PORTSMOUTH
Some residents said Thursday they wish they could recall the mayor over comments he made about state Sen. Louise Lucas’ proposed hotel and conference center, while she said she is considering scaling back her project.
Earlier this week, the City Council voted to deny Lucas the use of up to $50 million of federal enterprise zone bonds. The bank-backed bonds would have provided Lucas with lower-cost financing.
During the meeting, Mayor James Holley called the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center a white hotel and said that the city also should have a black-owned one.
Ted Lamb, who heads the Cradock neighborhood watch, said he was appalled by Holley’s comments. He said he plans to circulate a petition asking for a formal apology or for Holley’s resignation because the mayor can’t be recalled.
Lamb is among residents, including Martha Ann Creecy, who ran against Holley this spring, who now want to remove Holley from his seat.
However, under the city code, the mayor would have to serve at least one year of his term before he could be removed. Holley started his new term July 1.
“I’m actually surprised that there hasn’t been a stronger comment from City Council,” Lamb said.
Holley did not return phone calls Thursday.
Lucas, who runs several group homes for people who have mental and physical disabilities, wants to build a $65 million hotel and convention center in Victory Village business park, off Interstate 264 at Victory Boulevard.
It would have included a hotel with up to 250 rooms and a 50,000-square-foot conference center with a 16,000-square-foot ballroom.
She said Thursday that she plans to speak with investors about downsizing those plans. If they agree, she might return to her original idea and build a meeting place for organizations that can’t afford to meet at the Renaissance and have been forced to rent facilities outside of Portsmouth.
Lucas said she has already spoken with state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, and new School Board member Costella Williams about downsizing her plans. Locke and Williams are among about 600 people who have given a total of $1.8 million toward the project.
“The project is going to go forward, irrespective of what City Council has done,” Locke said Thursday.
On Tuesday, the council split 3 -2 against allowing Lucas to use the bonds.
Two council members abstained because of ties to the project.
Two council members who voted against it said they had not been assured that it would not eventually need city money and questioned how the venture was being financed. Another was concerned that the project would compete with the city-subsidized Renaissance.
Lucas said neither she nor the council members who recused themselves from the vote – Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. and Marlene Randall – have any conflicts of interest.
The Portsmouth Democrat said she was not seeking state bonds. She said that she, Whitehurst and Randall are all governed by the Virginia Conflict of Interests Act, which states that council members have a conflict if they, or any immediate family members, act on a project in which they have invested more than $10,000.
Whitehurst invested $2,500, while Randall’s husband gave $2,000. Lucas gave Whitehurst $10,000 during his council campaign.
Marlon Baskerville, a Portsmouth resident and investor, said the council’s decision goes against what almost 600 people want to do for the city.
Many blacks gave money “because it was a chance for them to say: 'Here’s your answer, white America: Why can’t blacks do something for themselves?’”
Melvin Copeland Jr. of Chesapeake said he gave because he was drawn to the idea that people from all income levels could invest.
He added that there are always obstacles, but he was hoping that with patience and time, things would work in the project’s favor.
“Anything you want, you’ve got to keep fighting for it,” Copeland said.
Jean Eason said it’s unfair that the council denied the bonds to the Lucas project when it voted earlier this year to allow the developer of a new Holiday Inn hotel to use $12 million of the bonds.
“I just thought, if you’re going to do one, then you should do the other,” said Eason, who is another Portsmouth investor .
The projects should be held to the same standard, she said.
No city money is invested in the new Holiday Inn project, and the developer already operates several other hotels in Hampton Roads, Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas said.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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To Mickey12
I can no easier get over the history of slavery in this country any more than I will ever get over the travesty that was The Halocaust. Both were events in history which served to diminish a sect of society in order to force the presumed superiority over another. Every citizen of the world has a responsibilty to study each of these periods of history and, not only never forget, but find every means possible for not letting such horrendous acts be repeated. Having said that, I believe we have evolved as individuals and as a nation. Comments from a government official, regardless of his race, should be done so with responsibility and foresight. Holley was wrong. His resignation will be sought or his recall in one year will be a sure thing.
Get pver ot
If many of you Portsmouth resident don't like how it's ran , you are free to leave. Pure and simple. Many races tell us blacks to get over slavery or just leave the country. Well I'm here to tell you bloggers if you don't like it here then leave. You are just mad that you didn't get out to vote now you want him to resign. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Compassion, Reason
It's great to see young adults with such compassion. Not only has compassion been shown, but empathy & understanding. It takes reasoning skills & wisdom, to view matters as well as you have. You've given me a smile, today.
Yet, not to burst your bubble; the racism practiced, until the late 60's & early 70's, in which we were beaten with police batons, sprayed with full force fire hoses & had police dogs let loose to attack us, has been replaced by covert racism, which hides behind Brooks Brothers & Armani suits.
Book ends
The Mayor and Senator Byrd. Both like to ramble.
More Proof of Idiocy in the Ranks
Once again, an official who is preoccupied with personal demographics rather than overall success of an area that needs all of the help that it can get in its efforts to better itself. But while he's at it: I know that Zombies have bad reputations as being unreliable and have been passed over by Gobblins more times that I can remember. Therefore, if this guy wants to put race back on the trash-heap of picayunne banter, I insist that the flesh-eating zombies and the blood-sucking-creatures that frequent Walmart on weekends get some kind of consideration. If I remember correctly, the walking dead have been said to be around even before the first slaves were said to exist upon our continent.
