The DNC seems a distant memory, but we're just now getting details of how Charlotte police spent a $50 million grant federal grant for convention security. And, the Department of Justice has released an analysis of CMPD's work during the DNC, which it recommends future convention cities study closely.
The Charlotte host committee is still $10 million short of its fundraising goal for the convention and has had to tap a line of credit guaranteed by Duke Energy.
A new report shows the committee made little progress – barely a drop in the bucket -- with only half-a-dozen contributions in the past few months. So Duke Energy may just have to foot the bill after all.
Two years ago, DNC organizers were confident they wouldn't need to use Duke Energy's $10 million line of credit.
Here's the host committee's interim director Will Miller at the time.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has more than a hundred new security cameras Uptown. They were purchased through a federal grant for the Democratic National Convention. Nearly five months later, they’re still in place. But CMPD says they could be put to better use in high-crime areas.
CMPD’s Video Observation Room is a little bit sci-fi.
“This is about as good as it gets,” says Captain Steve Willis.
Some behind-the-scenes details of police operations during the Democratic National Convention are coming to light.
The $50 million federal grant Charlotte got for DNC security included a requirement that outside consultants monitor CMPD's efforts and prepare a report. Deputy Chief Harold Medlock says the report praises CMPD's coordination and communication with protest groups, including Chief Rodney Monroe's constant presence on the street during demonstrations.
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Tourism Economics consultant Adam Sacks, CRVA CEO Tom Murray and Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan discuss the results of an economic impact study of the DNC in Charlotte.
An outside study released Monday says the Democratic National Convention pumped $163 million into the Charlotte-area economy – making it the largest tourism event the city's ever held. WFAE's Julie Rose has this analysis of the study.
$163 million is on the low end of the original estimate city officials gave for what the DNC might mean to the Charlotte economy. That's what stands about this economic impact study – typically they're criticized for being way too rosy.
Original estimates placed the economic impact of the DNC in Charlotte between $150 million and $200 million. We'll know today if it came close. WFAE's Julie Rose reports:
Charlotte tourism officials have been known to over blow predictions of economic impact for various conventions, so they hired an outside firm to come up with a credible number for the DNC.
Last weekend, volunteers for both campaigns knocked on doors and called voters to get them to head to the polls. There were also some big names in the area – at least for President Barack Obama.
Early voting is now underway in North Carolina. And this year, registration data show more voters are choosing not to affiliate with any political party. One quarter of the state’s electorate is now “unaffiliated”---a rise of 21 percent since 2008. In fact, in Mecklenburg County, unaffiliated voters have overtaken Republicans. But NOT SO FAST says WFAE’s political analyst Michael Bitzer. He’s been analyzing the data, and he tells Duncan McFadyen just because people are distancing themselves from parties, it doesn’t mean they’ve changed their partisan leanings.
