The Guadalajara Reporter

Parking meter outfit argues its defense

In response to the public controversy over Chapala’s paid parking zone, Comers S.A. de C.V. executive director Francisco Espinoza de los Monteros called a press conference last week to explain the operating company’s point of view, asserting that Mayor Joaquin Huerta has opted for a political posture that caters to the whims of a small segment of the populace rather than looking at the system’s financial and social benefits.

Espinoza argued the current administration has ignored or turned down all gestures to iron out the fine points of the 2011 contractual agreement that established a legitimate business partnership between the municipality, Comers and its parent company MK-Ideas.

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{access !public}Detailing specific requests, he pointed out that local officials haven’t cooperated in drawing up a pact with Jalisco’s finance ministry to facilitate collections on unpaid parking tickets--worth about four million pesos to date, with a 20 percent cut for city hall. Nor have they moved to set up a financial trust for setting aside part of the proceeds to fund charitable activities, promotions for the local tourist trade or other worthy causes.

Espinoza also noted that Comers has been unable to fulfill its obligation to install video surveillance cameras in the downtown area because the government still hasn’t responded to its petitions to authorize and pinpoint public utility poles where they will be located.{access !public}