As the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria cast a long shadow over Puerto Rico, the island found itself at the intersection of remembrance, resilience, and renewal. On September 20, 2025, the streets of San Juan pulsed not just with the thunder of Bad Bunny’s final residency concert, but with a collective memory and hope for the future. Meanwhile, in Washington, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez introduced a sweeping legislative package designed to fortify disaster resilience for both Puerto Rico and New York, reflecting a growing urgency as hurricane season intensifies.
For many Puerto Ricans, the date was impossible to ignore. Hurricane Maria, which struck on September 20, 2017, left devastation in its wake: months-long power outages, thousands of deaths, and a lingering sense of abandonment. According to CNN, Bad Bunny—real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—chose this date with intent for the final show of his sold-out 30-show residency, "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" ("I Don’t Want to Leave Here"). The encore, titled "Una Más" ("One More"), was broadcast globally via Amazon Prime, drawing a record-breaking audience.
The resonance of the anniversary was palpable. Reggaeton star Ñengo Flow made a surprise appearance clad in a jersey emblazoned with "4,645," the number widely reported as the hurricane’s death toll. While Bad Bunny did not explicitly mention the storm onstage, the symbolism was not lost on concertgoers. As one local, rideshare driver Javier Rosado, told CNN, "They (the US government) have left us abandoned here, and this young man has given us national pride and put us in the spotlight. He’s put Puerto Rico’s name all over the world. It’s something we’ve never seen before with an artist from here."
Rosado’s words echoed a sentiment felt across the island. Just months ago, he said, Puerto Rico still felt "depressed" from the hurricane’s lingering aftermath. Yet Bad Bunny’s music and presence had sparked a revival of spirit. Rosado, who once found the artist’s lyrics provocative, was compelled by his mother’s devotion to the song "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii" ("What Happened to Hawaii"), a track that warns of privatized beaches and displacement. He described taking her to a concert as "life-changing," observing, "Never has anything like this been seen (in Puerto Rico). He has managed to unite the entire population in a proud way – adults, young people. He has broken down all age barriers, he is showing the world how beautiful it is and (how) the United States government has forgotten us."
Outside the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, the energy was electric. Vendors like Keren Mendez sold handmade flowers, while concertgoers draped themselves in Puerto Rican flags. Kiki Vazquez, a lawyer who endured four months without power after Maria, wore a sky-blue flag as a cape. She reflected, "But everyone was out and about helping each other. And I think today the concert will reflect that even though there was no power, there was power in the people."
Inside, the show was a parade of Puerto Rican icons, from Marc Anthony to Jowell & Randy, all amplifying a message of unity and pride. Bad Bunny’s nearly 23-minute music video documentary "El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente" ("The Blackout – People Live Here"), which spotlights social inequalities post-Maria, played in the first act, prompting raucous applause. Nilsa Medina Piña, a retired University of Puerto Rico professor, gathered signatures for the Citizen Victory Movement, an anti-colonial political party. She underscored the ongoing struggle: "We’ve been living through this natural and social disaster for eight years. A phenomenon like a hurricane occurs, but it doesn’t happen in a social vacuum. It occurs in a country with great economic and social inequalities, which means that the dead are mainly poor people, people who are at an economic disadvantage compared to the wealthier population in the country."
Medina Piña, once skeptical of Bad Bunny, now appreciated his role in awakening civic consciousness among the youth. Director Kacho López Mari, who helmed the Cannes-nominated documentary for "El Apagón," addressed questions about the lack of overt references to Maria during the concert: "He talked about (Hurricane) María in a song, and he made a 22-minute documentary about her, man. He’s not celebrating María, he’s celebrating the coolest residency in the history of Puerto Rico, and now he’s going on tour to show the world what he did."
As the final notes faded, Bad Bunny addressed the crowd with a message of resilience: "I promise you I will never change. I love you, Puerto Rico. Never forget what the song says: Mientras uno esté vivo, uno debe amar lo más que pueda (As long as one is alive, one should love as much as one can). What has already happened cannot be changed. We can only learn from it. To all those who left Puerto Rico dreaming of one day returning, and to those of us who are still here: No me quiero ir de aquí. Seguimos aquí, p****a (I don’t want to leave here. We’re still here, damn it)!"
While the cultural celebration unfolded in San Juan, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez was taking steps in Washington to address the very vulnerabilities that Maria exposed. On September 23, she introduced a package of five bills aimed at bolstering disaster response for Puerto Rico and New York. The legislative suite includes the Strengthening Capacity for Disaster Resilient Territories Act, which directs FEMA to identify and address recovery gaps in U.S. territories, and the Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act, requiring federal agencies to report on critical data gaps in recovery grants for Puerto Rico.
Affordability and fairness are also at the heart of Velázquez’s proposals. The Flood Insurance Tax Credit Act of 2025 would provide a refundable tax credit covering 33% of flood insurance premiums for families under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), making coverage more accessible to working households. The National Flood Insurance Program Administrative Reform Act of 2025 seeks to enhance oversight, transparency, and fairness within the NFIP—mandating faster claims, cracking down on fraud, and improving communication with policyholders. The AirFAIR Act, meanwhile, would cap airline fare increases at 30% during declared disasters, protecting consumers from price gouging.
"The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters that ruin lives and devastate our communities," Velázquez stated. "The federal government must meet the moment and deliver the support Americans need to recover when disaster strikes. These bills will help ensure families are not left stranded, overcharged, or underserved in times of crisis our communities know the devastation that flooding and hurricanes can bring."
Her message was clear: "Whether it’s families in New York City who see their basements flood after just two inches of rain, or Puerto Ricans facing the devastation of another hurricane, our people deserve fair treatment, affordable protections, and responsive government when disaster strikes."
As Puerto Rico and New York prepare for another hurricane season, the twin forces of cultural resilience and legislative action offer a glimmer of hope. Whether through the unifying power of music or the promise of policy reform, the island’s spirit endures—undaunted, unbowed, and determined to build a safer, stronger future.