Alas.
Democratic National Committee officials announced Monday that the party’s 2020 convention would take place in Milwaukee.
The announcement is a setback for Houston, which was a final contender to host the convention. Miami was also on the short list.
Houston Democratic insiders who were pushing for the convention have said the city’s convention center and hotel space were indisputable strengths. But ultimately, the selection of Milwaukee was the decision of one person: DNC Chairman Tom Perez.
It also is an indicator of a Democratic party that is attempting to take back a state it lost in the 2016 presidential campaign.
[…]
The Harris County Democratic Party released a statement Monday morning congratulating Milwaukee Democrats and expressing disappointment at getting passed over.
“We’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to showcase the unparalleled diversity and culture of our hometown,” the statement read. “Texas is a battleground state and our 38 electoral votes will change the roadmap to winning the White House.”
See here for the last update. This was the safe choice, and as of recent days seemed to be what everyone was expecting. For obvious reasons, I would have preferred Houston, but it is what it is and I can understand the decision. Better luck next time, I suppose.
Average High/Low temperature in July for Milwaukee, 80°F/63°F. Average High/Low temperature in July for Houston, 93°F/77°F. Plus zero chance for a hurricane in Milwaukee.
Is anyone going to question how the Public/private entity Houston First was going to come up with $60 million it said it needed? It had no funding mechanism!
Houston First already spent $800,000 of tax money in a city under a REVENUE CAP, with nothing to show for it. In sales tax alone, it would take $10,000,000 in sales to recoup that amount of taxes. Thanks Houston First!
Houston First gets its money from the hotel occupancy tax, not the property taxes the revenue cap covers.
Right, so the private arm of the public private arrangement has no limits. Maybe a cost function needed to support the public safety that is called for when Houston First calls in any size of convention, due to the influx of people it brings and the expectations put on public safety resources. Or, since these Houston Firsts’ business practices are accepted as normal, and people expect to run public safety “like a business”, Houston Firsts’ business practices need to be applied to fund public safety. If people want to compare public safety as being managed as a business, then let’s choose a business model that is successful in Houston, instead of using the term “business practices” as a synonym for “you get no more funding, and you cannot grow your funds, and you can only make cuts”. If Houston First has made a tax that is sequestered for their own discretion and use, this business practice should be used for public safety also, because Houston seems to love the “success” of Houston First, but with the taxing and collection power they have, how can you not be? This business practice is a pattern, so allow it to be applied to public safety.
Houston first has plenty of money.
What was missing from the discussion was any mention of HERO and its defeat. LGBTQ citizens are an important part of the Democratic coalition and don’t like to go places they’re not welcomed. I blame Ed Young more than the weather.