No decision in Hidalgo bus contract debate

Source: The Monitor, McAllen, TexasAug.迷你倉 31--EDINBURG -- Hidalgo's bus permit controversy finally received a court hearing Friday, but ended with a cliffhanger.Since July 22, temporary restraining orders have blocked Councilmen Gus Sanchez and Guillermo Ramirez from voting on Hidalgo's latest bus permit -- an application from S to N Transport, which would serve the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. They've been sparring with Councilman Rudy Franz, who owns Hidalgo's only bus company and holds half the city's taxi permits."Why would Rudy file a lawsuit?" Ramirez said. "He's protecting his own interests and using his position as a commissioner to advance his agenda."After hearing arguments and witness testimony on Friday afternoon, 449th state District Judge Jesse Contreras extended the latest restraining order until Sept. 6. To date, three district judges have approved or extended the restraining orders.Taxi drivers and Rudy Franz have argued they're being targeted for political retaliation. Rudy Franz heads the Concerned Citizens of Hidalgo, commonly called the rojos for their trademark red shirts and signs. Ramirez and Sanchez recently broke with the rojos, and supported a rival slate during the May 2013 school board election."They are directly targeting the drivers and myself for not having voted their way," Rudy Franz said. "Every taxi driver had a sticker: red. They all had signs at their houses: red. They're getting singled out 'Oh, we're going to teach you and Rudy Franz a lesson.'"Allowing another bus company to serve the Hidalgo-Reynosa bridge would ruin local taxi drivers, Rudy Franz said文件倉 by increasing competition for passengers."It would completely demolish these people's lives. Immediately," Rudy Franz said. "In two weeks, they would be broke. The bottom is line is 'Hey, I can compete with anybody.' They can't. I'm their only buffer zone right now."Until September 2011, Rudy Franz's near-monopoly on Hidalgo's transportation and towing businesses didn't attract much attention. Rudy Franz's sister-in-law, Siglinde Franz, and his nephew, former Mayor John David Franz, served on the City Council and controlled local politics.The Hidalgo Police Department's towing rotation included just two contractors: National Tow Service, owned by Rudy Franz; and American Tow Service, owned by his wife, Yolanda Franz, according to business records from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Both operate from the same office at 418 S. Bridge St.The City Council recently added another towing company to the rotation.Rudy Franz also operated Hidalgo's only bus company, STS! Transportation, and held half the city's 14 taxi permits."Frankly, we don't know how it got to this point," Ramirez said. "It's been like that for years. But it doesn't mean we have to accept it."Last year, though, Ramirez and the City Council voted to reject several bus permits, ostensibly concerned about "congestion management issues." Afterward, both former police Chief Vernon Rosser and Mayor Franz said they were just covering for Rudy Franz.dhendricks@themonitor.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) Visit The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) at .themonitor.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