$70 million in bonds OK'd for Sen. Lucas' hotel project

True, why would a State Senator be so concerned with a local government issue as another hotel and convention center in P-Town? Why should the City of Norfolk be involved as well? Maybe because Portsmouth doesn't have enough black businessmen willing to invest in this venture or it's location?! Or could it be that not enough business owners black or white are willing to invest in such a controversial plan?! I guess Ms. Lucas and our own Portsmouth City Council forgot where bond money actually comes from-their constituants-taxpayers. Have they forgotten that the economy is going down the tubes with higher gas prices, higher grocery bills, and no higher waged? Cities are not in the business of building hotels and convention centers. They are in the business of maintaining emergency services, court services, water and drainage, etc.; things we are not able to get in our current facilitie

For everyone who voted Lucas's pets back onto city council this is exactly what you deserve. Unbelievable...

Some of the questions addressed could and should be asked to the Senator herself. As a public official, I'm sure that she would be happy to meet with anyone to answer questions and clear up any misunderstandings. Everyone has a right to their opinions, however, let the opinions be based on factual information from BOTH sides and not just a VA Pilot article.

Go look at the picture. She looks like a villian. Doesn't she look like she is just itching to make a puppy skin coat? Thank goodness for the "dalmation plantation."

Portsmouth can barely support the current convention center and Ntelos Amphitheater and we're going to commit millions to another similar project! Say after me...STUPID, if council approves... REAL STUPID!! Email call, or write council your objections now! We do not need more financial burdens! Just Unbelievable!!!

Send them an e-mail every day asking them to vote the bonds down. Call every day. Drive them crazy. Also start on Gov. Kaine. Call, e-mail and ask how a Senator can steal money from those she represents and the federal government. Don't only complain on this forum, DO SOMETHING to show your displeasure and outrage!

History lesson short and sweet, “your tribal leaders and rival tribal leaders sold you into slavery”. History does repeat itself. You have given into the slavery mode again, you voted for your leader now she is selling you off for personal gain and is not a thing you can do about it. A few folks with money are taking you for all your worth. It hurts me that most people here in P-Town are just to ignorant to realize this. I would love to see and election done without race involved. It may happen now. Let her build her hotel and watch your taxes go up and your friends and family leave P-Town for cheaper areas to live. I say impeach her and her crew. Folks that have invested stand to make a lot of money off those whom did not. I could not invest because it an all black thing open only to blacks.

After reading this article, the red flags in my mind went up. First off, what is a State Senator doing in collecting investors for a project like this? Secondly, is there a conflict of interest (monetary, etc) on her behalf? Third, to finance another project like this under the umbrella of a housing authority brought another notorious housing project to mind: Cabrini Green in Chicago.
I have the strangest feeling in which this project will go well over budget and may not be finished on time or according to its original plans.
Just my opinions.

Submitted by Bgibso94 on Tue, 06/17/2008 at 7:01 pm.
"You people....and YES I SAID "YOU PEOPLE", meaning the white citizens of the Hampton Roads community need to really wake up and get a life. Whites have never shown interest in what blacks do until it takes money out of their pocket."
Taking money out of my pocket tends to get my attention regardless of color of the thief.

"All whites do is complain. Complain. Complain. Complain."
All of us?

"If you're that disgusted with the way things are done here, have your white friends and family move out. Leave Portsmouth to us."

Nice work. Thanks for the insight into the 'black psyche.' Please tell me there is someone out there who is not white that is fuming about these comments.

FROM STEVENC
"This will "spur development" in Portsmouth."
No it won't. It will be a third tier venue. Too much competition. Better choices are minutes away. Location, location, location.
"EVEN better; she's a democrat!!!"
So what? If she were a St. Bernard I would still find it to be dubious.
"Where is the support Ira? This is tax use at its best; is it not?
Why me? I am a fiscal conservative who votes for both parties. My only liberal slants are the environment and personal rights. I support McCain.
"If not is he.....a......R-A-C-I-S-T?"
Uh oh, quite the accusation. It does seem we found the racist this morning though.
"Are you white folks SERIOUS?"
Yes. You should be offended by this proposition as well. It's crooked. A public servant is manipulating the systen to seek profit. Regardless of where you live it is being taken from federal funds.

Vote for me and I will get rid of all the white people for you. Please see Bigdaddy for details.

Richmond va lost alot of money trying to put hotels and other attractions in the ghetto, known as the 6th street market place. People got tired of being asked for money, being robbed and eventually deterioted. This place will be no different, except that Mrs. Lucas plans to benefit financially.

