Bostonians - Who else is annoyed at the DNC??? [Long; Vent]

[EsmeraldaX]

And is your place of work doing anything to combat the annoyances that will most certainly be in place that week?

There is now talk at my job of the week off with no pay. Mind you, most people at my job make about $800 every two weeks after taxes. Losing a week of that will be pretty hard on a lot of families.



I know one woman who has a dance studio in Boston who will have to close that week since none of her students will be coming in. She is going to be hit pretty hard by a weeks loss of pay too.

And what about all the street vendors and others whose liveliehood relies upon heavy foot traffic in downtown Boston?

What are they thinking!??!

For those of you who don't know, Boston will basically be shut down to the regular folks. A few Subways and Commuter Rail lines will not be running into the city; instead people will be bussed from one station to another during rush hours. The main highway leading into the city will be shut down for miles. Thousands of people's work commutes will take triple the amount of time, if not more, which is really hard for people who live further away (such as me).

The mayor is suggesting everyone take the week off. Well, some businesses are just closing for the week with no pay. Other's are forcing employees to take their vacation during that time regardless of if the employee may have had a trip set for later in the year.

My office will have no choice but to stay open to some extent because of other offices in NY and IN. However, they are guessing 75% of the employees will be taking it off. There is talk of shutting down without pay or forcing vacation upon people that week. That would mean I'd have to use my remaining vacation days now and cancel my WDW trip in Dec.

But we don't know for sure yet.

I'm ALL for security, even heavy security. If they wanted to check IDs of everyone on the subway (they will be doing this that week anyway) and stop at that , fine.

If they wanted to shut down the streets nearest the Fleet Center where the DNC will be, fine.

But the entire city, I think, will be hit with a financial loss by this. School groups that normally do field trips to the museums won't come. Weekend vistors from suburbs won't come. Regular tourists will not come or if they do, they will be subject to all kinds of annoyances trying to get around.

What do my fellow Bostonians think? I don't know anyone who is happy about this. I work in a company where 95% of the people are radical, extreme left wingers (not an exageration) and even they are angry about this. So it's not the politics anyone cares about here.

Grrrrr.

 

[monkeyboy]

AND he may not even accept the nomination at the convention

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
AND he may not even accept the nomination at the convention

I know. That is making people even more annoyed. I understand why he wants to wait but it's so annoying that if they are going to do all this , the least he can do is just suck it up and accept.

But really, I think this is not a political issue. It's an issue about thousands of people being severly inconvienced for "security".

Now those who know me know I have no problem with security; id checks, metal detectors fine. But to basically shut down an entire city? That is going too far and it will hurt local businesses. I don't see what good it will do. There are so many loopholes that any terrorist with half a brain would see through and strike anyway.

I know there will be alot of people here with the convention but they are not as numerous as the tourists , both local and from far away who come here every day now.

 

[cinmell]

Yes, it's going to be a HUGE mess causing a lot of headaches.

Last week I heard that the on ramps to 93 between Woburn and Canton will be closed during rush hour every day of the DNC !

 

[Aroura]

Well, it is not the shut down, nor any of that that is bothering me, seeing as I don't venture into the city unless I am seeing a show.. LOL, But last night on the news, when they said there was a very credible threat of terrorism for the DNC, it made me perk my ears a bit at the news... The thought of a tradgety like in NYC in our state boggles the mind.. We have always gotten to enjoy Having our Big City, but with a down home atmospher, and no worry's ( cept the torturous nature of the Big Dig.. lol) And to even fathom somthing *actually* targeting us, or God forbid somthing happening... It makes you think twice.. Everyone just stay safe, and report anything suspicious.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by cinmell
Yes, it's going to be a HUGE mess causing a lot of headaches.

Last week I heard that the on ramps to 93 between Woburn and Canton will be closed during rush hour every day of the DNC !

I know! Why!?!? Woburn and Canton are not even remotely close to the Fleet Center. Unless the terrorists had a nuclear bomb of some sort, they are not going to be able to do anything from most of the places that they are shutting the highway down. And if they DO have a nuke, they could set it off anywhere and it wouldn't matter...

It's going to be a nightmare...

