Perez Sister Decide They Don’t Want City Loan After All

Lydia and Cynthia Perez have told the city that they are no longer interested in receiving the almost completely forgivable $750,000 loan earmarked for Las Manitas.

The sisters have said they want to keep the “iconic” Las Manitas open, but are now not sure where they will find the money for the renovation costs, estimated at between $844,000 and $1.13 million.

Mayor Will Wynn, a strong backer of the loan, told the Statesman that he was disappointed as this could jeopardize the impending Marriot Project that was going to replace Las Manitas.

I don’t think either the city nor the Perez sisters expected the outpouring of anger that the loan decision generated. Now it looks as if the Perez sisters are going to have to get their funding just like the other business would have: from private investors or private financial institutions. I think this is the way it should have been from the beginning, and whether genuine or not I am glad to see the sisters displaying a decided lack hubris here.

So, as of this moment, I am no longer boycotting Las Manitas. I will be there Monday morning for some breakfast tacos, and will be happy to give the sisters the name of my friendly local banker.