Questions still surround convention center

Namely, what kind of hotel will be built next to the tax-funded Wilmington convention center. WWAY has the details:

The Wilmington River Group had until Tuesday to provide a million dollars in financial security in the form of a bond or letter of credit. The money would show the developer had the ability to open the hotel doors within three months of the convention center opening.

But as of Tuesday morning, council still had not received the letter.

If the Wilmington River Group delivers the credit security to council before it’s meeting Tuesday night, it is still up to the city to decide if they want the Hotel Indigo.

The choice of hotel brand is the least of this project’s problems, as the Brooking Institution’s Heywood Sanders has explained:

The overall convention marketplace is declining in a manner that suggests that a recovery or turnaround is unlikely to yield much increased business for any given community, contrary to repeated industry projections. Moreover this decline began prior to the disruptions of 9-11 and is exacerbated by advances in communications technology. Currently, overall attendance at the 200 largest tradeshow events languishes at 1993 levels.

Soles allegation retracted

Stacey Scott, whose 2008 interview with WWAY recently went public and prompted an SBI investigation of Sen. R.C. Soles, has now told WECT that his allegations of sexual molestation were not true:

In an exclusive interview with WECT, Scott said he was on drugs when he made those allegations and he had never had sexual relations with the senator.

“Mr. Soles is a good friend, and I think it’s only right I do this,” said Scott. “I told some lies, and I need to get it straight.”

Q: Did Mr. Soles influence you in any way to do this interview?

A: “No, ma’am. I feel like I’ve let down a dear friend. Mr. Soles is a good friend and I’ve caused him a lot of trouble.”

Q: Have you spoken with him since?

A:”Yes.”

Q: And what was your conversation like?

A: “Just apologizing to him, pretty much. He’s very disappointed in what I said.”

Scott said that Senator Soles has helped him throughout his life by representing him in several criminal cases and giving him money whenever he asked. He estimates the total nears $200,000, which Scott said he’s used for everything from rent to cars to drugs – a practice Scott thinks Soles would be wise to give up.

As I’ve said before, folks should certainly reserve judgment about any possible criminal indictment, given the various witnesses’ credibility problems and conflicting stories. On the other hand, you don’t have to reserve judgment on Soles’ judgment, at the very least. $200,000 in gifts to a young punk? Thousands of additional dollars to others?

I wasn’t born yesterday.

UPDATE: The Associated Press also reports on the recantation.