Follow up to our call

Thanks so much for talking with me about the current state of politics at home and in DC.

Locally, I'm very concerned with our financial state and the unwillingness of our elected officials to seek real counsel and take the mature "grown up" steps necessary to put us on the right path to some economic viability. While Puerto Rico has a debt problem, the Virgin Islands aside from the debt has an even greater problem of economic stagnation (no plans for the new paradigm of financial growth). The individual in the position of governor and the composition of senators which make up the majority are critical to recovery. A governor with an obstructionist senate majority gets no plans done (Delongh's last term) or a governor with a rubber stamps senate can take the territory barreling over a cliff (Mapps first term).

I have spoken at length with McGee and 2 older advisors to DeJongh who played critical roles in his first and second win about the need to create a new voter file. Delongh's file was never updated after the first win and is now stale. This would be an almost one year project of developing the list of Virgin Islanders who have voted in several prior elections (segregating primary and general), current phone, email and physical addresses. This is the most important group to poll for messaging and later phone banking for support and get to the polls. (Others poll by phone book or on the street. Not accurate).

I, along with the 2-3 individuals who assist in financing this project, will then use the information to make rational data driven decisions about local election (who for what positions, along with messaging and campaign work). McGee will also advise the candidates chosen from the group.

I'd like to launch by the next month and would appreciate your partnership to make this happen. This project would allow us to completely outperform anyone in any race.

On the DC front, I will be meeting Schumer the week of May 16. That same week I'm having a strategy dinner with 3 DC operatives with 70+ yrs combined experience representing convergent sectors of Dems (1 Blue Dog/Tues Rep lobbyist, an old Tip O'Neill, Gephardt Rostenkowski guy and a progressive Clinton woman) to discuss path forward.

Also in my discussion with McGee we discussed the impression you had that the USVI was in the PROMESA bill. We are absolutely not in the bill. I was able to negotiate with Treasury, gain the support of a block of Dems who held vote until the USVI and smaller territories were satisfied with the bill, and got a Moderate Rep to offer the amendment to remove the small territories from the bill. The original VI strategy was to have us removed and immediately the Gov and his team would quietly inform Jeffries and others of our staunch conservatism and unwillingness to request the same provisions. Because the Gov and his team "didn't believe Plaskett could get it done" (the lobbyist's direct quote to me) they never activated their portion of the plan and so the street never knew we were excluded.

Jeffrey, would really appreciate your support in the project and thoughts on our home and national scene.

Look forward to hearing back.

Stacey