Orlando City Commissioners voted Monday on the $2 million purchase of the Pulse Nightclub site.The mayor says the purchase will ensure that a permanent memorial to the victims is built at the site of the massacre. The price tag is actually a little bit less than what the city of Orlando offered the nightclub’s owners soon after the shooting seven years ago. The city is stepping in after the onePULSE Foundation failed to reach a deal with the owners, even after all this time, and the foundation had talked about building a massive museum as well. The city council approved spending $2 million to buy Pulse and will later figure out what to do.We talked to survivors and victims’ families about the move. One woman, whose daughter survived the attack, but her cousin was killed, wonders why the nightclub owners didn’t just donate the property. “It hasn’t been about the actual tragedy itself. It seems like so many people are pulling in different directions because there is so much money involved,” Mimi Marquez, a family member of Pulse victims, said.”This has been horrible. This day has been difficult but we will do the right thing by everyone,” Commissioner Patty Sheehan said.Sheehan battled emotions and accusations from some in the crowd who believe she and other city leaders played a role in covering up code violations at the Pulse Nightclub prior to June 12th, 2016, when a lone gunman savagely ended 49 lives and wounded dozens of others.Did such violations, if they existed, prevent some from escaping? Sheehan tearfully countered, there were no violations and the process of healing depends on putting a permanent memorial to the victims back on track.”I can tell you right now the only way we are going to be able to move forward is to get possession of the property so we can build a proper memorial, which is what I have heard from day one from these families,” Sheehan said.After previously turning down a $2.25 million offer from the city to buy the property, Barbara Poma and her husband and business partner have agreed to a $2 million price.But Commissioner Jim Gray thought that was too high and wondered if the city had considered using eminent domain to acquire the property.”I’m trying to look at taxpayers and saying why are we wasting a million dollars. Everybody knows where I stand,” Gray said.”Do I think we have to do this? Absolutely. But that is the situation we are in. Do I want to pay two million dollars? No. I wish that land was donated to onePULSE,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said.Ultimately, the other commissioners supported the purchase, and the vote was unanimous in favor.We also don’t know at this point if any of the design plans from onePULSE Foundation and in fact, anyone on the board, will be a part of the project.There is still the question of what will become of the onePULSE Foundation since it doesn’t appear they will have a role in the memorial.They promised to build a museum down the street from the nightclub, which Orange County gave them $10 million in tourist development tax dollars to pay for land and design costs.But Monday it was clear, the people close to this tragedy don’t really want a museum. They want a public memorial to remember and honor their loved ones.Related: Pulse nightclub sold to Orlando after years of controversy: A timeline of events
Orlando City Commissioners voted Monday on the $2 million purchase of the Pulse Nightclub site.
The mayor says the purchase will ensure that a permanent memorial to the victims is built at the site of the massacre.
The price tag is actually a little bit less than what the city of Orlando offered the nightclub’s owners soon after the shooting seven years ago.
The city is stepping in after the onePULSE Foundation failed to reach a deal with the owners, even after all this time, and the foundation had talked about building a massive museum as well.
The city council approved spending $2 million to buy Pulse and will later figure out what to do.
We talked to survivors and victims’ families about the move. One woman, whose daughter survived the attack, but her cousin was killed, wonders why the nightclub owners didn’t just donate the property.
“It hasn’t been about the actual tragedy itself. It seems like so many people are pulling in different directions because there is so much money involved,” Mimi Marquez, a family member of Pulse victims, said.
“This has been horrible. This day has been difficult but we will do the right thing by everyone,” Commissioner Patty Sheehan said.
Sheehan battled emotions and accusations from some in the crowd who believe she and other city leaders played a role in covering up code violations at the Pulse Nightclub prior to June 12th, 2016, when a lone gunman savagely ended 49 lives and wounded dozens of others.
Did such violations, if they existed, prevent some from escaping?
Sheehan tearfully countered, there were no violations and the process of healing depends on putting a permanent memorial to the victims back on track.
“I can tell you right now the only way we are going to be able to move forward is to get possession of the property so we can build a proper memorial, which is what I have heard from day one from these families,” Sheehan said.
After previously turning down a $2.25 million offer from the city to buy the property, Barbara Poma and her husband and business partner have agreed to a $2 million price.
But Commissioner Jim Gray thought that was too high and wondered if the city had considered using eminent domain to acquire the property.
“I’m trying to look at taxpayers and saying why are we wasting a million dollars. Everybody knows where I stand,” Gray said.
“Do I think we have to do this? Absolutely. But that is the situation we are in. Do I want to pay two million dollars? No. I wish that land was donated to onePULSE,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said.
Ultimately, the other commissioners supported the purchase, and the vote was unanimous in favor.
We also don’t know at this point if any of the design plans from onePULSE Foundation and in fact, anyone on the board, will be a part of the project.
There is still the question of what will become of the onePULSE Foundation since it doesn’t appear they will have a role in the memorial.
They promised to build a museum down the street from the nightclub, which Orange County gave them $10 million in tourist development tax dollars to pay for land and design costs.
But Monday it was clear, the people close to this tragedy don’t really want a museum. They want a public memorial to remember and honor their loved ones.
Related: Pulse nightclub sold to Orlando after years of controversy: A timeline of events
