Macy's parade in New York City featured a dozen marching bands, the debut of a Charlie Brown balloon and the return of Kermit the Frog after a 12-year absence. The lighthearted tone was in contrast with a more patriotic display last year, weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11. "I'm 67 years old and it's been a dream of my life to come to see the parade. My dream has come true," said Gloria Aponte, who traveled to New York from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with her family. Her 7-year-old grandson, Manuel DeJuan, stood on a railing to see better, exclaiming with wonder at each balloon and float that passed, even one depicting an ice cream cone. "It's never too cold for ice cream," he said as temperatures hovered in the 20s. "Hey! Look at that one, Papa!" he exclaimed, pointing to a float featuring crocodiles and elephants. "It's great." Santa and his reindeer trailed a parade featuring 1,000 cheerleaders, 500 clowns, 25 floats, 12 marching bands, 10 novelty balloons, four toy floats and three falloons - Macy's hybrid "balloon-floats."
Patakis Spending Thanksgiving In Puerto Rico November 28, 2002 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. George Pataki, wife Libby and their four children headed to Puerto Rico Wednesday for a two-day Thanksgiving holiday vacation. The Patakis have wanted to take a holiday as a family since the Nov. 5 election, when Pataki won a third term as governor, according to Pataki spokesman Michael McKeon. The governor hoped to visit with Puerto Rican Gov. Sila Calderon, who endorsed Pataki for re-election, but planned no other official business while in the Caribbean, McKeon said.
Drinking Water Program To Cost $136M To 2004 November 27, 2002 A program to extend drinking water coverage in Puerto Rico is expected to cost $136M through to 2004 in 672 different projects, the island's governor Sila Maria Calderon was quoted as saying in El Vocero. The program's scope has been extended from the original 309 projects to include other communities that lack drinking water services. So far 109 projects in some 80 communities have benefited, benefiting some 35,000 families, El Nuevo Dia added. Works involve replacing and upgrading existing systems, as well as building new ones. Local water utility Prasa is the projects' executing agency. In July this year, Prasa awarded Ondeo, the waterworks division of France's Suez, a $4B, 10-year waterworks operations and maintenance contract.
Expos Release Schedule Without Union OK November 27, 2002 NEW YORK (AP) -- The Expos released their schedule Wednesday with 22 home games shifted to Puerto Rico, prompting the players' union to say it has not yet approved moving the games from Montreal. The first homestand in San Juan includes games against the New York Mets (April 11-14), Atlanta (April 15-17) and Cincinnati (April 18-20). The second homestand has Montreal hosting World Series champion Anaheim (June 3-5) and Texas (June 6-8), and the last includes Florida (Sept. 5-7) and the Chicago Cubs (Sept. 8-10). ``The games require the approval of the players' association. They have not yet given their approval,'' said Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official. ``They should not have put out the schedule.'' Orza, who has been negotiating with management lawyer Rob Manfred, said players have not yet reached an agreement with owners on increased meal money for the trip and on having the team pay for families to join players in Puerto Rico for the games, which originally were to be played at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. ``Rob and the union are working to get approval of the Puerto Rico games, and I assume that will be forthcoming,'' said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.
PDP Legislator Asks Calderon Not To Sign Anti-Drug Plan November 27, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) — Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Rep. Luis Raul Torres asked Gov. Sila Calderon not to sign the bill regarding the Drug Control Strategic Plan, which, he said needs several changes. "I urge the governor to veto the bill to allow more evaluation and gather all the concerns expressed by a coalition of organizations the Hogares Crea for the re evaluation of the bill," Torres said in published reports. Spokespeopel of several community-based organizations have opposed the signing of the legislation because of the support of the use of methadone, a medication considered effective only in 15% of cases, and the proposal that only people authorized by the government would be eligible to counsel people in rehabilitation centers, which leaves out reformed drug addicts and religious advisors who do not have professional qualifications in the subject.
Extraordinary Session To Begin Monday November 27, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) — On Wednesday the Legislature will be receiving the order to hold an extraordinary session that should begin Monday, at which five administration bills will be included, as well as four from the Legislature, said Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Rep. Roberto "Junior" Maldonado confirmed in published reports. House Treasury Committee Chairman Francisco Zayas Seijo said the Christmas bonus increase will be considered on the new session and will require the filing of two bills: one to increase the amount of money established and another to authorize the Office of Management and Budget to transfer the funds from the budget approved. In published reports, it is mentioned that the Transit Law would not be included in the extraordinary session, despite PDP Sen. Roberto Prats’ petition to address it. Other measures to be included are one regarding urban areas; a bill authorizing the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority to expropriate land; one that designates the new coliseum constructed in Hato Rey as the Puerto Rico Coliseum; and one authorizing the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to obtain a credit line of $100 million.
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