Typical gringo dated crap gouge on here. Listen up, children:
PR is undergoing massive depopulation as a result of the terrible economic impacts of the decade long recession/high public debt incurred as a result of pharmaceuticals leaving the island with the repeal of section 936. Island economies are one trick ponies, and PR is no exception. With the lack of private industry, the inherent low-paying nature of tourism, and a reliance on govt employment as the only source of "CONUS-style income power", the can got kicked down the road for too long and here we are.
The crime stats therefore show high as a function of the per capita rate continuing to shoot up due to a rapidly decreasing value in the denominator. With the lack of living wage jobs, there has also been a net increase in the numerator.
These numbers are largely the result of drug war violence in the projects, as it always has been, which does increase as the remaining populace relies more and more on that source of income to keep the real on-the-street-cash economy afloat. go to Plaza Las Américas on a tuesday, it'll make your head spin. HOw the hell is that place packed and bustling, if nobody has decent paying jobs and the island is losing people on a NET basis? doesn't take rocket scientist to figure that one out.
The drug crime does extend into some property crime in the San Juan Metro in those communities that happen to butt up against said projects. Some random car jackings also occur, which are socioeconomic class indiscriminate, but are still lower than at their heights in the early 90s.
Is it paradise? Hell no. It's a tough situation. But as a non-native pilot remora looking for low end time, it's a dynamic of no consequence to you, since you won't dwell in the "native economy" by and large. Someone can largely bounce in and out of El Condado/Isla Verde, the airport, and the rural side of the island for leisure trips and never encounter a problem. Your only problem will be what would be anyone else's problem down there, myself included: you're not gonna make any money worth a damn down there, which is why I left.
As to non-Spanish-fluent non-locals? If you stay outside the urban ghettos, (i.e. the entire rest of the island), it's no less safe than boring ol' Nebraska, with a better weather profile but worse job prospects. For a guy looking to do the island thing for a couple years to build entry level flight time, this is largely a non-issue as long as you stay in your lane. So then, stay in your lane. Go pull a drunk clueless gringo in the middle of a local pub and yeah, you're gonna get hurt. So would I, and I'm native.
Clear as mud? Virgin islands would eat your lunch on the COL. PR is a much better bet, cheaper living, more American in conveniences, and better commuting to the CONUS imo. Good luck.
04-05-2019