 

[stinkerbelle]

I'm not a Bostonian (but a mass-hole at heart. hehehe...born and raised in Western Mass.)

I was at the Fleet Center last year (I think?) for a Bruins game when they were in some playoff (I'm a girl - do you think I pay attention to some of the games DH drags me to?) Anyway - I though it was a nightmare parking and whatnot near the Fleet Center during a game - never mind during the DNC!

Best of luck to all the Bostonians during that week!

 

[Muffy]

My DS lives in Medford and works in Cambridge and is very concerned about this! He is thinking of taking the week off. PLUS we live in CT but will be flying out of Logan on Friday of that week! Does anyone know how this will affect us getting to Logan Airport? What a nightmare they are creating!

Muffy

 

[CEDmom]

It's going to be just as bad in NYC when the RNC comes to town. There's talk of shuting down Penn Station completely. Why oh why do they have to have these conventions in major cities? I know it's a boost to the economy but I don't know whether that really counter balances the drain on resources. I'm just glad I no longer work in Manhattan.

 

[gallaj0]

To be honest with you, I think the massive shut downs and closing they have been talking about aren't going to happen; let me explain.

They start off with aan outrageous plan, serious problems for everyone, major problems, everyone hates the DNC, even though they claim it's the Secret Service's idea. (the Secret Service doesn't shut things down like this for the President, but for John Kerry, sure. ).

Next, John Kerry lets everyone get worked into a tizzy about this, with the Boston Globe leading the charge; front page articles, maps, the works. Then Kerry comes out in the Globe, saying he's personally asking the Secret Service and his staff to scale things back.

They'll scale it back to something smaller, keep the roads open letting people into the city, but not necessarily near the Fleet Center, and John Kerry becomes the hero to the suburbian commuting working man, and soccer moms who still want to hit Newbury Street before they head to the Vinyard and Nantucket for August.

 

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by gallaj0
John Kerry becomes the hero to the suburbian commuting working man, and soccer moms who still want to hit Newbury Street before they head to the Vinyard and Nantucket for August.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

no sympathy here -- I'm taking my vacation the last week of August so as to avoid the RNC's invasion of Madison Square Garden and the service disruptions on all trains through Penn Station.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'm not sure how it will be affecting Logan. My dad had a flight that week for work, and they have postponed it, but I don't know why.

I really don't think it will be a big boom to the economy. Who will get money? The Fleet Center? Certainly not small business owners and tourism spots.

I figure on an average day the museums, and tourist places around the city get 10 - 15 school/church/social club type field trip groups. At least.

Those people won't be coming to the city that week. All other business in the city I think will make some money of the convention people, however, not as much as if they were just dealing with hordes of regular tourists. I imagine that the convention people will have a lot comp'ed to them as well.

I don't know. I just look at people like the dance instructor who has to lose a weeks worth of business and I don't like how this sounds like it will be for the small business owners, and even the large retail chains downtown will probably take a hit.

This will be a week where a family who might normally spend the Saturday afternoon going to the Aquarium and then Quincy Market, will opt to instead go elsewhere, far away from the city.

I can't even imagine what it will be like in NYC. Oh my... I wouldn't even want to be near NYC that week. I imagine NYC regualr tourism and retail businesses will be hit hard that week too.

Gallaj0 - I really hope you're right about them not going through with it. However, I am pretty sure that this was a secret service thing and that they will go through with it.

I really don't care about the politics of the DNC right now. I care about the convention's affect on the city and it's inhabitants. That's what this thread is about.

 

[castlegazer]

Just as a clarification, there will not be any school trips into the city in a normal situation during that week anyways. Also, the points of lost revenue you use are not a factor as every hotel is sold out for the convention and the revenue derived from convention goers is a major boon to the city regardless of shutdown.

However, what will be a loss is the loss the companies in and around the city will feel due to lost time and work productivity.

It is going to be a mess but I am very glad Boston won this honor, really, I am. It is an honor to have the conventions - as it is a honor for a city to be chosen to hold the Olympics - would you like to be Athens right now? All eyes will be on Boston which is a boon for the state and the City far after the convention leaves town as it raises tourism which has been severely lagging in the state and especially in Boston as the main source of tourism, international visitors, has significantly dropped off.

