Democrat gathering (Convention) is facing cash woes (Snicker Snicker)

Boston Globe ^ | 5/5/04

[areafiftyone]

With 83 days left before the Democratic National Convention, local organizers remain $4.6 million short of fulfilling their fund-raising commitment and have brought in only about $650,000 in new cash donations in the past month.

Julie Burns, executive director of the convention host committee, said she isn't concerned about the pace of fund-raising. Organizers said they have also secured donated services worth about $1.25 million in recent weeks, bringing them about $1.9 million closer to their target than they were a month ago.

"We are absolutely certain and confident that we will reach our goal," Burns said yesterday at a press conference held to discuss convention planning.

Boston 2004, the convention host committee, must raise $39.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions under the terms of its contract with the Democratic National Convention Committee, and any gap would have to be made up by public entities, including the city of Boston. In addition, the federal government is providing $25 million to cover security costs, though convention planners concede that the true cost of security could be higher, and those costs could fall to the city or the state to cover.

Fund-raising efforts have been impaired by the fact that 30 of Boston's 32 public-employee unions are working without contracts, and several national labor leaders have refused to help out Mayor Thomas M. Menino financially while their local affiliates are engaged in tense negotiations with the city. Burns declined to comment on the status of contract talks or their impact on fund-raising.

The unions are putting more pressure on Menino in the run-up to the convention. Today, they're holding a rally at the FleetCenter, where the Democrats will convene July 26 to 29, to highlight the fact that the unions do not have deals with the city in place.

Thomas J. Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, said he is sure that Menino will need tax dollars to pay for the convention, a prospect he said his union will vigorously oppose. The patrolmen's association is threatening to picket outside the convention if the union doesn't have a deal by then.

"I've had enough promises from this administration to last a lifetime," Nee said. "The precious revenues that we have should be for the city's business."

[BillyCrockett]

Not enough green to pay for the Dems party? That's a real shame ;\

[Condor51]

While funny, this is pertinent for another reason....
As I recall, NY City ALSO wanted to host the demoncRAT convention, but they couldn't come up with enough guaranteed money.

I also recall that the RATS were afraid that having it in NYC would look like blatant pandering to the 'Willard Wing' (and Hitlery) of the DemoncRAT Party.

So the canard about the RNC trying to capitalize on 9-11 is a bunch of Bravo Sierra. The DNC wanted to go there first!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Not to worry. They've tapped the Red Chinese in past years.

[Ragirl]

AWWWWW...that's too bad! Maybe Mrs. Ketchup Kerry can cough up some cash to help them out.

[areafiftyone]

The DNC told Mayor Bloomberg that they would not do their convention if he hosted the Republican convention. Bloomberg told them to shove it.

[Radix]

I would advise anyone to avoid the city of Boston during this convention time. The traffic is a nightmare as it is anyhow. The closing of the arteries (Big Dig) is surely going to endear a lot of locals to the Democrat Party. Boston is simply not ready for prime time, and the fiasco to come is going to be fun to behold in a perverse way.

Once it is all over the Globe and a few other media outlets will rave about what a success it all was. The added expenses will be covered by increased hotel and taxi surcharges as well as greater fines for parking and towing costs. They will I am certain find many other new and exciting ways to tax for this logistical nightmare.

[areafiftyone]

You think Boston is going to be bad just wait until the Repub convention comes here to NYC. Bad enough the traffic by the Garden is horrendous every day - 15 groups of protestors have gotten permits already. It is going to be a living nightmare here. Do you have any idea if there will be any protestors for the Dem convention?

[lormand]

Why do these RATS always have cash problems with so many filthy rich Rat fat bastards we often read about, e.g., Kennedy, Soros, Turner, Buffet, Hollywood, etc?

[CSM]

Let's recap:
1) Not enough in donations from private citizens to hold their convention.
2) Missed payments to radio networks airing Err America.
3) Anger over money spent on the defense of this country, and not spent on socialistic programs.
4) Introduction of bills requiring 2 years of service to the government from all people in this country (of certain ages).

Yep, the courts will end up having to "declare" it the duty of all businesses (bourgeois) to do their duty and allow the people (proletariat) to use their property for this public good. Hmmm, the more clear the Demonrats make it that they are really socialists, the more they get rejected!

I may have some hope for this country after all!

[Sacajaweau]

Gee, I feel bad....Here's my 2 cents....O O

[areafiftyone]

Because they don't know how to manage money. They are greedy.

[Sacajaweau]

There was some scandal on having NY host the Dems.

If I remember correctly, Mrs. Clinton did some behind the scenes soliciting (illegal) and I think they let it go rather than to have the scandal brought to the limelight in the future or during the Convention.

It's really getting hard to remember ALL the darn Clinton dealings. There is just one right after another.

[Sacajaweau]

Those are the OTHER pockets. They have to do SOME of this legal...for the other set of books.

[areafiftyone]

If figures.