By MARK M. MILAM
Valley Morning Star
Published in The Brownsville Herald
Sept. 17, 2001
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Several hundred residents and visitors crowded into the South Padre Island Convention Centre
Sunday morning for an update from town officials about the Queen Isabella Causeway collapse and restoration of
utility services to the Island.
Shortly after Mayor Ed Cyganiewicz started speaking, several visitors began complaining that they were being treated
like second-class citizens. The visitors accused officials of only looking out for Island residents.
The stranded guests said they were being subjected to price gouging by rental agencies and other businesses. They
said they were unable to get money or use credit cards because of disrupted telephone service. Many asked how they
would find meals or a place to sleep.
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