Screen Capture / Google Maps
Moses Roses owner Vince Cantu has demanded $17 million for his property thats its on the footprint of the proposed Alamo Visitor Center and Museum.
Supporters of the embattled business are voicing outrage on Facebook over a weekend editorial by Bob Rivard, founder of online news site the San Antonio Report, on the city's recent move to invoke eminent domain to force a sale.
Rivard — a one-time executive editor at the Express-News — said he opposes the city's use of eminent domain "at this juncture," adding that the state and the city should make a final, good-faith offer to buy out Moses Rose's.
Even so, Rivard characterized Moses Rose's owner Vince Cantu's demand for $17 million for his establishment as a "greedy desire to hold out." He also questioned claims by the "dive bar owner" that the city hasn't tried to enter fair negotiations.
The blowback on the San Antonio Report's Facebook page came swiftly. A link to the editorial has so far racked up 173 comments, many excoriating Rivard.
"This is not journalism, it is a one sided opinion piece by a man with an obvious bias," Facebook user Chica Laura commented on the San Antonio Report's post.
Rivard's son, Alex Rivard, is the director of education at the Alamo Trust. However, in the opinion piece, the elder Rivard maintains that his son isn't involved in the trust's property acquisition management.
Poster Brandon Cross blasted Rivard as "the new face of 'Karen' for San Antonio."
"Rivard, always the Development cheerleader," commented poster Letica Vela.
The last offer made to Cantu — one based on an independent appraisal valuing his property at $2.8 million in 10 years — stands at $3.5 million, Alamo Trust officials have said.
Meanwhile, Cantu has reportedly said he'll take nothing less than $17 million, basing his valuation on the property's hypothetical increase in value once the Alamo Museum project is complete.
"I was never contacted to actually negotiate the sale of my property," Cantu said in a rebuttal to the editorial posted Wednesday on his own Facebook page. "The Alamo Trust Foundation never wanted to negotiate with me. Their plan was to steal it from me all along."
One thing is clear amid the online sniping: as the clock ticks down on Cantu's ability to reach a deal for his property, the controversy around the city's invocation of eminent domain isn't going away.
Coming soon: SA Current Daily newsletter. We’ll send you a handful of interesting San Antonio stories every morning. Subscribe now to not miss a thing.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
