An East Side councilman’s attempt to stop a semi-truck dealership from setting up next to a residential neighborhood faced challenges after his strategy was revealed. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez of San Antonio tried to maneuver through city processes to block Doggett Freightliner's expansion, which had raised concerns among residents about noise, pollution, and potential drops in property value. The dealership has been working since August 2023 to use a 35-acre property for a new dealership with service facilities.
Although McKee-Rodriguez tried to quietly derail the dealership’s plans, the council voted 6-4 to delay the issue to a November meeting, according to an article by San Antonio Express-News. In a move to manipulate the outcome, the councilman pushed for a vote to annex the property and sought to change the zoning to favor retail options over the dealership, thereby sidestepping Doggett's intention. McKee-Rodriguez stated, "I had to make a decision that was going to benefit my constituents, and so I'll stand by that decision.” The maneuver sparked a heated debate and drew criticism from fellow council members for its handling.
Doggett Freightliner had its own contingency plan in case of opposition—an alternative site that, conveniently, wouldn't require city council's zoning approval, potentially fast-tracking the dealership's opening in less than two years, as reported by KSAT.
Doggett's attorney Ken Brown expressed frustration with the councilman's tactics and distrust moving forward, stating, "I don’t think I could ever trust him again" in the San Antonio Express-News.
Residents like Paloma's Jo Most and Monica Klemp voiced their concerns over the planned dealership, fearing its proximity would negatively impact their ideal of the American Dream. "That's not what I want in my backyard,” Klemp said, as quoted by KSAT. Despite the failed plot, residents still face the likelihood of increased truck traffic and the ancillary effects of a semi-truck parking lot. Meanwhile, McKee-Rodriguez holds that the parking lot would be a lesser evil compared to the dealership, a choice neither he nor the neighbors find ideal.
The issue has not reached its conclusion, and it's anticipated that Doggett will now pivot to the alternative plan. Paloma resident Claudia Ayers informed KSAT of her determination to challenge the dealership, vowing, "I will absolutely make them miserable. I’m not above protesting in every little way. Civil disobedience — do it civilly."
