"Last month, she was watching the congressional discussions on C-Span when the fiscal control board, known by its acronym as Promesa, or promise, was approved in a flurry of yeas. Ms. Rodríguez said she became so anxious as the votes were being cast that she had to call a friend.

"I don't know what hurts the most " all the cuts that are coming or that we are spectators of our history without being able to do anything," she said, a catch in her voice as she fought tears. "We have no voice. That hurts a lot."