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Councillor Dunn sent a letter, co-signed by City Council President Joseph Lopes, and Councillors Abreu, Gomes, Martins, Morad, Oliveira, and Winterson requesting that Mayor Mitchell and city departments prepare to provide assistance to American evacuees from Puerto Rico that relocate to the city, in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Dunn stated that “It is saddening to see this humanitarian crisis unfolding in Puerto Rico – our fellow American brothers and sisters of this great island are suffering through severe devastation. With very limited food and water, fuel and electricity, medical services, and cell service – I expect that we may see an influx of people fleeing the island for mainland. New Bedford is home to a sizeable Puerto Rican population – and we as a city should be preparing to provide services for evacuees who choose to relocate to our city. We as a city need to proactively step up to this challenge, and be ready to aid those in need.”
Dunn also stated that “I am particularly interested in ensuring that our school department has access to resources that will enable it to efficiently enroll new students, and provide additional services like psychological counseling and food. While we cannot readily predict the volume individuals moving into our city – I’d like to make sure that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that families in transition have access to continued education and support during these difficult times.”
The letter reads as follows:
September 28, 2017
The Honorable Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor
City Hall
133 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Dear Mayor Mitchell:
We are writing to request the assistance of your Office and the Health Department to prepare to accommodate the needs of any fellow Americans who may evacuate Puerto Rico and relocate to the City of New Bedford. We ask that the Administration reach out to the School Department to help them prepare for a possible influx of students and the associated costs regarding school enrollment, counseling and food.
Thank you for your assistance.
Very truly yours,
Hugh C. Dunn, Esq.
Councillor Ward Three
City Council President Joseph Lopes, and Councillors Abreu, Gomes, Martins, Morad, Oliveira, and Winterson
