2012 Republican National Convention

[HARTride 2012]

Since we don't really have a dedicated thread for the upcoming RNC in Tampa (most stories have been scattered throughout the forums, I thought it would be wise to put all RNC related news in one place.

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Sarah Palin to attend the RNC

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...cle1224557.ece

The political action committee for the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate plunked down $4,500 to reserve space at Channelside Bay Plaza for the big political event.

The expense was listed in required filings submitted Wednesday to the Federal Election Commission.

It's unclear what, if any, official role Palin will have at the Aug. 27-30 convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

But the space at Channelside — a short walk from the Forum — will allow her an independent platform away from the formal event and access to some of the 15,000 journalists expected to cover the convention.

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Selmon viaduct could close during the RNC

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgo...essway/1224375

It happened in Boston. It happened in Denver. It could happen here, too.

The big convention could mean closing a big highway when delegates gather.

In Tampa's case, the highway is the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, an elevated toll road that carries about 50,000 vehicles on a typical August weekday.

The expressway curves through downtown less than three blocks north of the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the site of the Republican National Convention, and immediately next to the Tampa Convention Center, the working hub for 13,000 to 15,000 journalists.

"We have not had any official word from the RNC, but we have discussed the possibility of the expressway being closed in the downtown section," Tampa Hills*borough County Expressway Authority spokeswoman Sue Chrzan said in an email to the Times on Tuesday.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn assumes a closure is being considered by the Secret Service, which is in charge of the security plan for the Aug. 27-30 convention.

"I would think that they are looking at that, as they should," he said. "Ultimately, that will be their call … and we're going to live with it and support it, because it's in the best interest of the safety of the nominee and the safety of the convention."

Closing the road would prevent anyone from dropping, throwing, shooting or detonating anything from the highway.

"Whatever decision they arrive at makes sense to me, for all of those reasons," Buckhorn said.

For a similar reason, police have said the Platt Street drawbridge will remain pulled up during the convention, preventing northbound traffic from taking Platt Street into downtown Tampa.

"That is a given, because (Platt Street) goes right under the convention center, and that is common sense," police Chief Jane Castor told downtown business owners in January.

Closing the expressway near the convention would mean that eastbound traffic would have to exit at Willow Avenue, while westbound traffic would have to exit at either 22nd Street or Kennedy Boulevard, Chrzan said.

"But again," she added, "no official word." She had not heard that the expressway's reversible express lanes would be closed.

The Secret Service did not respond to an inquiry from the Times on Tuesday.

But for an idea of one kind of trouble that officials here want to prevent, consider the 2008 GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.

On the first day of the convention there, anarchists threw sandbags and temporary traffic signs from an overpass onto a freeway off-ramp below, hitting a bus loaded with convention delegates.

[TampaMike]

How about just closing the right lane off and having a couple Secret Service SUVs up there with agents just in case someone stops their vehicle up there or anything? Honestly, there is hundreds of locations where someone could carry out anything around the Forum and Convention Center. Harbour Island, Bayshore, Poe Parking Garage...... yeah. So I don't understand why closing off Selmon would have to be a priority.

[HARTride 2012]

I think it all comes down to keeping a safe perimeter around the Convention Center/Forum area. But boy will it be a traffic nightmare...

[kmthurman]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

I think it all comes down to keeping a safe perimeter around the Convention Center/Forum area. But boy will it be a traffic nightmare...

I doubt it'll happen any time other than during the Primetime speeches (of course who knows) and the one lane idea has been used on events like this as well. We won't know security stuff until right before.

But seriously everyone needs to calm down. It's three days. Biggest media event outside the olympics and Tampa is the third smallest city to host it ever. So it's good for us. Just wish Vinik & co had bought Channelside last year or something

[HARTride 2012]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...ention/1229881

The city planned to get around to it anyway: new palm trees on Bayshore Boulevard, purple lantanas near Union Station, golden rain trees and crape myrtles on Orange Avenue, to name a few.

But there's nothing like the prospect of 50,000 guests to kick the yard work into action.

City officials have begun unrolling $2.7 million in landscaping work near downtown, including $617,000 for Bayshore Boulevard, in anticipation of the Republican National Convention in August.

The so-called Gateway improvements have been a priority of Mayor Bob Buckhorn, but the city pushed up its dates to get much of the work done so that the cameras can capture Tampa at its prettiest.

"We have a city government on steroids right now. We are really moving full throttle," Buckhorn said. "Certainly it was a priority for me that we start in the downtown. Because the entire world will be looking at downtown Tampa."

In addition to the Bayshore work, another dozen downtown entry points are getting spruced up, including Ashley Drive, Laurel Street, Franklin Street, Nuccio Parkway, Channelside and the streetcar line from Franklin to Adamo Drive.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...n-site/1229928

Journalists from four continents converge today on the Tampa Bay Times Forum for their first look at the view they will have of the Republican National Convention.

Convention organizers expect about 400 representatives of U.S. newspapers, magazines, broadcast networks, wire services, bloggers and online media, foreign correspondents, Hispanic media, plus local newspapers, TV and radio.

