San Pedro Town Council Negligence

November 3, 2009

Dear Editor,

Please allow us space to voice our discontent and extreme disappointment with the response gotten from the San Pedro Town Council and in particular Mayor Paz. Ever since the chaos and confusion has ensued with the water taxis (with no apparent solution in sight), many families have been displaced economically more than ever before.

With an unleveled playing field, no healthy competition can prevail and one of the casualties of this disparity is us, La Isla Bonita Taxi Association. With the clash of the water taxis and the changing of docking piers, a host of approximately 17 taxi members have nowhere to park or call a base to operate from.

With deep concern we went to visit the Town Council and were finally able to secure a meeting with the Mayor. To our dismay, the Mayor and her councilors displayed nothing but indifference, almost to the point of saying. “It’s your problem, not mine.” Her entire tone and attitude was one of being tired of dealing with these problems. She even went further to imply that this is the reason that she tries to ‘disappear’ from the island every weekend simply to forget and avoid these problems.

With the cold and callous response from the Mayor we are finally beginning to realize that perhaps this third term which Mayor Paz and her councilors are serving is simply a period of just sitting back and relaxing as everything has been accomplished in the last two terms – or so they believe. It’s a time to just relax and enjoy the perks of being an elected person.

We from the association have no other recourse but to approach the media to voice our dilemma and bring out to light these grave injustices being done to us and countless other families displaced with this water taxi fiasco.

We will not stop fighting for our just cause until justice prevails. In closing, we are of the firm belief that we will live in a democratic country, henceforth approaching the media and using the benefits of freedom of the press.

Sincerely

Isla Bonita Taxi Association:

Gilberto Alamilla, President

Julio Carillo, Vice President

Dorothea Pineda, Secretary

Conchita Flota, Treasurer

Rene Orellana

Jose Cawich

Vilma Wiltshire

Glen Turner

Miguel Chu

Gerardo Reyes

Ramiro

Roque Teck

Joel Olivarez