Supreme Court Says Puerto Rico's $72 billion Debt Cannot Be Restructured, U.S. Congress To Act

[From article]
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Puerto Rico can't restructure the debts of its public utilities to avoid a financial crisis, closing off one of the island's last remaining options for avoiding default without help from Congress.
In a 5-2 ruling, the justices said that although the government and people of Puerto Rico should not have to wait for possible congressional action to avert a financial crisis, the Constitution does not allow them to rewrite a statute that Congress enacted in 1984.
While states can allow municipalities to seek such debt relief, the lower court said, Congress had not given Puerto Rico that right.
“The plain text of the Bankruptcy Code begin and ends our analysis,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the majority opinion. “Resolving whether Puerto Rico is a ‘state’ for purposes of the pre-emption provisions begins ‘with the language of the statute itself,’ and that ‘is also where the inquiry should end’ for ‘the statute’s language is plain.’ ”
Puerto Rico had long been included as a state under the bankruptcy code, but Congress amended that definition in 1984 to exclude the territory.
The island has more than $72 billion in outstanding debt, with public utilities accounting for $20 billion of the total. Seeking to alleviate that burden, Puerto Rico enacted legislation in 2014 that would have provided the island's electric and water utilities an alternative way to restructure their debts.
Investors filed a legal challenge to that measure, citing the 1984 law. The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed a lower court ruling that found the utilities cannot restructure the debt under federal bankruptcy rules.
Financial reform advocates said they hope the court's decision will motivate Congress to finish a bill addressing Puerto Rico's debt before the island territory defaults on a $2 billion payment on July 1.
[. . .]



"The Puerto Rican people are our fellow Americans. They pay our taxes. They fight in our wars," Ryan said. "We cannot allow this to happen."
[. . .]
“There is no plan B for Puerto Rico right now,” LeCompte said. “There’s only two viable options: the legislation pending and the other is direct negotiations between the creditors and the government of Puerto Rico.”
LeCompte, however, doubts the territory would be able to reach an agreement with its creditors in time.
“We’re not going to see a negotiated solution by July 1,” he said. “That’s just not in the cards.”
Frank Shafroth, director of the Center for State and Local Leadership at George Mason University, argued that Puerto Rico’s Recovery Act would have given the island greater leverage in handling the $72 billion it owes.
“The [Supreme Court] decision, however, leaves Puerto Rico more dependent than ever on Congress to authorize means for the U.S. territory to avoid insolvency,” he said in an email to The Hill. “Puerto Rico and its public agencies face a $2 billion payment due July 1st, after defaulting May 1st on $370 million of Government Development Bank debt.”

http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/283249-supreme-court-puerto-rico-cant-restructure-debt

Supreme Court rules Puerto Rico can't restructure debt
By Lydia Wheeler -
06/13/16 10:23 AM EDT

Harvard University Employees Harass Elder Tenant

Published October 10, 2014 3:43 PM ET; Last updated October 15, 2014 7:33 PM ET

Recall that I never requested any work from Harvard University Housing. They created a fantasy to justify an illegal entry to my premises. It was a trespass, perhaps a burglary. But with a $36 billion endowment and an army of media image makers it is easy to fool the public, the police and the politicians, who are always eager to obey wealthy powerful images.  

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Your work order has been Completed. 1 message

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hres_yardi_prod@harvard.edu	Wed, Oct 15, 2014 at 9:34 AM
To: roybercaw
Please do not Reply to this email as this account is not monitored for incoming mail.   Information is now available for the work request you submitted for: 85-02 Go check apartment temp   The status of this service request is currently:  Completed   Additional information about this request can be viewed on line.   HU Housing tenants living in affiliated housing should log in at http://www.huhousing.harvard.edu as a registered user.   Harvard University Housing

Updated October 10, 2014 4:45 PM ET

[Sent Friday October 10, 2014 at about 12:10 PM via City Inspectional Services online form.]

Unless Harvard University (my landlord) has an exception as per CMR it is my belief that heat must be provided to residential tenants beginning on Sep. 15th each year. They do provide heat continuously to other tenants. But for some reason several times per year my unit (#2) does not get heat when the rest of my building at 85 Prescott Street, Cambridge does get heat. On Friday October 10, 2014 there was heat to other units but not to mine. When I call to complain the receptionist usually asks me, "Why are you the only one?" I write and speak about Harvard University criticizing them on occasion. Perhaps that is why. The persons also tamper with electricity, cable TV service, DSL online computer services, and hot water. It is how they express their dissatisfaction. Harvard University employees (police and superintendents) regularly retaliate for my protected legal expression. I'm aware that it is a violation of the Massachusetts civil rights felony statute. But police do not respond to my complaints. If you set up an appointment to inspect the problem I suspect it will be a waste of your and my time. Whoever is tampering with the heat system will restore the heat when it is supposed to be on before you arrive. Perhaps someone from your office speaking with a responsible person at Harvard may solve the problem. Thank you for your attention.

* * *

At about 1:00 PM I went to do an errand, returning at about 2:30 PM. I saw a paper tag hanging on my door handle, from Harvard University Housing. It was a report of an entry to my apartment for "maintenance." But I have never given Harvard University permission to enter my premises without permission except for an emergency. The tag stated that "TA" was in my apartment at about "1:35" [PM?] on date "10/10." The message written is "Apt temperature is 75 degree. Check apt temperature for report of apartment being cold."

