The Cmdr's Report on Puerto Rico.
Infrastructure.
About a month ago CNBC reported that six months after Hurricane Maria, approximately 121,000 residents remain without power.
Power trucks and a donated mobile solar generator finally arrive in coastal towns still reeling from the aftermath of the storm.
There are demands for action and a inquiry into allegations of corruption against the island's power authority.
Source: [URL]https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/frustrating-progress-on-restoring-puerto-ricos-power.html[/URL].
So, fly to Puerto Rico and sit in the dark. Sounds like a wonderful vacation spot, doesn't it?
Real Estate.
What exactly constitutes a fire sale? We have been told that one is going on in Puerto Rico. No proof has been provided. How about some verifiable information and you can decide for yourselves.
"Demand for luxury beachfront properties in exclusive areas such as Dorado, Palmas del Mar and Rio Grande is expected to outstrip supply in the coming years, according to Carlos Xavier Velez of real estate consulting firm, RE Advisors.
Prices of beachfront luxury homes have remained stable or in some cases increased from 2012 to 2016, according to Leticia Brunet Gonzalez of Trillion Realty Group. Prices range from US $400 to US $600 per square foot. More specifically in Condado and DoradoBeach, prices of luxury properties can reach US $1,000 per square foot, said* Hiram Albino of Luxury Estates Puerto Rico. " - Global Property Guide (August 2, 2017).
Source: [URL]http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/Price-History[/URL].
Doesn't exactly sound like the nice places to live in Puerto Rico are going for pennies on the dollar, does it?
But out of fairness, and to show I'm not just trying to make a point, here is the link to the CNN Money article quoted by Mr. GoGo from February 21,2016. Gentlemen, I have given you the opportunity to read the entire article instead of just a quote that he presented.
[URL]http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/21/investing/puerto-rico-foreclosure-crisis/index.html[/URL]
Crime.
Crime is usually not something I worry about. If I am thinking about traveling somewhere if I don't think I'm going to be safe there I just don't go. After all why spend the money traveling to a place, even if it is just a short domestic flight available many times a day and you get to check your bags for free, if you are going to get jacked after you get there? World Nomads reported that Puerto Rico is generally a hospitable and safe place for tourists.
Source: [URL]https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/caribbean/puerto-rico[/URL].
Here is my Big Boy Rule about how to avoid crime when you travel or even in your own home town: Stay away from areas that are filled with people that don't have much as you to lose if you wind up with a violent encounter with them. I know that's unsolicited advice, but humor me on this one gentlemen.
Third world country is a term from the Cold War era only used by those who have failed to keep up with current development and economic models.
President Danilo Medina said his country is no longer poor. His statement is backed up by the World Bank list of economies (June 2017) where the Dominican Republic is listed in the Upper Middle Income Group.
Source: [URL]https://dominicantoday.com/dr/poverty/2017/07/26/dominican-republic-is-poor-no-more-medina/[/URL].
Source: [URL]https://data.worldbank.org/income-level/upper-middle-income[/URL].
Although I appreciate the sharing of insights into your personal preferences for where to live, I value a more expansive look at the big picture and the sharing of current facts and information with my readers. I have always preferred facts over opinions and knowledge over advice. Knowledge and facts are always welcome in my blog as I hope they will be in yours also.
Now I'm going to get back to my regularly scheduled enjoyment of life on a Caribbean island where I'm not concerned about using the dollar, real estate prices, who speaks English & Spanish (because I can speak both) or crime. Where is my damn rum and pass me the hooka?
Big Tent Theory (The Remix).
[QUOTE=GrownMan1;2171928]5. You have putas for play- and girlfriends for the lay. Some of us don't know the difference.
6. You know how to operate the sites, Casa, and the streets with no problem.
7. You are not on this site for help. You are here for entertainment and to help others.
8. You are the SD expert of the board. Next to BQ ribs.
Sub IMHO ole skool does not describe your age. It describes your wisdom of operation. You ole skool G.
