On Monday, the Selma Rotary Club heard from Jim Lewis, the new owner of the historic St. James Hotel, and his plans for the historic hotel.

Automatically Lewis addressed some concerns that the public has every right to have.

We must give him a chance to do what he plans to do with the hotel.

Let us not forget what he asked the Rotary members to do.

“I will say that I would like to ask three things from all of you,” said Lewis. “First, please suspend momentarily your disbelief that is perfectly warranted by things that have transpired in the past with St. James. Give us the benefit of the doubt and let us earn your business and third, and most importantly, hold us accountable.”

Lewis is no stranger we’re sure to what has happened with hotel plans before.

We cannot deny the importance that St. James Hotel is to our community.

Next to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it is a structure that is well known for its history.

It is imperative to our community that we get this hotel restored and functioning. It would bring back our downtown life and would increase income for our city.