Daycare Center in Puerto Rico Named after Ronald Reagan; Bob Dole Attends Opening Ceremony

The Municipality of San Juan [in Puerto Rico] inaugurated yesterday a new daycare center for its employees' children, which has been named after the late former President Ronald Reagan.

Former Senator Robert Dole, who was present at the opening ceremony, stated that, during his years in the Senate, he treasured the approval of projects such as Head Start, this specific one of his preference. He pledged to inform the Reagan family of the dedication of this daycare center and affirmed that they will be very honored.

Meanwhile, San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini indicated that the center, located in [the] Hato Rey [district], will begin to operate in September and will initially care for 36 children. The total investment reached $485,857.

[Santini] maintained that he dedicated the daycare center to Reagan because [the former President] was known for strengthening federal social-welfare programs such as Head Start.

"As part of his initiatives as President, Reagan was concerned with increasing funding for the Head Start Program and establishing new standards for the professional development of preschool teachers, among other efforts geared towards strengthening child and family," Santini stated.

Santini said that the center will open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and will accomodate children from 2 months to 5 years of age. The center features three classrooms, one for infants, one maternal, and one preschool. It will have a kitchen, a storage area, an isolation section for sick children, and a play area with rubber surfaces.

[The mayor] indicated that the parents whose children will use the center will be able to see the children through screens [located] at the Municipality offices in Hato Rey. He said that the building had been abandoned by the past [municipal] administration and that only the 15th floor, where the former mayor's office was, had been renovated.

Santini said that the Head Start program [in San Juan] was under a crisis during the administration of former Mayor Sila Calderón. He indicated that [the program] was considered the worst in the United States but that things have changed now.

During the [press] conference, Dole maintained that he attended the Municipality's official 4th of July ceremony because he is a friend of Santini's, who he considers a good mayor.

He indicated that no one sent him, nor was he a representative of the Republican administration. When asked about the [political] status [of the island], he indicated that there is a workgroup in place within the [federal] government that will provide recommendations next year.

Former San Juan Mayor Sila Calderón was elected Governor of Puerto Rico in 2000 as the candidate of the pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party. She has chosen not to run for a second term in the November general elections.

She's not running because she is disliked by everyone, including those in her own party and the media.

Much like today where we hear the cry of "anyone but Bush", Sila's campaign was one of "look how bad the other guy is." She won, but has yet to do one thing of any importance for the citizens of the island.

The running joke on the island (which is very Christian, Roman Catholic in particular) is that the Pope is going to give Sila a special award, because not since Jesus walked the earth, has one person made so many other people repent and renounce past decisions.

Best Regards

Sergio

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