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By Suzanne Gamboa
Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz of San Juan, an opponent of President Donald Trump, was chosen to be one of four national co-chairs of Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2020.
His commitment to Vermont-independent Sanders, who announced his candidacy for the presidency on Tuesday, comes as the Democratic field grows and competition for high-level supporters intensifies.
Cruz told NBC News Thursday during a telephone interview that she had working relationships with several senators who are running or could run. But she has been working with Sanders since 2016, "looking for a way to Puerto Rico".
"Many things for which he has fought all his life, I have fought all my life," Cruz said. "Things like do not put wealth before health."
She also spoke about Sanders' efforts in education, collective bargaining, the rights of people from LGBTQ and transgender communities, and so on.
She said that he had long been committed to being at the forefront of structural changes, even when they were not popular.
"Currently, the United States has a president in the White House who is not up to the task," Cruz said. "It does not represent the values of integrity and unity, the values of inclusion."
With Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another Democratic presidential candidate, Sanders co-sponsored a bill to eliminate the $ 73 billion debt of the island she is still struggling with.
Sanders also launched a $ 146 billion stimulus package in Puerto Rico. Neither bill was referred from the committee.
Nevertheless, Cruz said in a statement that Sanders would offer "a new way to solving many of the problems that Porto Porto faces", including a "new relationship" with the United States.
"In our darkest hour, it was there for us, not because it was politically practical, but because it was the right thing to do," Cruz said.
Cruz drew the country 's attention when she criticized Trump' s slowness in responding to the hurricane of 2017.
Puerto Ricans on the island can not vote in general elections, although they are US citizens, but they can vote in the primaries. Islanders who move to the mainland can vote in the primaries and general elections once they have registered to vote in their state.
"It's personal. The president came and threw us some paper towels, "said Cruz, who continues to ignore the pain of the people of Puerto Rico.
Sanders' support by Cruz, a prominent Latina, could help her with minority communities.
Sanders has beaten in his 2016 campaign to win black voters. Latinos have split from generation to generation in primary 2016, with younger Latinos supporting Sanders.
With Cruz, Sanders also appointed Senator Nina Turner of the State of Ohio; Rep. US Ro Khanna, D-Calif .; and Ben & Jerry co-founder Ben Cohen as national co-chairs.
Cruz said she did not expect to see her speak only to Latino and Turner groups only to African Americans. There will be no "walls that keep us in our corner because it will be inefficient," she said.
Cruz said he had conversations with other campaigns. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro made her first stop in Puerto Rico after announcing her candidacy for the presidency. Cruz guided him to a neighborhood, La Playita, which was still recovering from the hurricane and showed him initiatives to help the locals prepare for the next storm.
"I think he, Julián, has started this business for the right reasons," Cruz said. "But again, I have a longstanding relationship with the Senator and Bernie has a long-standing relationship with causes that affect the Latino community."
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