In Hard Economic Times; the Mayor Requests $250,000 from the State for Security Costs at the Upcoming Presidential Debate.
By Aaron Wecker
After Gov. Rick Scott cut Boca’s request for $250,000 for the upcoming Presidential Debate on Oct. 22 at Lynn University, from the budget; Mayor Susan Whelchel sent a stern and foreboding letter to the Gov. on July 17 outlining the potential fallout from lack of funding for the security of this immeasurable event.
According to the SunSentinel “Boca Raton is facing a $5 million budget shortfall”, which will only exacerbate the issue if the state is not willing to front the money for the security. Mayor Whelchel states that around “3,000 media representatives will converge on the city” and that “ the Presidential Debate will contribute over $20 million to the local state and economy.”
The extra security is because, “there will likely be a significant number of protesters in the City for the event and the days leading up to the event” and the Mayor does not want a “Security incident” that may lead to “a significant negative impact to potential visitors and to companies looking to relocate to the area and the State.”
The concern for Mayor Whelchel is that “The attention of the national and international media will create a unique opportunity to promote the State and the local area for tourism and for economic development.” And she does not want to give “radical protesters looking to create an opportunity to forward their point of view.” a voice in her city that may upset the future business and tourism interests to Boca.
According to the Boca Raton Police Services Assistant Chief Edgar Morley, this budget was a guess based on the 2008 Presidential Debate on Oct. 7, at Belmont University in Nashville; which cost the city $219,306.96 according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Nashville is a city with a population of 601,222 according to the United States Census bureau, while Boca Raton has a population of 84,392. The Nashville Police Department had 829 officers on duty for the Presidential Debate; NewsChannel5 states that a quarter of the $219,306.96 budget went to overtime pay for these officers. The Boca Raton Police Department has 198 officers; there is a serious disconnect between the size and scope of the security operation in Nashville and that in Boca Raton.
Does Boca Raton really need so much money to prevent a few protestors from protesting the Presidential Debate; and will a few protestors really get so out of control as to make Boca Raton look bad to future investment?
