A political figure from the Coalition Civic, Facundo Del Gaiso, has filed a criminal complaint against Pablo Moyano, the deputy secretary of the Truck Drivers Union. This accusation stems from ongoing conflicts surrounding the bid for tow truck services in Buenos Aires. The issues escalated when garbage collectors staged a protest that significantly affected the cleanliness of the city.
Del Gaiso highlighted concerns about irregularities in the tender process for the towing service, which had been annulled by the city’s mayor, Jorge Macri. Reports suggest that the Moyano family may have connections to some of the businesses involved in this bidding process.
In a post on social media, Del Gaiso disclosed that his complaint for extortion has been accepted by the Federal Court No. 5, led by MarÃa Eugenia Capuchetti. He emphasized that the streets of the city remain burdened with garbage due to these alleged threats, stating that residents should not be forced to live under what he described as the “mafia-like laws” of a place he coined “Moyanolandia.”
He noted improvements in garbage collection, which saw a 30% increase in service recently. Until last Friday, there were no issues, but the cancellation of the towing service bid has created tension. He expressed frustration over the connections between the suspension of this tender and the alleged extortion tactics used by Moyano.
Del Gaiso explained that the collapse of the towing system in Buenos Aires can be traced back to a special legislative session in 2022. During that session, it was determined that the irregular system, in place for over two decades and costing the government 55,000 pesos monthly up until that time, had to end. Consequently, Mayor Horacio RodrÃguez Larreta opted to nationalize the service swiftly.
In his complaint, Del Gaiso pointed out the inconsistency in resorting to union strikes related to rubbish collection services when these alleged breaches by the city government had not been officially reported to the authorities. He criticized this as a form of intimidation and extortion directed at local authorities.
He further argued that the threat to halt waste collection services by unionized truck drivers in Buenos Aires posed a clear risk to public safety and health for those living and working in the city.
Del Gaiso claimed that the strike aimed to coerce Mayor Jorge Macri into approving the public procurement process, favoring companies like Ashira S.A. and Transporte 9 de Julio S.A., which have known ties to the truck drivers’ union.
Following the protest that contributed to the city’s garbage crisis, the Buenos Aires government announced the cancellation of the service pre-award for towing, deciding to manage the service under municipal control.
Macri explained that this cancellation was due to the exorbitant costs associated with the contract, which would have committed the city for the next decade to a deal totaling 360 million dollars, including an advance of 8 million dollars. He stated that the city would continue to provide this service at less than half the projected costs from the previous bidding process.
In July 2022, the Buenos Aires administration ended the decades-old towing system and initiated a new bidding process. By early December of this year, just days before the end of the previous administration, the city pre-awarded the towing system to companies including UTE Ashira-Ecoba, Transporte 9 de Julio, and UTE SAEM-Tránsito Rosario.
Macri highlighted that the current economic climate forced the city to reassess its costs, optimize resources, and sustain service standards. He noted that since the new tender was announced in 2022, the city has taken on the towing system, retaining staff and keeping union affiliations intact.
Following the protest and halt to the pre-award, confidential negotiations took place, leading to an agreement aimed at restoring normal waste collection services—a fragile truce that currently holds.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/politica/2024/07/23/presentaron-una-denuncia-penal-contra-pablo-moyano-por-extorsion-tras-la-protesta-que-dejo-las-calles-de-caba-llenas-de-basura/
