Puerto Rico in shambles after Hurricane Maria

San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico

is located in country's eastern central region

and has a population of 41,947 U.S. citizens.

(Photos submitted by Maritza Rodriguez)

Protesters and police: a volatile case in change management which can lead to good

A take off from "Black Lives Matter" slogan, this unoriginal message may be obstacle to bringing cops and protesters together.

When National Action Network leaders announced that they would be sending Al Sharpton to rally against Cobb County Lieutenant Greg Abbott's "We only kill black people" remark, Cobb County, Ga. Police Chief Michael Register recommended that Abbott be fired immediately.

That's the kind of change happening across the United States where communities have seen an uptick in "Killed by Cop" incidents, and the police themselves have become targets.

"Instead of implementing change by accident, lawsuit, or crisis, law enforcement professionals need to act deliberately — with confidence and purpose — to ensure the desired outcomes," say Deborah Lewis and Fredinal “Fred” Rogers of the United States Capitol Police. ( https://www.policeone.com/police-jobs-and-careers/articles/6969429-Overcoming-3-key-challenges-to-change-management-in-policing/ )

Recently, a Georgia Tech student armed with a knife, Scout Schultz, was killed by campus police who did not deploy non-lethal bean-bag rounds which could have saved his life. The result: violent protests erupted in Atlanta.

Yet, this is a moment when relationships between police officers and the public are under the microscope, ready for improvement on both sides. What will improve relations between the police and community members they serve?

Transparency. Sensitivity training. Reinforcement of positive behaviors. Breaking down stereotypes. Accountability. This is the responsibility of human resources, the union, training facilities, public relations administrators, review panelists, and community activists.

The police should not be at war with the citizens they serve. Ongoing and sustainable changes are keys to improving community policing.

Florida's Keys: what will happen now that Irma's gone?

Muddy waters left by Hurricane Irma

Do you think investors will go to the Florida Keys and grab up some cheap real estate, will insurance companies pay for rebuilding, or donations help individual homeowners recover? What about the U.S. government?

ABC News has reported that 90% of homes in the Keys have been damaged or destroyed. That's approximately 34,200 homes at a median price of $280k each. It would take $7.5 billion dollars to help rebuild them. And that doesn't include businesses, boats, cars and possessions.

During times like these, unscrupulous people with money hone in on victims. Only time will tell.