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Surprise, surprise. The Republican National Convention cost $150 million to put on. The NY Times points out the "19 hours of speeches and two years of planning" are "by far the most expensive such event in the nation's history." The numbers are staggering ($281,000 for President Bush's circular stage; over $200,000 on balloons), but it's not that shocking given that the first privately funded convention happened in NYC and the revelers were Republicans - the top 1% needs to live it up, you know. Interesting facts: Mayor Bloomberg donated $7 million of his own money, and $85 million of the money came from private donors. The Mayor is happy about the $4 million surplus (and there was that story recently about how convention folding chairs were donated to senior centers), but Gothamist wonders about the smaller businesses who were hurt by the lack of business - what is the city doing for them?
Here's the City's press release; and for further reading, here's a PDF of all the receipts and disbursements and a post convention statement. And on the RNC-in-NYC note, some say the NYPD knew that Pier 57, the holding cell, was dangerous to people's health. Plus, Gothamist's coverage the week of the convention
Photo from inside Madison Square Garden during the RNC from Mike Epstein/Satan's Laundromat
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There you go again about the "small businesses" hurt in the neighborhood. Which small business specifically that you've shopped at there are you worried about, prey tell? Oh you've only been to the White Castle? Oh they only sell shlock around there? Oh whoops my bad. (In respect to The Apprentice I will acknowledge the fabric shops, however I tend to think their buying patterns were hardly affected)
Why should the city do anything for the small businesses, whatever happened to the raising of cumulitive wealth that benefits us all. Or maybe in this society we should give KMart a few bucks since Wal-Mart is trashing them, forget about letting the people decide where to shop or where to spend their dollars!
You what would be really cool? If a presidential candidate stood up and said, "You know, conventions cost a lot. Why don't we take the money we would normally spend on a convention and put it toward the national debt, education, or health care? Then I can just sit in a hotel somewhere with a camera on me and tell you what I'm going to do for this country."
Now that candidate would get my vote.
I don't think you would even know who that canidate was. You could always vote for sally struthers tho.