I really hope statehood is never happening.
Epitome of a modern day "chit hole country."
We could try selling it to pay for the wall....
I've spent quite a bit of time there, especially the last few years, and am unimpressed. Even with all the benefits of being part of the US (but not paying Federal taxes), you'd think it would be kept up better. Trash everywhere even in touristy areas. Graffiti. Feral dogs lurking everywhere.
Iron bars on the windows of most houses (cant imagine the reason for that). Roads in disrepair.
For every airline flight going and coming, there is a raft of overweight people on wheelchairs - several times the number one is accustomed to seeing on domestic flights in the US. Lots of obesity in the general population.
And IMO there is an entitlement mentality, the Free S*it army is in full force. There is an entitled class, that a person is born into, like the rest of Latin America (a bit different from the US, where the penniless can become part of the elite)
There is a well established professional class, but a large percentage of them have left (helped along by hurricane Maria) and are part of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the US mainland.
Bias against gringos in the street, especially if you don't speak Spanish (but appreciation if you try). A gringo would get readily overcharged for things, or given the wrong directions. Interestingly the petty criminals tend to leave gringos alone for the most part, apparently to avoid the wrath of khan (Uncle Sam).
Crowded: people just everywhere, if it were a state, I believe it would be ranked #3 in terms of population density. The population density on the north side of the island has got to rival the most densely populated parts of the world. So many people its claustrophobic.
Lots of corruption. And strict laws against guns, worse than New York. Of course the crooks have guns and some neighborhoods (example in Bayamon) are pock marked with bullet holes.
In short, its well below mainland standards.
The music's good though. As is the rum and mountain grown coffee. And the sunsets can be spectacular. There is also a very real sense of community, and love of country (Puerto Rico, that is)
But not on the top of my list. I was there last month for a few days and was very ready to leave. I've felt more comfortable in lots of other countries.
Cut them loose and be done with it. I have been there once in 1968 it was nice then again in the 1979-80 period to fly for a bit, I didn't stay long it was not the same place as it was in '68. Get rid of them but we will not. Send a General as military governor and put it under lockdown and clean up the mess. There is a whole lot of people that need to go to jail and not just in P.R. but in DC as well.