And i am proud of you. I know you are currently residing in florida but you are a true puerto rican. I know you are fighting for equality, and that is the solution. The democratic thing to do the right thing to do economically and financially for puerto rico insofar as the immediate crisis is concerned. Congress could give puerto rico a tool that is not available in puerto rico, and that is chapter nine of the bankruptcy code. It allows companies to reorganize themselves under the protection of the bankruptcy court, so that they can meet their payment obligations. It allows them to restructure in an organized and legal way. That is why i am fighting for that in congress. But the permanent solution would be to allow puerto rico to join the union. Pay federal taxes. But at the same time, get the same benefits from the federal government. Then puerto rico would prosper with that kind of profit status. There would be a transition, but we would have no Political Risk and we would drive the
Per hour. Back in ten minutes with more on the metro issue. Thanks. As melissa just mentioned happening right now, metro having some problems as it tries to roll out the newest 7000 rail car at the greenbelt metro station. We want to get to Meagan Fitzgerald with more on what happened before the rail cars get there. Whats the issue . Reporter well, a lot of folks are frustrated because theres an issue with the train that stalled on the tracks. Its monday morning, they were excited to ride on a brandnew 7000 series train. But if you take a look here, youll see thats not happening any time soon. Metro officials tell us that some sort of an issue with this train here. Not able to function properly so passengers had to get off and theyre certainly not happy about it. Now, it was around 5 35 when we noticed that the train was stalled. Passengers waited inside for a few minutes before metro employees told them they had to get off the train. Were told theres some sort of a mechanical issue th
Opening day blues with the public defender say say its a massive failure on multiple ends. Reporter presiding judge Morris Jacobson said that incustody arraignments may have remained in oakland in the jailhoused more local prisoners. He says most of the beds there are reserved for federal prisoners. Vic lee, abc 7 news. What is the presiding judge mean when he says they house federal prisoners and not local prisoners. Can you explain that . Reporter yeah, the presiding judge is saying that at the north county jail, which is the oakland jail that the Sheriffs Office is leasing, that the Sheriffs Office is leasing most of the beds to the federal government for federal inmates because they want to balance their budget. The judge says that if they were to reverse that and put more of the local prisoners in the north county jail, the oakland jail they may have maintained the arraignments at that jail for north county prisoners. It makes more sense to arraign them here. All right. Vic lee re
Its about 30 miles from the oakland courthouse thats always handled arraignments for crimes occurring in oakland and berkeley. The majority of the countys criminal incidents. The court says it will save time and money. The countys main jail is right next to the new facility. No more busing prisoners to oakland for arraignments but Defense Attorneys say its a burden for families of defendants. A lot of my clients obviously are indigent and their families are indigent and thats a tremendous hardship. Reporter there are also opening day blues. Yesterday with a public defender calls total confusion. Clients just arent being seen. Their case could be in contention next day. Theyre not being arraigned timely. It is just a massive failure on multiple ends. Reporter tyra had to come here again today from hayward. Her fiances arraignment was put over yesterday because his files werent ready. Like a lot of miscommunication even with the staff and the d. A. S, they seem overwhelmed already. Repor
With confusion and delays. Many members of the public say theyve had a tough time getting there. Vic lee is live at the new county hall of justice to explain whats wrong. Vic . Reporter dan and ama, first of all, there appears to be delayed in the normal functioning of the courts. Things like the transfer of paperwork, the filing of motions, court appearances. That sort of thing. On top of the fact that there appears to be heavier than normal case loads. Now the public defender told me that yesterday afternoon, there were about 100, 100 arraignments scheduled on the afternoon calendar and thats a lot of arraignments. On top of all of that, he says there appears to be a lack of access among many to this new courthouse. It took lela madison over an hour on the freeway to get here from richmond this morning. Her niece had to take mad scisoo her sons arraignment. The oakland courthouse is more convenient. A. C. Transit bus and tgo int oakland, it would be easier for me to do. Reporter star