Gothamist must applaud the local papers are getting to the heart of the matter when it comes to the Republican National Convention delegates. The Daily News led their story about a Kentucky delegate couple with "Frank and Cathy Anderson were flashed by a pervert downtown, pegged as marks by a subway hustler in midtown and treated to culinary delights uptown." The flashing occured at the South Ferry subway station, with Anderson saying, "I wouldn't mind being flashed if he was good-looking. But this guy was disgusting." Now that's the NY spirit! Then they had lunch at yummy Sylvia's in Harlem, with the DN noting that few GOP delegates are visiting there. Gothamist says good for the Andersons, this is the kind of boost NYC businesses were supposed to get during the convention, though signs are pointing otherwise.
The NY Times spoke to the employees of hotels where delegates are staying:
A woman who works in the laundry at the W, who gave her name only as Mrs. Kelly, no relation, reported that the delegates' linens were "very, very clean." At the Park Central on West 56th Street, Martin Benjamin, a building engineer, said the delegates from Idaho, Kansas and Maryland were not putting any undue strain on the plumbing system.
And they're not really buying anything from the mini-bars, but no one has reported about bodegas which sell the hooch for much much less. Anyway, another quote we liked, from another NY Times article, was this one from alternate delegate Deb Etcheson: "A person came by and used an explicative and stuck his finger in our face. But I don't blame that on New Yorkers. I just love this city."
Delegates and New Yorkers alike, go out and enjoy New York: NYC Visit has set up a number of events for the convention, but even the most apolitical can enjoy the Chinatown Cultural Day Festival this afternoon AND tax-free shopping for clothes under $110 this week.
Photo from Tien Mao of a delegate (note the red bag) at The Lion King on Sunday