Put some of this OG kush in the hoolker and let me hit it![/QUOTE]Mr. Grownman,
I like all eight. But these are my favorites of your list. Number five: You are dead on point. Who of us satisfies our sexual hunger on puta play alone? I know I don't. Number six: Is a very astute analysis by you. Who of us restricts our pussy procurement efforts to just one avenue? I know I don't. Number seven: Who needs unsolicited advice? I know I don't. It's useless to me. But real knowledge like the kind you kick or that Mr. Knowledge posted in the Santo Domingo forum about a casa I did not know about, now that is an example of the sharing of information about women that I'm looking for. I followed it up with a personal thank you to Mr. Knowledge and are report on my visit to said casa. Number eight: I'm most honored. It's only important to be a man in the arena. Because we know the critics don't count!
Damn straight my brother, let me put some of that OG kush in the hooka and I'll pass it to ya!
Sex, lies, and youtube video.
I was not on the island or in the position to dispute the information about Passions that has been posted. But the wonderful thing about the internet is that it allows a motherfucker making claims to be fact checked (emphasis on checked).
The hypothesis (borrowed from you know who): Publicity provided by ISG postings feeds into the general tenor of the political move to shut down establishments that operate on the very periphery of the "no pimping laws".
An example was given of Passions, a nightclub that was shut down in Sosua in early 2014. It was stated that they were a little too public and drew unwanted attention to themselves from the local politicians. These statements are beyond the realm of proof. Because unless you were in the room when the decision was made to move on the owner of Passions legally and shut his business down, you have no idea the real reason behind that particular political decision unless someone has personally told you. Furthermore the official account of why the closing occurred indicated that the owner of the establishment had indeed crossed over that bright line of legality and it resulted in his business being closed and jail time. Unless he proffered the "Marion Barry" defense, my thoughts are to operate with the law, and if you are not going to then treat the people who could rat you out with a very high degree of respect.
When it comes to publicity, from what I been able to find on the internet about Passions there is a short but detailed video that was posted before the raid happened that showed the inside of Passions and it left little to the imagination. Now this was not a undercover video so I doubt it was taken without the permission and knowledge of the former owner of the business. I did not see Cuba Dave taking credit for this video. And from what I have read of his personality he was not shy about taking credit for his work. So, I am not buying the Cuba Dave did it, ISG posts were too explicit, there was too much publicity argument, no matter how dogmatic is it being made.
There was publicity about Passions that was generated independently from ISG and Passions that wound up on youtube and in many other places on the net. One individual proffered it simply may have been that the owner lost his political clout compared to the other property owners. It was bar located across the street from two apartment complexes and a house. And although there are often no zoning laws like in my country of origin so as a business owner and a property owner you are left at the mercy of your the property owners around you and since this more often a nation of men more than a nation of laws the individual that is best able to draw the attention of prevailing legal authority often prevails.
From what I read the owner ran afoul of the no pimping laws. And we all know pimping ain't easy or else everybody would be doing it. He ran his house with a large pimp stick and although he was not hitting his girls with it, he was hitting them with a much more powerful too (and I'm not talking about my dick either). This motherfucker was putting a charge on his girls that cut into the their earnings. He was charging them for stupid things. Now that's some cold blooded mafia type shit! "But I didn't make that much this week. I don't care fuck you pay me". That's some cold blooded US government IRS type shit right there. Now I don't know any of this for a fact. I'm just sharing what I have read in response to what an individual claimed has happened and what he has posted about the incident.
Furthermore I've been unable to verify that Cuba Dave was ever prosecuted for anything in the Dominican Republic. I know he wrote a book about Sosua. Might not of made people happy but it certainly was not illegal. And although he got pinched in Costa Rica. With the help of some very competent attorneys that also figured out that since the "gloves didn't fit then they must acquit". Yes, Cuba Dave beat the rap in a foreign country. That's some straight Chappo type shit if I've ever seen it.
Now if someone wants to help a brother out and bring some real facts to the table then this will continue to be a discussion filled with any number of alternative facts and logical fallacies of all types. I drink and hit the hooka a lot. That's my excuse. But I don't know what the other posters problem is. Did I wander into the shrine to the great pussy pueblo of Sosua (AKA: The Sosua Forum in ISG) and someone felt umbridge? I honestly don't know. And I really don't give a fuck!
But the reaction has been worse than rich Dominicans having to rub elbows with Haitians in Blue Mall. Call fucking 911 because somebody up in here is having a straight apoplectic fit. My offer to entertain have a rum and smoke (complete with putas) was not even addressed. At least my fellow man in the arena did not feel the need to resort to personal insults and name calling like my critics proudly do.