news-record.com

After Scoop finished digging through those hotel documents, we stick by our first conclusion: nothing too surprising there.

What was interesting to see was what money or power gets you in city government: easy access to top officials.

Based on the emails, it’s clear both Melvin “Skip” Alston and Bridget Chisholm – proponents of the Ole Asheboro Hotel – had access to City manager Rashad Young to discuss the project.

Young said he spoke with Chisholm over the phone during the holidays and met with hotel proponents and city staff at a meeting to discuss the public parking garage portion of the proposal.

And on the opponent side, hotel owner Dennis Quaintance had access to Assistant City Manager Andy Scott. They exchanged multiple emails on the topic and Quaintance even requesting a (same-day) meeting to get further details about the project and the way the bonds work.

Wonder if this is the kind of thing City Council members mean when they say the city should be more “business friendly”?