Rep. Peters gets his hands dirty, figuratively

Super-rich Democratic congressman Scott Peters of La Jolla has gotten up close and personal for some dirty work with a wealthy Mission Valley hotel owner. The meet-up came at the newly opened Holiday Inn Express and Suites.

“Owner Bobby Patel, a member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, guided Peters through the inner workings of the hotel’s operations, including running the front desk, turning over a room, and washing and preparing the laundry,” according to a May 27 news release. “It’s an honor to have Rep. Peters at my hotel,” the release quoted Patel as saying. “I’m extremely proud to have the opportunity to own my own small business and create jobs for my community, and I’m glad that Rep. Peters took the time to learn more about me and the hotel business so he can make informed decisions for all of us in Congress.”

Perhaps a bit more than a small businessman, Patel operates the Hotel Investment Group, which has nine posh properties up and running or in the works, including the Hotel V San Francisco and Mission Valley’s Hotel Iris.