Carson : Mismanagement Charged

Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt charged this week that city officials have been remiss in their recent pursuit of an image-enhancing Civic Center hotel.

At a council meeting on Monday, DeWitt accused Carson staff of mismanaging city efforts to obtain hotel proposals from developers. She said that city staff unfairly limited to three the number of developers presented as worthy of consideration for the city redevelopment project, when several others appeared to qualify.

“This process was not handled fairly,” DeWitt claimed during an often emotional exchange with other council members, who differed with her assessment.

Community Development Director Patricia Nemeth, who is coordinating the search for a Civic Center hotel, maintained that city staff acted in good faith. “There was never any intention to keep anything from the council,” Nemeth said.

The City Council did not act on DeWitt’s charges. It is scheduled to hear a report on Nov. 18 on two of the hotel proposals, submitted by Gestec Properties and Wolff, Sesnon, Buttery.

Carson’s efforts to obtain a Civic Center hotel resumed last month after the developer of a proposed 11-story Hilton abandoned 3-year-old plans because of lack of financing.