OLD
He's an old man. He has used up his usefulness. It's time to go Old Man Holly.
Where do I sign Up to get
Where do I sign Up to get this Racist out of office. There is no reason why the Vice mayor should not be taking over the Office
Racist Comments
Mayor Holly and Paul Riddick are cut from the same cloth. And both are still in office. Surprise surprise!!!
This has gotten out of hand
Ok, I will admit that Mayor Holley definitely could have used a different approach in this issue, maybe even an apology. However, commentors, everyone has their own opinion, in which is evident with the comments made. I think he has a valid point about the project covering different markets and people. We all know, whether we admit it or not, the fact remains that certain venues work in certain areas. I will say that the project needs to be scaled back, in compliance to the market the Renaissance covers. An apology should be made about the comment concerning the Renaissance, but lets honest: we have all, in one time or another, said something "off color" that shouldn't have been said. Lets move past this.....obviously he is doing something right, having been mayor for so many years, voted out previously, and voted back by Portsmouth citizens. Think about it
Wow, watch the video
It wasn't just a single off hand comment by Holley, as might be supposed by reading the article, but part of a theme Holley was advancing during the latter part of the clip. He pretty clearly sees Portsmouth as a town divided. He also seemed to think that councilman Moody, who is white, would not be comfortable staying in a "black" hotel. Holley should step down. Our leaders should be fighting against racism not perpetuating it.
Racist
Racist! Nothing will happen about this unless we all actually step forward and make this an issue. He is incapable and clearly a racist! Maybe he should wreck another city car...
BYE, BYE RACISM!
This racist mayor needs to go now!!!
Now imagine you own the Renaissance
Without a doubt, Holley's statements were without merit. Perhaps blacks will now choose not to stay at the Renaissance in order to support Holley. A civil suit for slander is warranted. Does Holley have government immunity for comments made during council? I don't think so. Renaissance owners and investors have been financially harmed. Get a lawyer. Did he ever pay for the wrecked city vehicles?
He should be left alone.
I am a 29 year old white man living in Virginia Beach. I feel as though he has earned the right to speak his mind based upon his life experiences and those of his family. The times of segregation are not that far gone. There are people alive that lived through these events and have feelings based on that. People need to understand that. How can people be treated the way black people were in those days and now not even 50 years later be expected to turn the other cheek??? Racism is a part of life. It will never go away the best thing is to focus on yourself and your family and teaching them right. That will bring everything together when the time has come for it to be.
The "Portsmouth Family" has
The "Portsmouth Family" has been divided by the very one who is hell-bent in calling it such. Is this what we want to teach the children in our "family"? MLK said it so well, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Holley is stuck in the years prior to 1963 with his "white hotel/black hotel" statement. We, as a united society - united by the very blood Dr.Martin Luther King shed for his beliefs - shall NOT defend remarks by Mayor Holley. For behind those remarks lies the heart and character of one who is using his position as Mayor to perpetuate a division amoung the races of this city. I can not dictate what this Mayor thinks, but I bloody well can expect him to have a demeanor of tolerance as it relates to what he says in a Council forum! Shame on you, Mayor Holley. Shame in it's hig
Mayor Holley Remarks
Seriously, it is people like Mayor Holley that are setting examples for our children! Mr. Holley's remarks were most definetely racially discriminating. Personally, i do not care who owns anything in Portsmouth, as long as it is helping our city. Portsmouth does not have the best reputation, and unless we come together as a community,i do not see it becoming any better. We do not need some one in office that is dividing the races, especially publicly doing so!
On the subject of conflict of interest
Wouldn't a lawyer and a judge in the same city being business partners be one? Like a certain pair in Portsmouth.........
I like the title "SOME Angry..."
It is like say Hurricane Katrina was a storm of some proportion...lol. From reading the comments and listening to my friends from Portsmouth the title should read "Entire Community Up In Arms Over Mayor's Bigoted Comments."
The loophole queen!
How does Lucas figure she has no conflict of interest in this ---- it's her project!! But because she kept some investment below a legal standard she figures there isn't a conflict there? What is this Senator thinking? She is skirting the law here and doing it for personal gain. Time for her and Holley to GO!
Hum, I don't think the Mayor's remarks are that big of a deal
I am surprised to find myself outside of the apparent mainstream on this issue. I am white and I really didn't find what the Mayor said to be that outragious. Oddly, I think folks are making a much bigger deal out of Mayor Holly's remarks then they deserve. From what I have observed of Mayor Holly I feel he acts in what he believes to be the best interest of Portsmouth. His work on the HRPDC,and HRTA was to be commended. While I'm posting a comment here I'd also like to compliment the City Council of Portsmouth for making the right decision and refusing to go along with a deal that seems to me to be a conflict of interest and a clear abuse of political offices. I feel that elected members of the General Assembly should abstain from such business dealings while they are still in office - white, black, green, whatever color they are. The same holds true for members of City Council or our Boards of Supervisor