Would You Vote for a Sub-Standard Ambulance Provider? Our Commissioners Have!

What does it say about city officials who put their own interests above those of the people they were elected to represent? We have three city commissioners who seem to be doing just that. Case in point: These three commissioners, Eleazar Escobedo, Robert de la Garza, and Trino Medina, continue to push to continue the city's contract with an ambulance provider that citizens have said we don't want. If it were up to them, the contract would have been renewed, as is, with no recourse for termination if the company, Pro-Medic EMS, fails to provide reliable, safe service to the citizens of Alamo.

L-R: Mayor Pro-Tem Eleazar Escobedo, PL 2; Robert de la Garza, PL 3; and Trino Medina, PL 2

"It's time we take back our city, clean up city government with a clean sweep of bad rubbish and SHOW UP at meetings until we can replace these three amigos with elected representatives that have no hidden or personal agendas."

I urge you to come to the next City Commissioners meeting on Tuesday (October 15) to show our commissioners that we are watching what they do and taking note of each and every time their votes seem to be in their own interest, rather in what is best for our community. This worked, to some extent, when we showed up in force last May and demanded that they revoke their decision to re-name our City's namesake street Alamo Road to Rudy Villarreal Road. So, it seems to me, that in order to keep them honest is to be present to supervise what they do. Now, I don't know for sure if the Pro-Medic contract will be on the agenda on Tuesday. It was tabled from the last meeting on the recommendation of our city attorney, who wanted to make sure there is language that allows the city to terminate the contract if Pro-Medic doesn't perform.

My question to our City Manager, Mayor and the Commissioners is why is Pro-Medic the only provider being considered? Why wasn't a request for proposals issued to allow other providers a chance to bid on the project? Maybe we could get a provider with a good record of providing reliable, safe and FAST service to the communities they serve. Instead, the only provider being considered is one that:

• has several citations for violations
• has been terminated from other cities because of poor performance
• and that has several complaints and concerns that our own Fire Chief presented to the commissioners months ago!

It's time we take back our city, clean up city government with a clean sweep of bad rubbish and SHOW UP at meetings until we can replace these three amigos with elected representatives that have no hidden or personal agendas. Please join me and other concerned citizens at Tuesday's meeting and have your voice heard!

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments and, especially, any issues you have had with our city's ambulance service.