Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/970398
6 UCW APRIL 18-25, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM one year special $ 15 for UP & CoMING WEEKLY rEadErs oNLY you save 89% off Tv GuIDe MaGaZINe Get A GreAt DeAL from tV GuiDe mAGAzine start Your subscription online, By Mail or Call online: tvguidemagazine.com/newsoffer mail: complete order form below call: 1-800-365-1940 WHeN CaLLING use PRoMo: K6fNsWPZZ Every issue delivers inside scoop on your favorite shows Breaking news keeps you in the know Highlights help guide you to what's worth watching Your favorite stars take you behind the scenes 28 Pages of easy-to-use primetime listings GrEaT rEasoNs To sTarT YoUr sUBsCrIPTIoN TO THE EDITOR Wiliams has not earned the right to be called councilman Dear Editor: I read with some disgust the report by The Fayetteville Observer concerning Monday night's Fayetteville City Council's meeting and discussion concerning Tyrone Williams (and no, I will not call him a city councilman.) Tyrone has not earned the respect to be addressed that way. He has used his position to profit his own pocket – while leaving the rest of the city in the cold. Will the group working to renovate and open the Prince Charles be successful? I don't know. But at least they are making an honest effort. Mr. Williams has made no contribution of note, but instead has used his election to profit without considering our community. Mr. Williams does not deserve to sit on our council - and those who will argue otherwise are putting self and personal ideals before their constituents. Fayetteville deserves better. Our community deserves better. Mr. Williams should resign – if he doesn't, the council as a whole, regardless of color should show him the door. If they don't, they have shown their true colors and our community should show them all the door. If they don't act, than we all will know that race, rather than the betterment of our community has become a priority – and that is more than sad. It is the first step in the destruction of our community. Janice Burton Resignation Williams' only option Dear Editor: Fayettev ille Cit y Councilman Ty rone Williams is facing calls to resign from his constituents, t he newspaper and ever y member of t he cit y council. Williams is holding f irm, calling for a rev iew of t he matter by t he cit y attorney, and deny ing t hat he did any t hing w rong. Maybe he didn't, but it doesn't mean he should keep his seat. Williams was recorded of fering to "lif t t he cloud" on t he t it le of t he Prince Charles Hotel for $15,000. Williams had loaned t he prev ious ow ner of t he Prince Charles Hotel, John Chen, $100,000. The hotel was used as collateral on t he loan. Williams claims t he loan was never repaid; Chen says ot her w ise. A bank r uptc y cour t judge ag reed w it h Chen and disallowed Williams's claim in 2013. In December, Williams approached t he new ow ners, Prince Charles Holdings, about his claim and offered to "lift t he cloud" from t he tit le for $15,000. PCH recorded t he conversation and contacted t he FBI about Williams' offer. Williams' conduct was made public last week, and on Monday, Williams' colleag ues on t he cit y council asked for his resignation. Williams isn't resigning, and t he council is beginning amotion proceedings, or trial by council. Regardless, it w ill be several mont hs, and many ta x dollars, before t his matter is sett led. From a due process perspective, did Williams still think he had a valid claim, or was he trying to use his tenuous connection to the Prince Charles Hotel and position as Councilman, to give himself a $15,000 payday? Politically, the answer doesn't matter. Williams needs to resign his seat immediately. As an elected official, Williams is held to a higher standard. A standard to which the mere appearance of impropriety is enough to call for his resignation. As an early political mentor told me, "it ain't what it is, it's what it looks like ... that's all that matters in politics." Regardless of his intent, Williams put himself in this compromising situation. A situation that has spurred an FBI investigation and a whole helluva' lot of embarrassment for the city of Fayetteville. To make matters worse, District 2 residents w ill not have any representation for t wo huge projects being built in t heir ow n back yard. Williams must abstain from future votes involv ing Project Home Run and t he Prince Charles. This makes him not only t he most morally questionable person on t he council, but by default, t he most ineffective. The Council might as well sit him at t he "k iddie" table and only call him in for stormwater. Unfortunately, the circus has only just come to town and it's starting to pitch its tent. The city council meeting Monday night was standing room only; normally a room where the only people standing are speaking or stretching. Citizens are coming out in droves to watch our city embarrass itself. It will only stop when Williams is gone. Andrew Porter Tyrone Williams – readers weigh in Tyrone Williams