Florence is on the verge of securing a deal to bring an upscale hotel and restaurant to downtown, as part of its revitalization efforts.
But one Florence councilman says this hotel is getting an incentive package not offered to minority business owners.
Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson stood on a street corner in Florence Thursday, surrounded by supporters, preaching fairness. He says his fellow council members refuse to be fair to minority business owners in downtown Florence.
"The incentives that the merchants downtown have gotten have been miniscule," said Robinson.
He says the small micro-business loans that black merchants have received from the city, don't compare to the incentives the city wants to give to a group of new investors.
They want to open a five and a half million dollar hotel and restaurant in the old cosmos building on West Evans Street.
The city plans to give the investors a $425,000 grant to buy the building, as a part of an economic incentive package.
"The city is buying the building with no recourse," added Robinson. "The only recourse is you have to use a certain amount of water in a certain amount of time then the loan will be forgiven, knowing that its just a gift."
Mayor Stephen Wukela says that's not altogether true, pointing out that the grant is basically a loan.
"You're making a five and a half million dollar investment," said Wukela. "We're willing to give you a $425,000 loan to purchase the property and make it work provided that you show a water usage that's sufficient to pay us that money back and if it's not sufficient to pay us back in cash."
Another incentive robinson would like to see offered to others involves a tax credit. For the first seven years, the hotel owners would pay $14,000 in taxes before it jumps to $85,000.
"What you're doing is way over the top and it's unfair and it's racist," said Robinson. "It's not fair and racist against black folk."
Wukela countered, "I think the incentives that we have designed are reasonable, fair and will be offered and can be offered to folks in the future."
Robinson says he welcomes the proposed hotel, but just wants to be sure everyone is treated equally.
He adds that he will address his concerns at next month's council meeting.
