Santo Tomas swap meet workers speak out about the issues they face

There’s still some hope left for Santo Tomas Swap Meet in Calexico.

Following its permanent closure this week, Santo Tomas workers and supporters took advantage of last nights city council meeting to address some issues with city council members.

Issues the city says they will try to resolve alongside Santo Tomas owners and vendors.

Santo Tomas supporters say Calexico doesn’t exist without Santo Tomas.

“We need a response, and that response has to be that Santo Tomas will continue,” said Gloria Romo, Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District Director.

Santo Tomas workers say the city didn’t do enough to keep the swap meet open, but city council members say they tried bending the rules to prevent its closure.

“I didn’t close it, no one from here closed Santo Tomas,” said Lewis Pacheco, Calexico City Council member.

Several workers from Santo Tomas spoke on the city’s lack of support for a business of forty years.

“You guys try to make it seem to the public like it wasn’t your fault, like you tried to do everything you could to make it happen, but that’s a big lie, because you didn’t want the swap meet to open up,” said Raul Miramontes, Santo Tomas worker of twelve years.

Newly appointed mayor Bill Hodge said he wants to bring Santo Tomas back to the table and renegotiate.

“Renegotiate and get you people back to working, that’s my ultimate goal, I don’t know if it’s possible, I’m only one council member,” said Hodge.