When Boston was first picked for the DNC, Kerry’s fellow Bay State Democrats touted the convention as a $150 million bonanza for the region. Now, the best guesstimates are that when the delegates finally pull out on July 30, Massachusetts will be at least $50 million in the red.
And road closings threaten to create a week-long nightmare.
For years, the liberal warhorses of the state’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation have thundered about how the average American worker was “one missed paycheck away” from homelessness. Now Rep. Michael Capuano blithely advises his constituents here to simply take the entire week off.
Kerry himself is facing the impending chaos with his usual aplomb. The would-be leader of the Free World said this week he was “surprised” that his hometown would face monumental gridlock.
“Smart people are working on this,” says Kerry. “I’m confident we’ll be able to get somewhere.”
Yea – just take the entire week off so the Democrats can come into your city and wreak havoc for 4 days. That is what Kerry’s “Smart People” have come up with as a solution to the impending gridlock.
The biggest problem: The convention’s at Fleet Center, and Fleet is right next to North Station — the transportation hub of the Hub. It includes a commuter-rail station and a subway stop, both of which will be closed.
Worse, the city’s major north-south thoroughfare, I-93, runs underground right next to the Fleet Center — and the Secret Service demands it be shut down for hours each day, including the entire afternoon commute, and not just in the affected area, but for miles in either direction. Bridges and tunnels will also be blocked.
Particularly infuriating commuters is that the convention didn’t have to be held at the Fleet Center. The (Republican) governor, Mitt Romney, offered the state’s brand-new convention center, in a much less congested area. But that facility lacks the skyboxes favored by network anchors.
So, to give Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw a better backdrop, the city of Boston will pretty much shut down for five days.
Pandering to the press – - it’s what liberals do best.
For our Boston readers – I’m sorry you have to go through this. Just know, that our thoughts are with you.
I hope Geoffey visits and gives us the heads up from the inside!
This is just bad! $50Million in the red does not justify the event!
I;m sorry, but I am not sure that the blame for this can be places solely on the shoulders of the DNC.
The city of Boston could have told the DNC to take a hike……or to not use the Fleet Center and use another venue in Boston.
Instead, the Fleet Center and city officials jumped at the chance to hold the convention without first looking into the security issues and concerns that would need to be addressed.
The failure to see ahead and to plan for the costs, inconviences, security impacts, and economic impact should be laid at the feet of the elected officials of Boston.
It is they who failed the citizens of the city and state.
Take care.
If the demacrats are suooesedly for the poor and down todend then why are a lot or rich and well to do politicians(kennedy,kerry,gore,)belong to the emacrat party? What a bunch of two faced hypotcrits
“I voted against the convention… before I voted for it…”
-Anonymous
So why do these demacratic torries select BOSTON one of our nations most historic cities for their big bray in? they are a travisty to the momories of our founding fathers