Latest From Rio
A few weeks back, I posted about the precarious state of Rio as the city prepares to host the upcoming Olympic Games.
Well, things continue to get more troubling.
Way more troubling than the fact that many venues are still under construction.
The latest:
On Thursday, human body parts were discovered on the beach near an Olympic sport venue.
On Friday, armed robbers stole Olympic transmission equipment from German TV crews along the main highway in Rio.
Last Monday, police officers and firefighters showed up at Rio's international airport with a sign that read "Welcome to Hell." They were striking over back pay and because cops here don't even have enough gas for their patrol cars.
Robberies are up 43 percent in Rio de Janeiro state because of a security vacuum.
Policemen are being killed in large numbers and there are fights between the drug gangs in impoverished communities or favelas, where 40 percent of Rio's population lives.
Last month, the governor of Rio declared a state of catastrophe, saying there was no money for even basic services like hospitals.
And of course, there is the Zika virus.
Add to that Brazil's political crisis, which has suspended president Dilma Rousseff. She will be undergoing an impeachment trial during the Summer Games.
Yeesh. What an embarrassment for this mighty country/city.
Out for now.......
Matt