HUD HAS MONEY HUD HAS MONEY..A resent news artical said a developer was going to re develop the area bounded by Tidewater drive and City Hall Ave at the base of the interstate THIS DEVELOPMENT HAD LOW COST HOUSEING IN IT..It also had some retail.why cant these delopers get some of that money just setting around.Hell when you look at it why cant any of the developers in down town Norfolk Chesapeake or Va Beach get any of this HUD money..all these developers might have some argument for this money just sitting around for ten years.This money should be spent in a way that it will inhance the lives of more people than just a HOTEL...HOUSEING URBAN DEVELOPMENT..NOT..HOTEL AND TOURISM...THIS AREA NEEDS MORE WORKING CLASS HOMES.TWO OR THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR HOMES are toooo much for the working class person to afford..If any thing can be learned from this houseing Financing problem thats effecting the counrty is to not spend over your means..THIS HOTEL IS NOTHING BUT A CASH COW..WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT DETERIORATION WILL START

I will never spend another dollar in Portsmouth again!

Sharp game "madame senator".....very sharp game indeed!!!

"Lucas would be required to hire at least 35 percent of her employees from Portsmouth and Norfolk's designated empowerment zone"
"Hotel...23 full-time employees at an average salary of $29,739"
"Conference center would employ 13 full-time employees, at an average salary of $45,235".
"Hotel would generate $612,000 in real and personal property taxes"
"Conference center would generate $300,000"
"Lucas, who attended the meeting, said the Victory Village Hotel and Conference Center would host major events, such as graduation, for the new TCC campus".
"TCC spokeswoman Laurie White said Tuesday that the college does not have an agreement with the proposed hotel and conference center".
Looks like the TCC spokeswoman hasn't recieved her "visit" from "her Royal Highness"! Sorry, the numbers do not add up. She took money earmarked for "family housing" and used her political and business "back room" dealings and put Portsmouth on the threshold of being the penultimate "urban cesspool"! A total of 36 people getting new jobs, plus the ancillary contracts which I'm sure will have some money finding its way back to "Ms. Lucas" vs. the people of Portsmouth being saddled with this project an

Yes BGIBSO94 I am white and why you are putting all the white folks in the same boat. I fo one do not care if the hotel is or is not built. I also do not care if the city does sell bonds to help pay for this. I do care when you and ALL OTHERS lump one race toghter.

It didn't take long for the old dependable racism crutch to appear.

Listen fellow citizen, I don't think everyone is up in arms because this project was proposed and developed by a black woman. We are disgusted that this project even grew legs due to Portsmouth's financial situation, weak infrastructure, where the funding is coming from, and frankly because this deal stinks highly of blatant political abuse. And what nauseates me equally is how easily one can cry racism towards the white community and get away with it. Cry wolf some more.

When you can argue without relying on the racism crutch then maybe then you will start to be taken seriously. 51% what in the world is that supposed to mean. Does it mean that 51% thinks this is a great benefit to PTown? It is this kind of mentality that makes many, many thinking people doubt the soundness of your reasoning, life choices, and attitude.

Cry wolf some more.

Keep crying wolf and you will never be taken seriously.

How does everything turn racial???
It's a shame people are that paranoid and think everything is
one big conspiracy.
Stick to the issue at hand.

Ah, Donkey I take great interest when I read about another shooting, break in, car jack, drug deal concerning blacks. Another "Use it or Loose It" deal for Fed money. The article says it will improve this corridor, help with homelessnes etc. Ok lets recap, I'm homeless because: A - I don't have money to pay a mortgage or rent. B - I'm a crack head. C - I can't pass a credit check or D - All of the Above. Why does the race card always have to be pulled. 51% black, so that means we should let you spend Fed money anyway you want. "YOU PEOPLE" attitude sounds like the person I want as a neighbor. Use the money for affordable housing not perks and pocket money for the select few. Enough of the black verse white finger pointing. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

She successfully has all HER people behind her as she takes their money and profits from it..

We are talking about P-town here. I mean, as a FORMER resident of the City where I once lived, graduated High School, bought my first house.....then left as soon as my first child was about ready to start school. I lived directly behind an Elementary School....I was working on my house one day, off from work,the bell rang for recess or whatever and when the doors flew open, I knew then and there I couldn't do that to my son. Less than 1 year later I had moved. Portsmouth is at least 51% black, 83% of that 51% majority is at least 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation welfare recipients. Louise Lucas, former employee of Norfolk Naval Shipyard turned Senator? I cannot believe this is legal...Our tax dollars...we need roads here in Hampton Roads so the state is going to raise taxes and put up tolls. P-town, a City that cannot support itself is building a 250 Million Dollar project funded by the taxpayer, tax exempt bonds. What is wrong with this picture? Oh Yeah....it's in Portsmouth.

