US actor and director Lin-Manuel Miranda arrives for the 94th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, March 7, 2022.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda says Puerto Rican residents still don't have running water or electricity.
- The Broadway star behind the hits "Hamilton," "In the Heights" and "Encanto" has been an advocate of the island where he still has family.
- After Hurricane Maria in 2017, Miranda helped raise money for the arts by partnering with American Express and bringing "Hamilton" to the island.
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda on Friday said Puerto Rico was still in emergency mode, with his own family members describing dire conditions following Hurricane Fiona.
"It was 112 degrees yesterday. Nearly a week later, my family in Puerto Rico doesn't have running water or electricity yet," Miranda told CNBC in an interview at the L'Attitude Conference in San Diego.
The Broadway star behind the hits "Hamilton," "In the Heights" and "Encanto" has been an advocate of the island where he still has family. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, he helped raise money for the arts by partnering with American Express and bringing "Hamilton" to the island. Today, he's working with the credit card giant again. Amex has committed $100,000 to support Hurricane Fiona relief efforts.
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In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Miranda said that businesses came forward to help after Hurricane Maria devastated the island five years ago. Today, he's calling on business and the arts to make direct investments as Puerto Rico struggles to recover in the aftermath of natural disasters and the pandemic.
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Miranda, who had been critical of the federal response to Hurricane Maria, said he's gratified President Joe Biden was taking action. But he said there's still more to be done.
"The fact that Biden Sunday night signed for an emergency, I mean, already, that's a world of difference from where we were in the previous administration where there were just mistruths about how much money is going to the island, being spouted by [former President Donald Trump]," Miranda said.
Miranda said the funds he helped raise for the Hispanic Federation have paid for infrastructure improvements that helped some facilities. For instance, solar panels at some medical centers helped keep the power on in the hurricane aftermath, when so much of the island lost electricity.
"I think it just doubles down on the need to build a more resilient vehicle that can withstand and adapt to climate emergencies," Miranda said.