That's about a third more than is typical for this event, which convention organizers take as an encouraging sign. The media types — mostly technical and operations specialists — are the advance teams for an expected 15,000 journalists expected to cover the convention.

Media companies will get a chance to see their space in the Times Forum and Tampa Convention Center, which will serve as the working hub for correspondents, plus meet with Bright House Networks, the convention's official provider of video, high-speed data and landline voice services.

"We're expecting folks from all across the country," as well as from Europe, Asia and Australia, convention spokeswoman Valentina Weis said. "This time what they get to do is see the space they'll be working from."

[angelinaB]

I think, they can try rerouting and let the public know the convention for them to avoid traffic.

[Jasonhouse]

Anyone with a brain will avoid Tampa like the plague during that time frame.

[HARTride 2012]

I sure will.

I did actually think about snapping photos in DT, but then I was like "nah...too much trouble".

[TampaMike]

Won't be too much of a hassle to jump onto the light rail from the Westshore station and get off at the Downtown station......

[kmthurman]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

I sure will.

I did actually think about snapping photos in DT, but then I was like "nah...too much trouble".

I'll take a lot for you, I have to be here that week and live about two blocks from the Forum.

Also, going to predict its not going to be as bad as expected. Believe it or not the economy hurts long distance protesting and the RNC is not going to the magnet that Charlotte will be. Less than 10K protestors in imho.

What will make it bad is all the foreign journalists trying to get around and the ridiculous number of private parties closing down every restaurant.

[Jasonhouse]

My plan is to be in the Blue Ridge mountains during that time.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

My plan is to be in the Blue Ridge mountains during that time.

Telling everyone I know to plan vacations accordingly. The Teabaggers Ball will be a debacle.

[CubanBread]

I'll be working the event, I dislike tea baggers as much as the next person, but to be honest I'm a little excited to be front row and center for this fiasco.

[TampaMike]

It's going to be a clusterf*ck of Paulbots, right-wing nutcases, Occupiers, reporters trying to make pigeon droppings into a breaking news story, protesters against everything from the party's gay marriage stance to Republicans liking dogs over cats, and normal typical Tampa residents trying to escape the looming GOPageddon.

Why miss it?!?!?!

[HARTride 2012]

Law enforcement to descend upon Tampa for RNC

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publics...or-rnc/1236175

[jonknee]

I had an interesting run-in regarding the CCTV network they have been setting up in downtown in advance of the RNC... I really don't like these cameras now.

http://www.jongales.com/blog/2012/06...-rnc-in-tampa/

[HARTride 2012]

Fox News nabs Tampa Bay History Center as convention headquarters
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...arters/1237564

Ron Paul to hold free rally at USF Sun Dome before RNC
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...re-rnc/1237888

RNC party zone proposed next to parade route, protest areas
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...-areas/1238382

[TampaGuy]

I'm not gonna lie, I hate Mitt Romney with a passion. But I'm excited to see this all go down, hopefully it'll spotlight the good sides of Tampa.

[HARTride 2012]

Same here (on both points).

[HARTride 2012]

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news..._restrict.html

Getting around downtown Tampa and parts of St. Petersburg is going to be challenging the last week of August.

The Secret Service just put out its list of road closures and some major traffic arteries are on it, including the Selmon Expressway.

"We would just ask people to look ahead before they leave the house and plan accordingly,” said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.
The RNC'S transportation plan basically closes the southern end of downtown to traffic, including several bridges the Platt Street Bridge and the Franklin Street Bridge.
Together, those closures alone affect tens of thousands of drivers every day, including Sabrina Webby who manages the Jerk Hut downtown Cafe. She said the restaurant's staying open but she's not quite sure how she'll be getting to work.
"Yeah, I’m not sure how that's going to work,” she said. “I mean with road closures and all that I honestly don't know if we're going to have to walk, how we're going to get goods in here because that's another big issue. You know, with the trucks and deliveries and street closures, it's going to be really hard.”
Drivers will have a tough time traveling on the Selmon Expressway, which will be closed from Willow Avenue to 50th Street.
"The decision was made to close it from 50th to Willow because it would be easier to move traffic through 50th. It's a large roadway with easy access to I-4," Castor said.

However, the plan allows the expressway's reversible, elevated lanes to remain open and operating as normal.

In St. Petersburg, I-175 will be closed on August 26th for the RNC's welcome party at Tropicana Field.

"We're all working as one group to try to minimize the inconvenience to the citizens,” Castor said.

In addition to the road closures and parking restrictions near event venues in St. Petersburg and Tampa, there will be intermittent traffic delays and temporary closures on interstate roads and throughout the area beginning on Saturday, August, 25, until Thursday, August 30, to allow motorcades to travel to and from event sites.

Parking restricted areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signage. Fencing, other physical barriers and uniformed law enforcement officers will also be utilized to enforce vehicle and pedestrian restricted zones.

The 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC) will be held in Tampa from August 26-30, 2012.

The event has been designated as a National Special Security Event by the U.S.Department of Homeland Security.

*Complete listing of road closures

*HART Transit Detours

*My blog post regarding this story