Worthy to council: I didn't make a backroom deal

Walt Worthy made an appearance during Spokane City Council's public comment period to reiterate that he did not make a backroom deal with Mayor David Condon to get incentives for the development of the Davenport Grand Hotel.

Worthy's appearance before the council is the latest in the saga surrounding a commitment Condon made to the local hotel magnate to pay for the $318,000 bill for environmental remediation at the property where the hotel is now located.

Last week, City Council determined that it would not approve the payment to Worthy after concluding that doing so would likely violate the state constitution's prohibition on giving public money to private companies or individuals. Former Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan also made a rare appearance at council's meeting last week to blast the deal struck between Condon and Worthy.

But Worthy told the council last night during his allotted three minutes that in 2013 Condon advised him that City Council would ultimately need to sign off on any incentives package. Worthy insisted that Council President Ben Stuckart had been consulted early on in the negotiations and had expressed support for the deal.

“I'd like to say to the council, Karen and I didn't really need to do this,” said Worthy, referring to his wife. “We wanted to do something good for the city of Spokane, for our staff and create even more jobs for downtown. It was our goal to bring more business and positive economic impact to all businesses downtown, and we do not appreciate the personal comments made about us, and the suggestion there was backroom deals from Joe Shogan and certain members of the council. It is very unfounded and insulting”