CRRMA Unanimously Ends Relationship with Predatory Lenders

By a unanimous vote at it meeting this morning, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority directed Executive Director, Raymond L. Telles "to issue written notice to the CRRMA's back-office service providers [North Texas Tollway Authority and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority] to end their acceptance of cash payments at local retail locations for the César Chávez Express Toll Lanes." The local retail locations in question is the payday lender, ACE Cash America. 

The same motion also asked the Director to "continue working with the City of El Paso's One-Stop Shop for acceptance of cash payments for the same toll lanes.

Bottom line: the CRRMA unanimously did the moral thing - they ended their relationship (although indirect through other tollway authorities) with a company in an industry that too often victimizes the most financially vulnerable in society. The need for the cash option, as Director Telles explained, is that El Paso has a large population of people who use cash only. Also, the cash option is the least expensive means to purchase a toll tag.

According to CRRMA Chair, Scott McLaughlin, the CRRMA will work toward using other local retailers. Besides taking cash payments, authorized dealers will need to be able to set-up customer accounts with the NTTA. 

Mr. Telles' presentation to the Board can be seen HERE.

If you emailed a Board member, please thank them for listening and responding to El Pasoans regarding this moral issue. Contact info is HERE.

Finally, consider that, except for one vote, the CRRMA and City Council unanimously agreed to do something about payday lenders. The one lone vote came from a man who never says anything at City Council meetings but apparently will speak-up for predatory lenders: District 2 Representative Larry Romero. 

Boycott the Border Highway Toll Road

Boycott the Border Highway toll road and contact members of the Board of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

What follows is the letter that I just submitted online to the El Paso Times. I have added links to the Times stories in this post.

I was dismayed when I read in the Times this morning that ACE Cash Express is selling toll tags for the new toll lanes on the Cesar Chavez Border Highway. This story follows Sunday's story about Gov. Perry's appointment of William White of Cash America as Chairman of the Texas Finance Commission. 

There is nothing different between the ethics of a payday lender and a crack cocaine dealer. And now, the the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority is, in effect, introducing people - many who are the most financially vulnerable in our society - to the "drug" dealer. The excuse given by Mr. Telles the Chairman of the CRRMA for using payday bloodsuckers as toll tag agents: they can take payments in cash. Well, so can grocery and convenience stores.

Let's all boycott the Border Highway Toll Road. Contact CRRMA Board members and tell them you will not support the road until a new toll tag agent is selected. Their contact information can be found at http://www.crrma.org/contact.asp#Board. The CRRMA Board meets next on January 8, 2014 at 9:00 am in the El Paso City Council Chambers on the 1st Floor of City Hall, 300 N. Campbell. Let's be there to voice our disgust.