Statements
Trump’s Convention Chaos Cost Jacksonville Taxpayers
New reporting from the Florida Times-Union exposed that Jacksonville taxpayers are footing a six-figure bill to pay for Donald Trump’s reckless decision to move the Repbulican National Convention to Jacksonville after being told they must follow coronavirus safety guidelines in North Carolina.
Trump’s ego trip hit a series of roadblocks that culminated in the Jacksonville Sheriff saying that they would not be able to provide security for the event, citing inadequate time and resources.
“In one way or another, Donald Trump’s chaotic leadership during this pandemic has cost Floridians dearly, but now it’s clear that Jacksonville taxpayers are paying extra for Trump’s incompetence,” said FDP spokesperson Frances Swanson. “Trump’s ego-trip wasted precious time and resources during a pandemic, proving once again that Trump puts himself first, and Americans last.”
Florida Times Union: City of Jacksonville logged costs of up to $153,602 on Republican National Convention
KEY POINTS
- “The Republican National Convention never happened in Jacksonville, but the city still could end up absorbing $154,000 in convention-planning expenses “above and beyond” City Hall’s normal day-to-day operating costs, according to information given Wednesday to City Council members.”
- “More than half the cost stemmed from overtime pay for employees working to prepare for the convention, mainly by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office employees who were tasked with getting security preparations done in a tight time frame.”
- “Jacksonville won the competition to host most of the convention in late August after President Donald Trump soured on original host city Charlotte, N.C. But six weeks after Jacksonville got the nod, Trump decided July 23 against having the convention here because of public health concerns caused by a summertime surge in COVID-19 virus infections.”
- “Other costs associated with a convention would have been paid for by a local host committee responsible for raising millions of dollars in private donations.”
- “It’s not clear how much the host committee raised. Federal Election Commission data shows 2020 Jacksonville Host Committee, Inc. is registered as a committee, but the FEC does not show any reports for money raised and spent by that committee.”