This appears to be evidence of two crimes. One is criminal trespass if not burglary. Entering my premises without permission is a crime. Checking temperature is not an emergency.



Secondly when I complain to the City of Cambridge's Inspectional Services department using their online form, or any method, it takes about 7-14 days to get a response. Unless the Harvard University criminals who harass me every day committing repeated felonies were monitoring my computer communications, which I am aware that they do, it is not possible for the city to contact Harvard and have a Harvard employee respond to my complaint in one hour. The City of Cambridge closes at noon on Fridays. That adds another layer of delay.




But also I did not complain about the apartment being cold as per the above message. In the early morning hours it was cold. But at 1 in the afternoon with the sun shining, blasting on my windows the apartment gets warm. The complaint was that there was heat in other apartments but not mine on that day.

This suggests that someone is tampering with my computer transmissions which is a felony under the US Code. It is one of several daily felonies these police criminals commit every day.

But the Inspectional Services Department has limited jurisdiction.




[According to the weather service the temperature for Boston at about 11:54 PM on Thursday October 9, 2014 was 57 fahrenheit. At 8:54 AM on Friday October 10, 2014 it was 54 fahrenheit.  At 12:54 PM Friday October 10, 2014 it was 62.

At about 12:49 PM, 39 minutes after I sent a form message to the City Inspectional Services, the below email arrived in my inbox. Thus Harvard received  a "work request" from unknown and responded within 54 minutes. But again without permission entering my premises for a non emergency.] 

Roy Bercaw

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Your work order has been Scheduled. 1 message

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hres_yardi_prod@harvard.edu	Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 12:49 PM
To: roybercaw
Please do not Reply to this email as this account is not monitored for incoming mail.   Information is now available for the work request you submitted for: 85-02 Go check apartment temp   The status of this service request is currently:  Scheduled   Additional information about this request can be viewed on line.   HU Housing tenants living in affiliated housing should log in at http://www.huhousing.harvard.edu as a registered user.   Harvard University Housing

Response To Harvard University President's Heating Guidelines

Thank you for revealing what Harvard's heating guidelines are. But there are state laws which establish heating requirements for MA landlords including The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Over the past 17 years I've been a tenant of Harvard's President I encountered numerous occasions when there was no heat often on weekends and at night. A call to your delightful emergency phone often gets a response of "Why are you the only one?" It appears that many of
your tenants are unable or unwilling to speak out about lack of heat. When I complain I get harassed, humiliated and ridiculed by employees of the landlord. That is also a violation of US laws. I am aware, very well aware that for Harvard's President and in Cambridge, laws are optional. Just want you to know that I enjoy reading about your guidelines when they conflict with state and US  laws. It is more sources of humor in this charming city and University. Thanks again for the laughs.

[Memo sent on Thursday November 29, 2012]
HARVARD UNIVERSITY OFFICE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

HARVARD UNIVERSITY TEMPERATURE POLICY


OBJECTIVE:
The Harvard University Temperature policy provides a framework to assist building managers and occupants in achieving a healthy, productive, and safe working environment while reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions to the lowest practicable level.

POLICY:
During the winter heating season (October 16-May 14), occupied spaces will be heated to 68-71 F; each School or Department will determine their specific targets. During the summer cooling season (May 15- October 15),
occupied spaces will be cooled to 74-76¿ (where air conditioning equipment currently exists); each School of Department will determine their specific targets. Buildings with stringent humidity requirements may operate below this range. Occupants are also reminded that personal space heaters or heating or cooling devices may present a safety risk and are prohibited from use unless provided by the building manager.

Notes:
These space temperature ranges are based on established standards for human comfort, productivity and safety. Harvard building occupants will be made aware of the specific space temperature targets and feedback systems in place in their buildings. Occupants are encouraged to work with local building management staff to achieve acceptable temperature, humidity and ventilation levels. Maximum comfort and efficiency will be achieved when occupants and building managers actively adapt to building conditions through modification of air flow, sunlight, and apparel choices, among other comfort factors. Actual spaces temperatures may vary across Harvard's building due to wide range of space types and building control systems on campus.

Harvard will periodically evaluate this temperature policy based on improvements to building systems; advances in occupant comfort and productivity research; and feedback from occupants.

We look forward to working with building occupants to create a comfortable and energy-conserving environment.

Man Charged With Killing Handyman Over No Heat

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/hot_con_killed_building_handyman_pRwyheESBVQ5p0vm3jWg4L

Ex-con killed building handyman because he had no heat or hot water: prosecutors
By Josh Saul
New York Post
Last Updated: 8:19 PM, October 3, 2012
Posted: 7:47 PM, October 3, 2012

Houston Woman Pulls Licensed Gun On Meter Installer

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178459/Thelma-Taormina-Woman-pulls-GUN-electric-worker-didnt-want-green-smart-reader.html

Woman pulls a GUN on an electric worker because she didn't want a 'green' smart reader installed as she thought it was 'an invasion of her privacy'
By MEGHAN KENEALLY
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 15:46 EST, 24 July 2012 | UPDATED: 16:34 EST, 24 July 2012