Nutter, Delighted DNC is Coming To Philadelphia in 2016, Admits Concern Over Costs
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mayor Nutter is among the local leaders behind the charge to host the DNC next year. But he didn't start out that way.
When organizers held their initial meeting nearly a year ago, Philadelphia's most influential leaders in politics, business, and labor huddled at the Union League to strategize over the city's bid.
But Mayor Nutter was a no-show at that time, saying he was concerned about "the city's share" in all of this.
"I needed to make sure that we were very, very clear about what we could do, what we would do, and what we would not do," he recalled today.
The mayor says he became more engaged when he received assurances that taxpayers would not have to foot the bill for the multimillion-dollar event.
"We would need to raise all of these dollars privately and away from the city," Nutter says.
The mayor says he expects a federal security grant will take care of much of the local costs, including Philadelphia police overtime, and Streets Department setup and cleanup, with the intention that private donations, not taxpayer funds, will pay for the event.
