Gov. Cuomo Leads Delegation Of State, City Politicians On Trip To Puerto Rico
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo will lead a delegation of state and city politicians on a trip to Puerto Rico.
The governor departed for Puerto Rico Monday afternoon after marching in the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn.
The delegation includes City Comptroller Scott Stringers and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. The group will meet with Puerto Rican leaders to discuss the territory's economic and health care problems.
Puerto Rico's financial crisis has the island on the verge of bankruptcy, and Cuomo said the trip is about figuring out how New York can help, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported.
"They need the same reimbursement rates on Medicaid and Medicare that other states get; by not having that, a doctor a day is leaving Puerto Rico," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
We're departing for Puerto Rico on a solidarity mission. More: https://t.co/WDNsxsXAwN Pics: https://t.co/FzaifUvV8T pic.twitter.com/9lD6RwIPf6
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) September 7, 2015
Mayor Bill de Blasio was not invited on the trip, but Diaz said he's not focusing on the snub.
"The governor is showing leadership here, the mayor has shown leadership," said Diaz, adding that politics in Puerto Rico are more extreme, but everyone there is trying to work together to find solutions.
Last week, when the governor was asked why the mayor was left off the list he said, "It was basically what the governor of Puerto Rico and the officials in Puerto Rico asked for."