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DNC Really Didn't Want Delegates To Commute By Subway Or Bus
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 13, 2015
Modified Feb 13, 2015
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NYC Mayor's Office
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 13, 2015
Modified Feb 13, 2015
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Let's continue the Monday morning-quarterbacking of the DNC's decision not to hold the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Brooklyn but in Philadelphia instead. Sure, Mayor de Blasio is all "I'm pro-cheesesteak" but that hasn't stopped anonymous sources from speculating on what really cost us the convention.
Sexist theory: The Daily News spoke to a "Democrat familiar with the discussions" who "said Democratic National Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz felt 'she could more easily control the convention' by awarding it to Philadelphia rather than New York, where Mayor de Blasio is trying to make a name for himself as a national leader on liberal issues." Another source said Wasserman Schultz was "leery of being upstaged by de Blasio, and said she seemed at times 'dismissive' of New York’s pitch. 'Too bad we have to take the hit for her insecurities,' the source said." In other words, LADIES MAKE EMOTIONAL, IRRATIONAL DECISIONS????
Brooklyn blah blah blah theory: On the other hand, the NY Times says that officials probably thought Brooklyn isn't all that:
John A. Catsimatidis, the billionaire Republican, who donates heavily to both parties, said the city should have offered to move the convention “from Brooklyn to New York” — meaning Manhattan — rather than losing the event altogether. A more traditional Midtown site, he said, might have eased some of the selection panel’s concerns.
“There were so many things that I heard about Brooklyn. They were disturbed that it takes a lot of transportation time to move between hotels,” said Mr. Catsimatidis, referring to the officials and political donors screening convention sites.
The Manhattan borough president, Gale A. Brewer, was more blunt.
“It would have made more sense to have it at Madison Square Garden,” she said.
Of course, the Times points out, "Promoting the Garden would have entailed other complications: Its chairman, James L. Dolan, has warred with labor unions, a core Democratic constituency, and has accused Mr. de Blasio of improperly taking sides with the unions in that fight." (And Dolan hates old people, probably old people who go vote!)
Why are you holding this in a residential neighborhood theory: There are no parking lots around the Barclays Center, the centerpiece of the NYC bid, which would have (allegedly) caused a security headache, because parking lots let you block off large swaths of property to control crowds. Columbus, Ohio, the other finalist, also didn't have parking lots around its arena, while Philadelphia does.
Swing state theory: The Times says that Rep. Hakeem Jeffries "attributed the loss to Philadelphia’s swing-state appeal over heavily Democratic New York." Still, this doesn't really work out...
De Blasio is too progressive theory: From a classic NY Post editorial, "For one thing, whatever enthusiasm Democrats might have had a year ago, some plainly worried about holding a convention in a city where the progressive Democratic mayor was at war with his own police force."
NY State has too many corrupt politicians theory: From the same Post editorial, "...fears were that the corruption of Democratic-dominated Albany might overwhelm whatever message the party hoped to send. Especially if a convention ended up coinciding with the trial of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Far safer to go with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall."
Make history where history was already made theory: Coronation of Hillary Clinton in the birthplace of America, duh!
Delegates are delicate flowers theory: From the Wall Street Journal:
Some Democratic delegates said Thursday that the party’s last convention, in Charlotte, N.C., required them to spend an inordinate amount of time on buses and vans shuttling between their hotels and the event.
“It was a nuisance,” said Joan Wagnon, the chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party. Ms. Wagnon said she was pleased to hear that Philadelphia had hotel rooms closer to the event.
“That’s a plus,” she said.
FWIW, Philly.com cited "Pope Francis" and "Comcast Tower" among the reasons why Philadelphia is hot now.
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dnc 2016
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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