In a divided vote, the Monroe City Council voted Tuesday night to make a $2.5 million loan to Rep. Micheal Echols to help him develop a hotel downtown.
The vote gives Echols the green light to pursue a $31.3 million loan that will be supported in part by the City of Monroe to build a privately owned Hilton Hotel downtown.
District 5 Rep. Kema Dawson-Robinson, broke ranks with other Southside representatives, and voted with Northside council members to make the public funds available for Echol’s private business venture.
Dawson-Robinson broke with Southside
Southside council members Juanita Woods and Corday Marshall voted against the proposal voicing the concerns of their district and unanswered questions.
Dawson-Robinson, Doug Harvey, and Gretchen Ezernak voted for the measure. Dawson-Robinson was…
