push for bipartisan municipal reforms. During his tenure as mayor, the City of Guaynabo entered a period of economic progress, alongside other cities of Puerto Rico's so-called "metropolitan area", such as Bayamon. Like his colleague Ramon Luis Rivera, Cruz became endorsed by voters of Puerto Rico's three leading parties. As Mayor of Guaynabo, Cruz placed emphasis on the city's sports programs and elderly care, and, in 1983, the Mets Pavilion (named after the city's BSN basketball team; later renamed Mario Morales coliseum) opened. The new medical center, built at a cost of $24 million, opened its doors, along with parks for special needs children and recreational areas for families. Cruz secured federal funds to build new private and public housing developments to mitigate the need for housing in Guaynabo. Criminal delinquency during his tenure was among the lowest in Guaynabo's history, arguably, he said, because "I am attacking delinquency with sports." At the time of his leadership in 1984, there were 24 baseball parks in the town and 60 basketball courts. He allocated a budget of $300,000 for the development of parks and recreation in all the barrios in Guaynabo, and contracted coaches to teach the different skills to youth in low-income areas. In 1989, Cruz became a founding member of a group aimed at uniting mayors of all parties in Puerto Rico, alongside Caguas mayor Angel O. Berrios, himself a member of the PPD party (PNP's main rival) and two other mayors. Because of his work on behalf of health, the elderly, youth, and sports, in 1985 President Ronald Reagan awarded him the Private Sector Initiative Commendation in Recognition of Exemplary Community Service. At the time, only one other Puerto Rican had been the recipient of this honor, baseball star and humanitarian, Roberto Clemente. Although not ready to retire, at the time of his death, Cruz was already contemplating the idea of making room for younger leadership. "I am in politics for a short time and in sports for life," he said. The day after his death, his photo appeared on the covers of all major newspapers in Puerto Rico, including El Nuevo Dia and El Vocero. and The San Juan Star. Former President George Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush extended condolences. U.S. Transportation Secretary Andrew Card said that Cruz was "not only committed to the people of Guaynabo but also more significantly, was deeply committed to Puerto