Spotlight: Entrepreneur Nestor Rentas

Nestor Rentas proudly carries Puerto Rican flags at his Taino Mayor boricua store at 855 East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. This store is reminiscent of Puerto Rico accessory shops on the island. While customers shop at Taino Mayor, they could enjoy the sounds of songs like "En Mi Viejo San Juan" and "Soñando con Puerto Rico" playing. Rentas is keeping culture alive in the Bx, and this week is a busy one at Taino Mayor because of Sunday's National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Rentas says people come from all over looking for Puerto Rico items. His shop sells everything Puerto Rico, including flag earrings, hats, souvenirs from the island, music by boricua and Latino artists and musical instruments.

Rentas is a local Bronx celebrity. He has a popular TV show on Bronxnet, a local community media outlet, named "Mi Pueblo es Tu Pueblo." He says his show is one of the oldest on Bronxnet. -- Clarisel Gonzalez

In the Mailbox

Hi.

Love the site. I was wondering if you knew the name of salsa band that was on TV during the primary campaign. Not sure if it was with Clinton or Obama but the lead singer wore white hat and had sun glasses. At least that narrow’s it down to about 100 singer in the capital alone?

I would love to know their name. I love salsa music, as well as Ricky.

Best wishes

George from London

In the Mailbox

Dear Editor: A lot of talk has been going on about the Puerto Rico primary (June 1), and how it shouldn't be taken seriously because islanders can't vote in the general election, but I couldn't help but notice that it has more delegates to the Democratic convention than Montana or South Dakota. But then, the country is called the "United States of America," not the "United States and Territories of America!"

I say it's time Puerto Rico became a state. The islanders are American citizens, they're run by the American government, so it should be a state. Also, they use American money and stamps - unlike, say Bermuda, which uses its own postal currency and its own dollar, not the British pound sterling.

Besides, we've had a 50-star flag too long. :-)

Steve from New Jersey

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Originally uploaded by clarisel.

All eyes are on Puerto Rico today for the heavily contested Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory or what some call "colony," Puerto Ricans on the island can vote in the primary but not in the actual race for U.S. president in November.

Major Garrett, a correspondent for Fox News, files a broadcast report from San Juan, P.R. on the eve of the primary.


Update: Hillary Clinton wins Democratic primary in Puerto Rico. See related stories:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/primary_rdp;_ylt=AvD9VwnTXlZjAihGYW78qC5h24cA

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/01/AR2008060102238.html?hpid=topnews

Politics

Featured story

Five things to watch in Puerto Rico

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is counting on a big win in today’s Democratic presidential primary (in Puerto Rico), one day after a party ruling left her presidential campaign on the ropes.

A landslide victory would bolster Clinton’s argument to superdelegates that she has received more votes than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and is better equipped to win important Latino votes in a general election matchup with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

For more on the five things, go to
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10733.html