Puerto Rico’s electric lifelines

San Juan, P.R.: Your Dec. 16 editorial “Flip the switch” contains several inaccuracies. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosello set an aggressive timeline, but we know it will take significant time to restore power to the majority of people due to the challenges of terrain, the state of the grid system before the storms and the extensive damage caused by the hurricanes. Our timeline has been consistent since Nov. 5, when Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, told “60 Minutes,” “I think the majority of people will hope to have their power up in January, maybe February.”

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority continues to refine its master restoration plan, which was based upon an assessment shortly after Maria. As part of the ongoing restoration effort, workers continue to uncover significant damage to the island’s electric infrastructure that, in many instances, requires wholesale rebuilding. PREPA’s daily report shows the current power generation at 68.7% of the average pre-storm load, since there’s currently no method to accurately determine the number of customers with power. PREPA’s metering system suffered damage and is under repair, therefore power generation is the best metric to show progress in restoring the grid.

The federal government did not award the Whitefish Energy contract. That contract was awarded by PREPA. The Corps awarded the first of a series of major contracts aimed at repairing the power grid to Weston Solutions Oct. 8. The $35 million contract was to provide 50MW of generation capacity to the Palo Seco power plant. Since then, the Corps has awarded contracts for the repair of transmission and distribution lines to Fluor Corp. (Oct. 16) and to PowerSecure, Inc., (Oct. 19). These initial contracts were increased to total $1.69 billion. Another contract, to Aptim Federal Services, LLC, (Nov. 6) for $19 million, called for the installation of 25MW of temporary power at the Yabucoa power plant.

The Corps continues to collaborate every day with PREPA, the Department of Energy and FEMA to restore safe and reliable power to the people of Puerto Rico. Getting the lights back on as soon as possible is the focus of our work. Jay Field, Public Affairs Officer

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Power Restoration

Put a Corker in it

Flushing: Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee is a smart cookie for saying yes to the tax bill (“What luck!,” Dec. 18). It’ll be his retirement gift since he’s not running in 2018. It’s unbelievable how we, the American public, see what’s happening yet can’t do anything about it. Marty Polsky

Just checking

Whitestone: So, it’s nice to know that the general middle-class worker will notice a slight addition to their weekly pay check. What about seniors who survive on Social Security checks — will that also apply to us?

Audrey Wolfe

Truth test

Silver Spring, Md.: There are actual photos of Al Franken groping a woman. Where is the proof in Roy Moore’s case? Anyone can say they were abused. How about giving these women lie-detector tests? Remember Duke University and Tawana Brawley. Lives ruined with no accountability. Moore ran for office eight times and no one came forth. There are factions that would do anything to bring down President Trump. Show me the proof. Mena Marano

Follow Al

Union City, N.J.: Al Franken was never funny on “SNL,” but he was a giant joke in the Senate. This clown and the rest of the Democrats should all get in the clown car and drive far, far away.

Rene Ramirez

Bad example

Linden, N.J.: The Democrats shouldn’t have forced Al Franken to resign. One, just because we Democrats set a good example is no guarantee that the Republicans will follow suit. Two, there aren’t enough Democratic senators now, and Franken’s seat might eventually go to a Republican. And three, not to excuse what Franken did, but he’s just a Franken, not a Frankenstein. There’s an obvious solution to this national problem: Let’s just elect eunuchs. Ron Jackowski

Bad news

Floral Park: I am an older proud American who has served in the military and is greatly concerned about the future of our great republic for my grandchildren and all of our people. Donald Trump is an extremely malignant narcissist, a pathological serially lying ignorant, incompetent, carnival-barking, dividing demagogue; an autocratic fear-mongering petit fascist and racist. The ugly American is evil, a purveyor of hate, the greatest threat to our values, institutions and stability, seemingly aligned to the “destruction of the administrative state” and Dark Knight of Chaos.

Bertram Sands

Save our subways

Perry, Ga.: Re Scott Rechler’s great Op-Ed (“Rebuild the subways with a new authority,” Nov. 30): I believe that the subway-using public would immediately support a special tax or other incentive to raise money for New York City’s and dare I say the U.S.A.’s most important infrastructure. I also suggest seeking federal funds, as NYC’s infrastructure is the business heartbeat of our great country. We have the right President in place who is very likely top support such an infrastructure effort. Maybe match dollars two for one with President Trump. You can do it! NYC subway strong!

Richard Gomez

Aching to be told

Brooklyn: Those at the Harvard Medical School, if they are lucky in their old years not to be hit with arthritis, will experience that advance pain one or two days before rain sets in, as I do and my beloved late mother did (“Better than radar,” editorial, Dec. 17). Our barometers are better than all the TV weather people combined! Ask seniors about it and you will hear their experiences with those pain pangs in our old bones.

Zelda Multz

Good job, Bob

Manhattan: I subscribe to the Daily News, mainly because I chuckle at many of the headlines and the sports section. Bob Raissman is my favorite Daily News sports writer: witty, controversial at times and outspoken.

Norton Mezvinsky

Cruelty must be punished

Bronx: To the person who slammed his pit bull’s head into the glass door of an apartment building (“Seek creep in pit bull abuse,” Dec. 10): I hope when you’re found they will prosecute you to the full extent of the law. That’s no way to treat an animal. They depend on us for everything. That poor dog didn’t deserve that cruel and inhumane treatment.

Lu Berwanger

Double scandal

Brooklyn: On Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, the Daily News was too busy with sexual harassment to let our young people of today know what we went through at Pearl Harbor. I lost two friends that day. I guess you can’t tell women they are beautiful anymore. I wonder what Betty Grable or Marilyn Monroe would say.

Sal Polichetti

Cord cut

Flushing: I worked for Time Warner Cable outdoors for 33 years and never missed a day of work. In comes Spectrum and I’m shown the door. Goodbye, pension. Goodbye, health care. Thank you, Pat Lynch, for the Op-Ed reminding people that 1,800 of us haven’t seen a paycheck in nine months, although many out-of-state workers have (“On union power, it’s two-faced Bill,” Op-Ed, Dec. 7).

George Glowacky

Stand up for unions

Manhattan: Re “Stage Slight on B’way” (Dec. 10): It is ironic that the producers of the future Broadway show “Norma Rae” refuse to make health and pension payments for casting directors belonging to the Teamsters Union Local 817. Apparently these pennypinching producers cannot recognize the conflict between their anti-union actions and the pro-union story of “Norma Rae.” The producers do not realize that New York City is still a union town. If they are to have the privilege of opening their play on Broadway, the greatest stage in the world, reach a vast audience, enjoy the publicity and get to charge insanely high prices for tickets, then pay the fairly negotiated union costs. Otherwise, they are welcome to open in Omaha.

Gerald Rosenthal

Uplifting dance

CARLOS GIUSTI West Haverstraw, N.Y.: Thank you so much, Daily News, for selecting me to win tickets to the Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker.” My grandchildren loved the performance, as we did, and it was a great Christmas gift.

Marion Rudaw