CO MMONWI:ALT II

PUERTO

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RI C O

GOVERNOR
ALEJANDRO J. GARCiA- PADILLA

August 21, 2015

The Honorable Stuart F. Delery

Acting Associate Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Mr. Delery:
I address you as both Co-chair of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico
and Associate Attorney General. I write to you regarding a letter dated
August 17, 2015 by Mr. Ralph E. Martin in which the U.S. Department of Justice
("DOJ") notifies it is designating the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
(the "Commonwealth") and eight of its agencies as high-risk grantees.
The letter was sent to an email address in the website of my office available for
the general public to send comments. Furthermore, I was made aware of the
letter via a radio commentator that read it on the air from an online newspaper.
And as of the date of this letter, the letter has not been delivered to my office.
I hereby do not acknowledge receipt of the letter nor the 30-day period
provided therein to respond to the same.
The letter is causing confusion among the public with its references to our fiscal
crisis and lack of specificity as to the reasons that motivate the letter. The letter
does not even explain the time period covered under DOJ's alleged findings.
This lack of respect to the people of Puerto Rico is unacceptable.
The letter has been front page news and spreading fears that vital public safety
programs are in jeopardy because of the loss of federal funds. The funds that
DOJ provides help some of our most vulnerable populations, including victims
of domestic violence. At the very least, I request a statement by DOJ clarifying
that federal funds are not in danger and that programs funded through DOJ
will not be affected. Puerto Rico is facing enough challenges; we do not need
DOJ to add to the uncertainty that the people of Puerto Rico are suffering.

La Fortaleza, San Juan, PR 00901

I PO

Box 9020082, San Juan, PR 00902-00821 gobernador@fo rtaleza .pr.gov 1787.721.7000

Honorable Stuart F. Delery

Page 2
August 21, 2015

In addition to the poor process through which the existence of the letter was
informed, the same does not exp lain why the Commonwealth has been
designated as a high-risk grantee. DOJ Co-Chairs the President's Task Force on
Puerto Rico, and as you know, we have enjoyed a close working relationship.
I think it wou ld have been more proper that prior to sending the letter that DOJ
share its concerns so we cou ld work to address them.
In the last two and half years, Puerto Rico has accompl ished the highest crime
rate reduction in the United States. Yet DOJ acknowledges that effort w ith a
letter designating the Commonwea lth as a high risk grantee.
I look forward to discussing the Department's concerns and working with you
on solutions that are suitable to both DOJ and the Commonwealth.
Cordially,
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,