A company should not sut down and not pay their employees - if they choose to chut down for the few days - the convention is not a full week mind you - during the convention then they should compensate their employees for that. I think you will find that will be the decision in the end for most employers.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by castlegazer
Just as a clarification, there will not be any school trips into the city in a normal situation during that week anyways. Also, the points of lost revenue you use are not a factor as every hotel is sold out for the convention and the revenue derived from convention goers is a major boon to the city regardless of shutdown.

However, what will be a loss is the loss the companies in and around the city will feel due to lost time and work productivity.

It is going to be a mess but I am very glad Boston won this honor, really, I am. It is an honor to have the conventions - as it is a honor for a city to be chosen to hold the Olympics - would you like to be Athens right now? All eyes will be on Boston which is a boon for the state and the City far after the convention leaves town as it raises tourism which has been severely lagging in the state and especially in Boston as the main source of tourism, international visitors, has significantly dropped off.

A company should not sut down and not pay their employees - if they choose to chut down for the few days - the convention is not a full week mind you - during the convention then they should compensate their employees for that. I think you will find that will be the decision in the end for most employers.

I hope you are right.

There are several companies that are in fact either forcing employees to waste their vacation days that week and worse shutting down without pay. I have heard of at least 3.
Not to mention the small businesses like the dance instructor.

There would not have been school groups that week, but there would have been camp groups and the other groups I mentioned.

I'm sure that hotels will do fine, but there are other types of businesses that will be hurt.

I hope you are right about it boosting tourism after the convention. That would be great.

 

[aprincessmom]

Just as a clarification, there will not be any school trips into the city in a normal situation during that week anyways. Also, the points of lost revenue you use are not a factor as every hotel is sold out for the convention and the revenue derived from convention goers is a major boon to the city regardless of shutdown.

There will actually be a huge cost to many towns in and around Boston...that of all the local police department personnel that will be needed on overtime work to close down all those highways. The cost of that is not being picked up by the DNC and it will cost dearly.

The convention right now is $14 million dollars short of the funds they need to actually hold the convention. There is talk they will ask the city of Boston and the Commonwealth to kick in more money.

And just because hotels are full does not equal a major boon to the city. If most businesses are forced to run at 50% capacity the overall revenue of the city and state will suffer tremendously. Loss of revenue for the T, tax coffers (not all of Boston is benefiting from the DNC...just select areas), etc. Recent studies of the projected revenue benefits have shown the initial bill of goods we were sold as to the expected revenue boon is really just smoke and mirrors.

It will cost Boston dearly to hold this convention and that was before the talk of having to shut the city down.

I'm still trying to figure out how they plan on getting all the delegates who aren't staying in Boston to the convention once they shut all the roads down...that should be a real trick!

 

[ILUVDXL]

I just can't get all that aggitated over it. I work in the down town area and our office will be open. The way I look at it that I'll get when I get there and get home sooner or later. One week of confusion isn't going to kill me.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by aprincessmom

I'm still trying to figure out how they plan on getting all the delegates who aren't staying in Boston to the convention once they shut all the roads down...that should be a real trick!

I heard they will have marked cars or stickers on their cars so they can drive on the roads which will be closed to everyone else.

 

[poohbear1029]

Really, truly, they cant win. And I am not saying this to be for or against having the DNC in Boston. If they dont take extra precautions and something happens, then people will be outraged that stronger security wasnt in place. If they close everything down to prevent a tragedy, and nothing happen, then they over reacted.

Let's all just hope that the "chatter" about terrorism this summer is wrong!

 

[Cliff Clavin]

My buddy Normy and I were just discussing this problem the other night while sharing a mug of ice cold beer. We were worried that the Democratic National Convention was going to cut into our very important list of activities.

For my job, no matter what, the mail has to get delivered. And Normy and I are both planning on finding a nice location to sit and have a couple of brewskis while the crowds blow over. No matter how long it takes.

The obtaining of the Democratic National Convention is a good one for both the City and the State. So I am not going to complain about the fact that it's gonna be here in town.

As long as it doesn't stop the budweiser truck from delivering, you will hear no complaining from this mouth.