The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
State Sen. Louise Lucas wants to postpone a vote on her request for millions in bonds to help finance a hotel and conference center in Victory Village business park.
Council members are scheduled to vote again tonight on the $67 million project of Lucas and investors.
Lucas' company is suing some members of the council for a vote last summer on bonds to help finance the project.
The council voted 3-2 to deny Lucas and investors use of the bonds.
The vote is on tonight's agenda, which was sent out last week. But Portsmouth's clerk, Debra White, confirmed in an e-mail Monday that her office received a request for a deferral.
Investors in Victory Conference Center Hotel LLC and Victory Conference Center LLC want access to up to $38 million in tax-exempt bonds.
Attorneys for Lucas have asked for a vote on the bonds on Jan. 27.
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You know who
would never sue his constituents and be a good leader in the Sheriffs Office? Doug Funkhouser thats who....so come election time, dont believe the bunk, vote for Funk.
Diamond Life
You seem to ignore the fact that the Queen will have her hand in your pocket as well as all other Portsmouth Citizens to pay for her project and the law suite. I have seen her supporters ignore the financial implications simply because she is who she is. Her actions are a disgrace to all the women and people of color who have achieved success by brain power and not by intimidation and playing the race card. Personally I think a convention center catering to the average people is a good idea for Portsmouth but not at the expense of what the city is paying to keep the downtown one open. The Renaissance is just too expensive for Portsmouth residents. There is no incentive to be competitive since the City pads their pockets with 2.5 mil annually. If the Lucas center puts the Renaissance out of business the debt will still have to be paid off and you (if you actually live in Portsmouth) and every other Portsmouth taxpayer will be paying for it.
Mrs Lucas: go ahead and build your project if ...
Mrs Lucas: go ahead and build your project; just do it without public support or bond money. If it is such a great project, it should be no problem for you, your investors, and the banks to risk their money for you to make money. Mrs. Lucas, the public is very clear; they do not want to take any risk in a project you are part of.
Help Her Out DiamondLife
DiamondLife........If Lucas is such a great business woman lend her some of your $$$$$$$$
This whole mess
This whole mess is the biggest racially motivated agenda to cross Portsmouth's Council agenda in years. Mayor Holley (thank God for his big mouth) spilled the beans months ago. Now we get the typical rhetorical comments about economic parity and minority equalization. The Mayor said it himself they want a "black" conference center. Hopefully this will end if Portsmouth City Council has the guts to stand firm and do the right thing ----- again! Next on the agenda --- fire Mayor Holley!
Needs to go---
One of the reason's why she is arrogant with power is because she is never challenged come election time. Someone will need to run against her in the next election so that Portsmouth can finally have a State Senator that puts the people of the city above their own amibitions.
Re-election?
Nothing like suing your constituents and then asking them to re-elect you! She received a resounding "no" once and should receive the same this time, ESPECIALLY since she is threatening to sue if she doesn't get her way. She's acting like a four year - give me what I want or I'm going to throw a temper tantrum. Someone needs to pull her aside and giver what she deserves.
Total Embarrassment
Our own senator trying to sue us into submission for a project we don't need and don't want. Amazing.
After watching Portsmouth politics
for 30 years, I can see how this plays out. First, she uses the extra time to make sure her previous council investors (who have now shed their 'stock') are still on board, and the Portsmouth council votes 4-3 for her project. Next, it goes to the Norfolk council, which votes 'NO'. Then she sues them. They relent because, after all, the White Elephant is not even going to be in their city, and Norfolk City Council has Paul Reddick to badger them.
Portsmouth gets yet another useless building, Louise and a very few of her friends get lots of money, and in a couple of years she gets re-elected. If you think she will never get re-elected, who is the current mayor, and what are his past accomplishments?
Diamond Life
Maybe there are no positive comments to make. Ms. Lucas, is that you???