By Suzanne Sprague, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Bob Bolen, Former Fort Worth Mayor: Gonna give the rules that we're going to work on for the public hearing...
Suzanne Sprague, KERA 90.1 reporter: Former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen opened the public hearing at the Tarrant County Convention Center with little fanfare. Although publicity of the event had led some observers to anticipate a packed ballroom, only 28 residents signed up last night to comment on the city's dream of building a taxpayer-financed luxury hotel. And most, like Michael Jones, who lives on the city's east side, got right to the point.
Michael Jones: If the city is responsible or maintaining it, for building it and for keeping it running and we have another tourism decline, how are we going to pay for it? The city council won't. It will be the burden of the taxpayer.
Sprague: Fort Worth officials want to issue certificates of obligation, which don't require a public vote, to finance the deal. But the 15,000 signatures opponents turned in last month have forced the council to hold a referendum if it decides to proceed. Given the decline in the tourist industry following 9/11 and the general dip in the economy, many residents, like Mike Tillman, said now is not the time to invest public dollars in such a project.
Mike Tillman: The attitude of the Fort Worth City Council seems to be if you build it, they will come. Well, we built a nice convention center. Now we're proposing public money to build a nice hotel. How much more do we have to build to get the people to come? Where does it stop?
Sprague: Even some of those who were open to the city's plans said they didn't have faith in local officials to execute them. Grace Wright lives in the politically-active Wedgewood neighborhood.
Grace Wright: Now, although I'm no longer diametrically opposed to a hotel, I don't trust the city council. They reasons? They tried to do it on the sly.
Sprague: Despite the widespread skepticism, there were a few convention center hotel proponents. Alan Sanders, a resident of the Woodhaven neighborhood, said the city's chances of success are greater than a private investor's because it can afford a smaller rate of return.
Alan Sanders: If the city gets one percent or zero, it's still a good deal for the city because the return on the investment on this building here and everything it does for our economy.
Sprague: American Airlines executive Mark Nicols echoed Sanders and predicted a new convention center hotel would raise the bar for other Fort Worth hotels.
Mike Nicols, American Airlines: I would argue that a convention center hotel offers an expanded marketing effort with the real potential to increase business for all. It naturally develops a competitive spirit and partnership that encourages existing businesses to improve their own products and services.
Sprague: But that competitive spirit is exactly what many hotel opponents fear. They say the city shouldn't take away business from other hotel operators already struggling downtown. Although committee members only listened last night, they will continue to meet for several months, and plan to hold another public hearing in May. For KERA 90.1, I'm Suzanne Sprague.
To contact Suzanne Sprague, please send emails to ssprague@kera.org.