Proud boys in a hot tin roof: Tourism and terrorism are incompatible

A perspective from Colin Dodd

An open letter to the Hillsborough community leaders, particularly the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce

To whom it May concern:

And that affects you ALL.

The Hot Tin Roof encourages Proud Boys, in full attire, to patronize their business and rub shoulders with its predominantly young, diverse, gender-specific, queer and increasingly open-minded clientele.

This is a recipe for disaster.

Flags of pride or proud boys? You can’t have it both ways and expect the city center or the local economy to thrive. Terrorism or tourism? You make the call.

I don’t have to explain who the Proud Boys are. We all witnessed the violent uprising on January 6, 2021. People died. They killed a Capitol police officer and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with others. For hours.

Also, I have no tolerance for police killers and their supporters.

I went to the Hot Tin Roof on Saturday evening June 26th, 2021. Proud boys in Proud Boy outfits were everywhere. I was angry and complained. Kim Tesoro, owner of Hot Tin Roof, said to me, “Colin, calm down,” and I left.

Mrs. Tesoro and co-owner Mark Bateman sit on the Hillsborough Tourism Board. She is the deputy chairwoman of the tourism association. The Tourism Board is responsible for allocating taxpayers’ money for Hillsborough events. Ms. Tesoro is also CEO of the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce; The Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce CEO is a paid position funded by chamber fees and some tax dollars.

Take a look at the Chamber’s mission statement. Kim Tesoro is unsuitable for her position.

However, the impact of Mr. Bateman and Ms. Tesoro’s selfish and short-sighted business decisions will negatively impact other downtown businesses and the city’s ability to attract visitors, new residents, and new investments over time.

This is totally unacceptable. And untenable.

I was asked to calm down. The Proud Boys were allowed to stay. The Hot Tin Roof safety video recorded everything that happened. It needs to be reviewed by the city council, as well as local and state law enforcement agencies searching for local terrorists.

If the Hot Tin Roof is to become a safe haven for local terrorists, they are a private company. Get them shot in the foot as much as they want.

A Proud Boy bar in the heart of downtown will be a permanent spot in the city, and the stink of their presence will keep many people away, right when we need them most for recovery from COVID.

Use your authority, courage, and personal integrity, along with the statutes and bylaws of your organizations, government agencies, and formal committees to promptly remove Mr. Bateman and Ms. Tesoro from office. They have disqualified themselves for those positions, and allowing them to continue in those positions is a slap in the face of Hillsborough and Orange Counties taxpayers.

As community leaders, each of you will be accountable for your actions on this matter in upcoming meetings, in the press, and most certainly during your campaign in the city.

In other words, lead.

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