Puerto Rico is an ideal vacation spot with clear water beaches, a unique nightlife, amazing food and easy travel for residents in the United States who don’t need a passport. Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico in a devastating and very vulnerable state. Since then we have seen an increase in new modern and luxury properties being built. One of the most sacred locations, also the capital called San Juan, has mostly been rebuilt with luxury hotels and condos and new businesses that cater towards tourists.
Wealthy tourists who visit Puerto Rico fall in love with the island and make attempts to buy property near the beach.
After the Hurricane many houses and property were destroyed which caused native Puerto Ricans to move since their homes were destroyed. People heard of the tragedy and the vulnerable state of Puerto Rico and looked at it as an opportunity. Since the tragedy of the hurricane it is said that over 100,000 residents of the mainland of the United States have moved to Puerto Rico and this does not include the wealthy individuals that buy to sell or rent.
Wealthy residents from the United States are buying blocks and even four to five houses at a time. Outsiders buy houses, remodel and sell at extremely high prices that only more outsiders can afford which causes more non-natives to move to the island. The natives of Puerto Rico say that Puerto Rico is no longer for the natives and that the new residents of Puerto Rico are shaping their future, gentrification is stripping the island and natives of their culture.
Born in Canovanas, Puerto Rico, Eyra Carrasquillo talks about not only the faults of non-natives, but the government.
“Our culture is being diluted due to gentrification of the island. Act 20/22 acts like a catalyst for gentrification to occur, giving investors incentives for their investments. Which is displacing natives and taking away agricultural land that belongs to our people. Investors are buying these lands and actively trying to ‘privatize’ public beaches,” she said.
According to the New York Times, Sanchez Tirado lives in Rincon close to a beach that is known for sunsets surfing. He often has wealthy visitors ask him if his house is for sale because of its location close to the beach. Some even just provide him with a check and ask him how much he’s willing to sell for, even though he constantly repeats that his house is not for sale.
Puerto Rican student Jazmarie Ortega had some strong feelings about the gentrification of Puerto Rico.
“We have a bunch of traditions, also sacred lands that are being bought out and sold to non-natives who don’t try to preserve, respect or embrace the culture of Puerto Rico. They’re trying to change our land,” she said.
Although, with all this tragedy that is happening with Puerto Rico its natives are not afraid to fight back and bring awareness to the issue. At the start of the new year only five days in, Bad Bunny released an album called “DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS” which translates to “I should have taken more photos.” In this album Bad Bunny expresses that this album was for his fellow Puerto Ricans and expressing his love, sharing the culture and most importantly talking about the gentrification.
Bad Bunny is a universal artist even though his music is completely in spanish. Bad Bunny has set new records as he released the most streamed album of all time “Un Verano Sin Ti” that was released back in 2022 and streamed 18 billion times. In the newest album “DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS” there is a song called “LO QUE PASO A HAWAII” which translates to “WHAT HAPPENED TO HAWAII.”
In this song he talks about the gentrification of Hawaii as it became the 50th official state of the United States and how wealthy residents from the states have been moving to Hawaii for the tropical location and as it is an easier move, rather than moving to a different country with similar tropical climate, same has been happening to Puerto Rico.
In the song “LO QUE PASÓ A HAWAII” Bad Bunny said, “Quieren quitarme el río y también la playa, quieren al barrio y que abuelita se vaya,” this translates to “They want to take my rivers and as well as my beaches, they want to take my town and they want my grandma to flee.” Bad Bunny explains the motives of gentrifiers and the lack of respect that they have for natives on our island. Also how they want to strip us of our land and beaches.
Carrasquillo had an interesting perspective on the effect of the album when it came to awareness and the effect of gentrifiers.
“Our national rainforest ‘El Yunque’ is being bought and developments have been recently increasing rapidly resulting in the decline of land and wildlife. Bad Bunny with his new album is bringing this issue to the forefront by his recent albums and protests. Us natives will continue to voice our concerns and advocate for our preservation of heritage and rights,” she said.
Puerto Rico continues to battle the transformation of the island and fight for their voices to be heard. As time goes on the gentrification continues and greatly intensifies. In the near future for Puerto Rico it is crucial for the natives and non-natives to work together to obtain a balance that promotes growth but as well meets the wishes of the natives and preserves the unique identity of Puerto Rico.
Eyra Carrasquillo is related to writer.
