Bloomberg Goes After the Democrats

Ooh - the Observer looks at how New York City will convince the Democratic National Committee to hold the 2008 Convention here. We pieced together their itinerary from the article, and clearly, the mayor misses having the International Olympic Committee to woo. :

Today
- Check into Ritz Carlton (Central Park South, we assume) tongiht
- Hansom cab ride through Central Park
- Dinner at Mayor Bloomberg's townhouse
Thursday
- Breakfast at Gracie Mansion
- Tour of Madison Square Garden and 1 Penn Plaza (office space for convention)
- Subcommittees - ("security preparations from Police Commissioner Ray Kelly or to visit the city’s fanciest hotels, along with some of its humblest")
- Dinner of Top of the Rock
Friday
- Breakfast at the Bridge Cafe in Brooklyn
- Tour of city's waterways

The Observer notes that DNC is debating whether or not to have a heartland convention or just go to NYC, where most everyone wants to go anyway. New Orleans is the "sentimental choice" for the convention, but it's unclear whether they'll be bidding; the other cities who have bid for the convention are Minneapolis and Denver, cities that haven't seen a Democratic convention in about 100 years. NYC hosted the 1992 convention, aka the start of Biill Clinton's era, so there might be some symmetry if Hillary does decide to run.

The 2004 Republican National Convention cost $150 million to put on, and the city saw about $4 million in surplus. This surplus does not account for the various lawsuits filed against the police during the convention.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 14, 2006 3:06 PM

Comments [rss]

Sternel

No. Just...no. The only thing worse than tourists are tourist politicans. I'm going to go pull the blankets over my head now.

x-new yorker

From a beneficial strategic standpoint for the democrats, it would be a good idea to have their convention in Denver: Its in a swing state that can tilt their way in a national election and the kind of southwestern state they need to win in order to win the presidency.

hmmmm

First of all, what is the "hearland"? Second, political correctness requires you to know the first Americans were the Native Americans who most likely came from Asia.

And Republicans would never march in numbers close to the number that marched in New York in 2004, regardless of where a convention was held.

Interlard

Can you imagine the freak protests they'd have to face in the "hearland" (no idea why it's called that, the first Americans were on the east coast)?

I see a mass of "Gays will burn in hell" signs and photos of dead fetuses and living Iraqis (both of which they're against, right?).

timbnyc

I bet Ray Kelly's excited - if Hillary is nominated he can lock up more anti-war protesters!

Greg

The Bridge Cafe is in Manhattan. The River Cafe is in Brooklyn. No one ever blamed the Observer of being the pinnacle of journalistic perfection.

g

Great idea. Nominate a New York senator and have a convention in New York. That strategy seemed to work so well last time, when they nominated a Massachusetts senator and had a convention in Boston.

well traveled indeed

Will the Gothamist crowd condemn this choice due to the lack of financial benefit to the city? Signs point to no.

Will the Democrats ever have the cojones to have a convention away from their safety zones on the coasts? You have to go back to 1988 (Atlanta) for an unconventional choice. And 1972 (Miami) before that.