Color means nothing. Get over it. Portsmouth can't afford to keep the hotels/motels it has now open. Great job let's build another one. This is why education and public safety never gets better in this "ghetto" city. I work and live here and it gets worse by the moment.

I am not sure what the deal is but I do not like it. From my time at home (when I am here, I travel) I thought a TCC and nice homes were the deal for
Victory C and area. Now some senator wants to put a new 250 HUD hotel in my
old Academy Park, Tower Mall place and thinks it will work. Ha, my real and prop tax should go to the police and firefighters. Also, more money in the Ptown schools for better teachers. City pays them more and they may stay. Had excellent teachers back in the 80s. I hope VC works out cause I will make large dollars if I sell, if not I can always come home. :)

" You people....and YES I SAID "YOU PEOPLE", meaning the white citizens of the Hampton Roads community need to really wake up and get a life. Whites have never shown interest in what blacks do UNTIL IT TAKES MONEY OUT OF THIR POCKETS. Portsmouth is 51% black. If you really feel that badly about what goes on here then leave. "

Yes, quite a few white folks have left Portsmouth. I was a long time Portsmouth resident and moved out several years ago. I had a number of properties/businesses in Portsmouth and I'm about to list the last one for sale, possibly at a loss. You are correct in the fact that I feel badly about the direction that Portsmouth has taken and yes, I and many others have left. Your point?

When Senator Lucas graduated from the Portsmouth Public School system a "D" was acceptable to graduate. Norfolk State University was properly no better. Just give her a grade and Grad-U-ate her!
This current form of self gradification and building a monument to self greediness has to be stopped.
Senator Lucas should receive an "F" for failure to uphold her privilege to serve the citizens of P-Town and Norfolk in a fair and equal manner.
Citizens of P-Town and Norfolk join together and call for a Recall Election to impeach Senator Lucas from her state position.

Here is the answer as to why the Senator is doing this thing. Here is an excerpt from her biography at http://www.crcglobal.org/LC2007/Bio_LDR_2007_Lucas.html

"The Honorable L. Louise Lucas is a Portsmouth native and a product of the Portsmouth Public School System."

Be sure to highlight the last eight words.

She also received many accolades, certificates, and degrees from Norfolk State University.

So...there is your answer.

can anyone tell me why a group can raise 2.7% of the cost of a project, ask for the TAX PAYING COMMUNITY to fund the rest, and call it a success by the group that only raised 2.7% (1.8 million). By my math $1,800,000 by 600 investers is only $3000 each. They sure arent bringing much to the table, just asking for more handouts.

the race card is played.....when all else fails play the race card....use white guilt to get what you want!

Interesting when gov funds (tax$) are given to a private developer in Norfolk, it's "necessary for development", will "raise enough tax revenues to pay for itself", "model of new urbanism", "good use of tax $" etc. NOW..what's the issue folks? Isn't this all those good things. This will "spur development" in Portsmouth. This will put Portsmouth "on the map" as a major city blah blah blah. Where are you guys now?? Where is the support? EVEN better; she's a democrat!!! I see even our hard core posting RAISE TAX Demo's criticized this one!! LOVE IT!! What's the issue guys? You're all crying for higher taxes and ragging on Rep's for holding the line. This is proof our gov can spend money wisely is it not? Where is the support Ira? This is tax use at its best; is it not? Proof we need higher taxes now. Now our skirt chasing councilman in Norfolk will have to put up or shut up. He promised after re-election to continue funneling gov funds into the pockets of developers. Will he throw his support behind this one? If not is he.....a......R-A-C-I-S-T? Come on BW. Tell us all how good of deal this is for Portsmouth and Norfolk. Shout it from the rooftops or be a hyprocite. Where's Mike Barre

There are an overwhelming number of critical comments posted on this story. And I'll weigh in that the criticism is well-founded. But the sad thing is that the Senator could care less what we say. She can't lose in her district - it was set up that way. She's living the dream and can do whatever she wants. So we can complain and criticize, but she won't change and she'll get what she wants.

WOW!! Absolutely amazing. Weezie raises $1.8 million from investors, then gets up to $70 million in bonds to help finance her $60.9 million hotel and conference center in the ghetto, with the taxable value of $60.9 million, and then, to top it off, gets another $6 million in bonds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for construction costs.

Let's see, you and your buds invest $1.8 million, you get $76 million. Then you have to pay out $61 million to build Portsmouth yet another White Elephant. Then you divvy up the remaining $15 million. Can I get in on that? I would love to get an 833% return on my money. I'm sure Conflict of Interest and Ethics laws won't get in the way.

The truly sad thing is, she will get re-elected. It is Portsmouth, you know.