GOP expects to move its convention to Jacksonville after dispute with North Carolina
Source: Washington Post
Seeking a city willing to allow a large-scale event amid the coronavirus pandemic, Republicans have tentatively settled on Jacksonville, Fla., as the new destination for the premier festivities of the Republican National Convention in August, according to three Republican officials briefed on the plans.
The details of the arrangement are still in flux and RNC aides are scrambling to determine whether the northern Florida city has enough hotel rooms to accommodate the quadrennial event, which typically kicks off the final stretch of the presidential campaign.
Republican officials were in Jacksonville on Monday looking at the city and the surrounding areas.
The convention’s more routine and lower-profile meetings still would take place in Charlotte, the original host site for the convention, according to two officials. Those smaller meetings are intended to honor the RNC’s contractual obligation to hold its convention in North Carolina and shield the party from lawsuits for moving the large events elsewhere.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-expects-to-move-its-convention-to-jacksonville-after-dispute-with-north-carolina-over-pandemic-safeguards/2020/06/09/8c96e088-aaaa-11ea-a9d9-a81c1a491c52_story.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
As a Democrat living in Jacksonville, this would just add insult (hosting RepubliCONs) to injury (COVID-19).
The concern about hotel rooms is very real. In 2005, when the city hosted SuperBowl XXXIX, they docked two cruise ships downtown to accommodate the visitors. Given the recent history about the pandemic, I would not be suprised if the city and convention planners agree on that same approach.
Does anybody seriously expect these visitors to practice safe distancing? Wear masks? The only downside I can see is the virus spreading to the hospitality workers, family members and others who will be exposed to the virus. To say nothing of the toxic agenda and rabble-rousing.
That's all it's going to be anyway. At least there's the chance that if Chump gets his rally that he so desperately wants, somebody might infect him with the virus.
When they call it a "convention" then the news networks have to cover it because it's, well, "news." If it's a rally they can ditch it and show reruns of I Love Lucy or something.
Did he say "Don't monkey this up?" as he did during his goobernatorial campaign?
I'm an Avondalien, and share your concerns.
Clearly, our Mare and Goobernor have put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our citizens. On another discussion here, I pointed out how the city had to bring in cruise ships to accommodate visitors to SuperBowl XXXIX in 2005, Can you imagine the combination of MAGAts -- who will not practice safe pandemic protocols -- and using floating incubators (cruise ships) to "host" these visitors? Even Steven King couldn't concoct a narrative so disastrous! Not only putting hospitality workers at high risk, but also their families and other innocent bystanders.
I'd be happy to donate to bring the baby balloon to our fair city. The question is "where to float it?"
- Airport?
- Riverfront?
- Prime Osborn Convention Center (or at least nearby)?
- All of the above?
I'm considering maybe even join others in a public protest. Although I'm at high risk myself, I heard that last weekend's protest was the largest ever here. Sounds like a challenge...
