Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Just when you thought government couldn’t possibly inflict any more grief on a small business owner … welcome to the city of Clovis.
City officials announced last week they would be capping CARES Act grants at $100,000. They will also be reopening applications to those who didn’t apply the first time for the $4.2 million available for businesses crushed by the coronavirus pandemic and government-forced shutdowns.
Some saw the action as changing the rules in the middle of the game. There was no mention of a cap, and no guarantee of a second round when the city first announced its application process on Oct. 1.
But that’s not the only thing that has upset Leal’s Mexican Food Restaurant owner Laura Leal about the city’s actions. It’s the suggestion that somehow she is trying to take more than her fair share, trying to capitalize on her leadership role within the Chamber of Commerce, which the city hired to vet the applications.
At least that’s how she feels the city is trying to spin this.
“The main point I want across is that I didn’t ‘ask’ (for anything),” Leal said. “I submitted an application that qualified.”
City officials’ comments aimed at her are “slanderous” and “They’ve attacked my integrity,” she said.
Mayor Mike Morris has taken the brunt of Leal’s public criticism following a Nov. 19 city commission meeting at which city officials questioned why a few businesses were in line to receive a large percentage of the grant money.
“I can only speak for myself,” City Commissioner Leo Lovett said, “but when we set this up I had no idea there’d be asks for that kind of funding.”
Morris, City Manager Justin Howalt and Commissioners Gary Elliott and Fidel Madrid chimed in to agree.
Leal claims Morris then told her in a private conversation it would look bad if Leal — soon to be president of the Clovis/Curry County of Chamber of Commerce -- walked away with nearly 10 percent of the grant money. (Leal’s submitted proof of losses totaling $426,000.)
“I want the public to know how proud I am to serve on the Chamber board and how much I’m looking forward to serving as president next year,” Leal said. “The Chamber does so much for our community.
“But one thing I want clear: nobody is doing any extra favors for me in the way of this grant just because I am part of the Chamber. My application was submitted and verified just like all the others.”
Morris admits the city has made mistakes. “If I could do it over, I would insist on a clearly communicated cap,” he said last week.
But he insists no one is targeting Leal or any of the other 80 applicants who submitted qualifying requests.
“I definitely didn’t anticipate four applicants wanting 30% of the $4.2 (million),” he said. “If trying to make sure more businesses can get vital assistance is going to be characterized as changing the rules, I’ll take the hit for that. And if I get a black eye for making funding available to more Clovis businesses, give me that black eye.”
Morris and the rest of the city leaders deserve that black eye.
Are city leaders really so unaware of the catastrophic losses our businesses have suffered because of the government shutdowns? Do they really not understand a restaurant with 70 employees that had to build on an outdoor patio has had more expense than a barber shop that employs one or two?
City officials would not have been wrong to cap funding requests or host a second round of applications if that cap resulted in money left over. But those guidelines should have been established at the beginning of the process, not near the end.
And singling out a few of our more prominent businesses and suggesting they’re taking advantage of this situation is appalling.
Government made this mess and — big surprise — it’s doing a poor job trying to clean it up.
David Stevens
Publisher