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Reaction to Orlando's purchase of Pulse
The City of Orlando has approved the purchase of the Pulse Nightclub property. After heated testimony from both the public and commissioners, commissioners put aside their differences and voted to unanimously approve the purchase.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando city commissioners voted on Monday to move forward with a $2 million deal to buy the Pulse Nightclub property and erect a permanent memorial at the site.
It wasn’t an easy decision for the commission. Several commissioners raised concerns over the hefty price tag. District 1 Commissioner Jim Gray even brought up the notion of utilizing eminent domain to attain the property.
"Seven years ago when we looked at the site, our own appraiser said the property was worth $700,000. So where is the balance?" Gray asked. "I would also suggest the value of that land since the event is probably less, more because of the tragic event, and the stigma associated with that."
The board eventually voted unanimously on the path of least resistance: moving forward with the purchase. It’s a decision Siclaly ‘Laly’ Santiago-Leon can get behind.
"I feel a sense of relief," she said following the vote.
Santiago-Leon’s cousin, Luis Daniel "Dani" Wilson Leon, was one of the 49 people killed in the massacre. Since then, Santiago-Leon has carried him in her heart – and her wallet. She has his high school driver’s license with her always.
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"It’s a token," she said holding the laminated card. "It’s something that brings me peace."
Santiago-Leon said she is forced to relive painful memories each time the dispute over the club is brought up. After Monday’s vote, her unrest is now turning to optimism, she said.
"This is just the beginning, but it’s different," Santiago-Leon said. "We can finally do something, take some action, and it’s going to take work."
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said there is no timeline yet on how the city will move forward. He added they will seek guidance on how to proceed. Keep in mind, that the $2 million in taxpayer money only accounts for the property purchase – not additional costs associated with the memorial. Dyer said the path moving forward will be a complicated one.
"I don’t know exactly whether we’ll form another not-for-profit, or we will, in fact, go back to one pulse if it’s reconstituted, whether the city will achieve it, but we will certainly look to our community to be generous and to help us with the cost of whatever the memorial will be," Dyer said.
For Santiago-Leon, her hope is that the memorial will preserve at least a portion of the existing building.
"There is a significance; it’s significant from a historic point of view," Santiago-Leon said. "I know it’s painful… I cannot tell you how painful… but I go there, it’s sacred ground."
This is a developing story that FOX 35 will continue to follow.