NYT: As Convention Week Nears, Many Plot Escapes

[kskiska]

When the Republican National Convention arrives in Manhattan on Aug. 30, tens of thousands of visitors will swarm the city, eating, protesting and hatching political strategies. But many New Yorkers plan to be well out of earshot.

Fearing everything from terrorism to Republicans to congested streets and subways, many residents and commuters are planning an exodus.

(snip)

"The thought of Republicans storming Eighth and Ninth Aves - my walk to work - is enough to make me want to get as far out of town as possible," Ms. Cosgrove, an editorial assistant at Time Out New York Kids, wrote in an e-mail message. She plans to spend the week on Martha's Vineyard. "My blood started to boil last weekend when I saw a couple having brunch decked out in Bush-Cheney hats and pins, so I'm not sure how I would fare if I saw my neighborhood taken over by supporters."

Nikki Lopez, 26, a real estate broker who lives in TriBeCa, is leaving and telling her friends to escape, too. "I'm very anti-Republican," she said, noting that about half a dozen people are taking her advice. "I don't want to be here when those people are in town."

At the Latino Hip-Hop Summit, a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote r

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/07/nyregion/07flee.html

[Dickie Flatt]

1. oh no! republicans!

Fearing everything from terrorism to Republicans to congested streets and subways, many residents and commuters are planning an exodus.

Yeah, I think it's mostly that one.

[Scooter24]

2. Oh I wouldn't miss it...

for the world...Wouldn't it be something if the GOP convention brings more Democrats to the city to protest than the actual Dem convention in Boston.

Got my hotel and air booked...I'm ready :D

I'll be traveling with a group of lawyers who are going to monitor the protests to make sure they aren't silenced.

[loudsue]

3. That's GREAT, Scooter24!!

Good luck to you and your team!! You have great courage in the face of the bush nazis...you're a true patriot!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Laughing Mirror]

4. I wish that "12 percent" who plan on "escaping"

would change their travel plans, stay in town, get out on the streets and demonstrate their anger, rather than just run away.

NY Times is expecting 500,000 protesters? Double that.