Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings have disclosed that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) expended approximately $50,000 on trips to Puerto Rico. This spending is attracting attention as it seems to be at odds with her public condemnation of gentrification on the island. Gentrification typically involves affluent individuals relocating to areas of lower income, which often results in increased property values and introduces new businesses, sometimes displacing existing residents due to rising costs.
The FEC documents reveal that Ocasio-Cortez's campaign spent nearly $17,000 at a venue featuring Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny over the summer, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Additionally, in September, the congresswoman's campaign expenses included close to $10,000 at San Juan's Hotel Palacio Provincial. Ocasio-Cortez, known for her critique of billionaire influence in Puerto Rico, spent nearly $7,000 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico for another event involving Bad Bunny on August 25. Moreover, her campaign disbursed $8,561 on catering at Cocina Abierta during her stay.
The expenditures have led to some public backlash, contrasting with Ocasio-Cortez's previous statements on social media. In a July Facebook post, she emphasized that Puerto Rico is an island for working people and denounced the displacement of locals for the benefit of "vulture capitalists". Despite the controversy, her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, informed Fox News of the congresswoman's pride in her "investment" in grassroots organizing and her ongoing advocacy for Puerto Ricans both on the island and in the diaspora.
These revelations follow Ocasio-Cortez's 2021 media coverage when she made a statement at the Met Gala wearing a dress emblazoned with "Tax the Rich". In her role as a legislator, she has vocally criticized the wealthy and has proposed significant tax increases on billionaires to promote equity for lower-income Americans. Critics argue that her spending in Puerto Rico is inconsistent with her public message. Johnny St. Pete, for example, voiced his opinion on social media, labeling Ocasio-Cortez hypocritical for her spending habits and association with Bad Bunny, whom he referred to as a "globalist op".
Ocasio-Cortez's actions in Puerto Rico have added fuel to ongoing debates. Allie Jade commented on the congresswoman's attendance at a recent "No Kings" protest in Washington, D.C., alongside Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), where demonstrators expressed disapproval of President Donald Trump's administration, accusing the President of monarch-like behavior.
