Posted on 07/13/2004 4:43:14 PM PDT by Libloather
North Shore Businesses Singing DNC Blues
18 minutes ago
WCVB TheBostonChannel.com
There have been plenty of complaints from Boston companies about the hassles created by the Democratic National Convention, and the business blues seem to be spreading. NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that North Shore companies anticipating a mini-boom in late July are now looking at a bust.
Paul Pasquale's banquet hall may be located in Lawrence, but he said he lost a lucrative conference because of the DNC.
"She said they canceled because they didn't want to be in Boston in the month of July," he said.
There's no party atmosphere north of Boston, where businesses say concerns about security and traffic have made for a miserable month. To make matters worse, hotel managers say the DNC reserved blocks of rooms only to cancel them at the last minute.
"There are a few disgruntled people who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars by not getting rooms filled," said Gregg Bolduc of the Holiday Inn of Peabody.
The hardest hit hotel is the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers. The DNC is only using 10 percent of the reserved rooms. Since the hotel turned away other business, the hotel estimates losses of $700,000.
A spokesman for the DNC said the hotels were made available to visitors who preferred to stay closer to Boston, and he promised to steer last-minute business to these properties.
But for now, North Shore businesses have to wait and hope.
"We're hoping the public realizes there are good deals north of the city," said Bolduc.
Just find out where the Kennedy's are staying - there WILL be a party going on...
Leave it to the Dims to screw a business out of money and not compensate them in any way. Boston gets what it deserves for hosting those dirty Rats.
That's a considerable number of no-shows. I suppose the DNC wasn't required to give a deposit to hold those rooms?
Well, since at least some of it could have been foreseen, why did the hotel accept DNC reservation? Couldn't they wave them away and continue renting out as usual?
The Mayor of Boston, Merino (?) sure sold a bill of goods when he claimed the convention would bring lots of money in to Boston. The DNC is looking like a financial disaster for the Boston area.
I went to school in Boston. I remember there was an issue of car insurance basically insurance companies could not use geography in setting rates so the rest of Mass was forced to subsidize insurance rates for Boston residents.
You mean they flip-flopped? Had these people been following the Kerry campaign, they'd have known that's a standard RAT practice.
And I will certainly never use it.
Isn't it great how the DNC is screwing with the businesses in the Boston area. There was another story about how the DNC wants to force Boston cab drivers to accept vouchers for the taxi ride from Logan Airport to downtown Boston. Normally the fare is $30 but the voucher says the DNC will only pay $10.
and the impact will be felt by the Hotel workers that get laid off and/or depend on tips as staff to supplement their wages.
Remember the Dims are the party that looks out for the little guy.</sarcasm
Hey, these working folks should just suck it up, and be darn glad that the Democrats will get rid of the evil Bush.
I bet they will still vote for Kerry/Edwards.
You know, I confess I am neither architect nor engineer but as it seems this whole mess is because there was no provision in that brand-spanking new convention center outside of town for press boxes, did anyone look into the possibility of constructing some kind of erector-set temporary structure for that purpose at one end of the building so Dan, Peter and Tom could have their eyeries or did that just not occur to anyone?
Then again maybe I should shut up and not presume to speak to the grownups unbidden.
One more time.....NEVER....EVER...TRUST A DEMOCRAT TO KEEP THEIR WORD.......NEVER!
Sadly, you are right...they will STILL vote for Kerry!
LOL...just go back to teaching mysterious secrets to the chosen white dude and send the money back to your village...lol.
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