A.G. Gancarski
With rioters, at least for now, off of Jacksonville streets, Mayor Lenny Curry told national Republicans that the city is ready for convention business.
Specifically, the Republican National Convention, currently looking for a place that will allow the kinds of megarallies the President requires.
The President said Tuesday night that North Carolina “forced” him to look for a new location. Before that, Curry had already volunteered the city.
“We welcome the opportunity to host the GOP convention in Jacksonville. A $100 million local impact event would be important for our city as an event/convention destination.The City is ready for world class events & ready show the world we are open for business,” Curry tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
Curry’s comments come after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, suggested Charlotte may be a no-go.
“The people of North Carolina do not know what the status of COVID-19 will be in August, so planning for a scaled-down convention with fewer people, social distancing and face coverings is a necessity,” Cooper wrote to national Republicans.
The Mayor was eager, and told WJXT as much.
“My people have been in discussion with them,” Curry said. “Look, I was the state chairman of the Republican Party of Florida when there was a convention in Tampa, so I recognize what it takes to put one of those things on. I’m hopeful but that’s a heavy lift.”
Last week, Curry, the former head of the Republican Party of Florida, said his city could host the event if North Carolina’s governor doesn’t want it in Charlotte.
Jacksonville, tweeted Curry, “has strongly demonstrated the ability to host large events in a safe & responsible way. The world’s 1st pro live sporting event since COVID-19 was broadcast around the globe from the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”
“We would be honored to host the Republican National Convention in that same world class facility. Thankfully, Gov. Ron DeSantis and my administration have created a regulatory framework that operates in way that is attractive to significant events like these,” Curry added.
7 comments
Amy Roberts
June 2, 2020 at 3:55 pm
The RNC Convention needs to be left to another city to host, we have too much that needs to be focused upon here in Jacksonville, than Mayor Curry trying to further his political career. He does realize if it comes here, it will come with protesters. Add to that, snipers on rooftops, our Police in riot gear, armored cars, everything rolled out like it was for this past weekend but times 10.
gary
June 2, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Why in the world would you not want it in JAX? 100 Million is a lot of revenue that the city will receive a large portion of. Are you RETARDED? Or a partison DemoRAT… i get it BOTH!
Frankie M.
June 2, 2020 at 6:21 pm
I would love for the RNC to come here. All those potential covid mouthbreathers milling about the riverfront. Martial law restricting them to their cruise ships. Oh the beautiful irony! What could possibly go wrong? Bring em on! Lenny was the bag man for the party. Who would know better than him what we need? In Lenny we trust. #itseasierhere as long as we don’t have protests over police brutality featuring police brutality
Frankie M.
June 2, 2020 at 8:54 pm
The economic impact the RNC Convention cannot be understated. Remember how the Super Bowl raised the profile of Jax. You can’t buy that type of advertising. All those annual trips to London have Fortune 500 companies flocking to Actionville to get those tax breaks. History tells us this is something we will (not) regret.
Trump 2020
June 2, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Bring it to Jacksonville, so I can attend. North Florida will go for President Trump. If the protesters show up, put them all in jail and make their bond $10,000 to get out. That will stop them lol
gary
June 3, 2020 at 4:30 am
ME TOO! MAGA2020
L Bruno
June 10, 2020 at 6:45 pm
Lenny & DeSatan have already colluded to assure the GOP that the citizens WILL NOT protest because Jerksonville historically is the national murder capitol by gun happy JaxSheriffOffice.
Here Black lives do not matter. There is not a citizen review board, no transparency,media outlets have no police scanner (yanked ten years ago by JSO under Rutherford) for news leads, reporters must rely on the JSO Information Officer for statements involving any and all police activity.
The GOP would do well here, the militia will protect the delegates while the community voice will be repressed. All except Covid which will do what it does where it does.
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