ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando City Council will buy the Pulse nightclub property with plans to build a memorial to the victims of the 2016 shooting.
The city’s commissioners on Monday voted unanimously on the plan to buy the property. The sale price is listed at $2 million – less than what the city first offered several years ago.
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Emotions ran high as survivors, the victims’ loved ones and many community members all spoke out before Orlando city commissioners approved the use $2 million to acquire the property.
“For me specifically it is a place to keep me close to my baby. We needed a place to honor our loved ones,” said the loved one of one of the Pulse victims.
The city has no official plans yet, but the site will be used for a permanent memorial. Officials plan to get the purchase price of the land back through private donors and philanthropic groups.
“I will attempt and hope everybody will join me to raise money to not just offset the $2 million, but also offset the cost of the memorial going forward,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.
Many spoke out in support of a permanent memorial for the site, but there were others like Maritza Gomez, a pulse survivor, who told commissioners the focus should be getting more answers about what happened that night when 49 people were killed back in June of 2016.
“I lived that night, but it’s a constant sacrifice to keep moving everyday,” Gomez said. “I don’t think that Pulse should be diminished. I think that an investigation should be taken care of first.”
Several years ago, the city offered $2.2 million to Pulse owner Barbara Poma, however, she declined the sale and instead continued fundraising for her organization called the One Pulse Foundation. But In April, the foundation said she stepped down from her position.
Commissioner Patty Sheehan got emotional at Monday’s meeting while trying to comfort the families and the community, many who are still hurting and have lots of questions seven years later.
“This is not about a cover up. This is not about ego, this is about honoring loved ones who deserve to be honored,” Sheehan said.
Many commissioners said it’s vital to make sure the community is included in this process too.
The onePULSE Foundation released a statement last week saying:
“We are thankful to the City of Orlando for ensuring that the National Pulse Memorial will be located at the Pulse nightclub site, which was always the hope of families of the 49 victims and the Pulse-impacted community. We look forward to being a part of the discussion with the City of Orlando as this moves forward.”
Barbara Poma also released a statement last week that read:
“After the senseless, horrific tragedy of June 12, 2016, the site where Pulse nightclub stands will finally serve as the permanent national memorial. As we always intended, it will honor the 49 lives taken while providing a sanctuary for victims’ families, all survivors, first responders and for our community. We are grateful to Mayor Dyer and the City Commission for making this a reality.
“June 12, 2016 will always be remembered for the despicable act of terrorism and attack on the LGBTQIA+ community, but our hope is that this sacred ground will become a space for healing. Pulse nightclub opened as a place of love and acceptance for all and will now forever serve as a reminder that no act of hate can ever erase love.”
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