State GOP leadership is urging delegation members and others to visit restaurants, bars and stores outside the Republican National Convention security zone, former Gov. Scott Walker told a WisPolitics event.
Speaking Tuesday at a luncheon at the Marquette University Law School, Walker referenced the Democratic National Convention, which had a minimal impact in the city due to going virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The one thing I did tell vendors before the DNC … I told all the restaurants and bars and other places like that — it’s all about catering,” he said. “So you’ll occasionally hear this week, as I’ve heard at every other convention … you’ll hear some grumbling from local restaurants or vendors who say, ‘Well I don’t have all the business.’”
He noted since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, convention activities have taken place within highly secure zones that separate them from some local shops and restaurants. As an example, Walker pointed to Major Goolsby’s, a sports bar and grill located just outside of the secure perimeter.
“I’m worried about them, because they’re not in the secure zone,” he said. “If they were in the secure zone, that place would be packed because there’s Convention Fest, there’s delegates walking around.”
He said Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming highlighted this issue at a Tuesday breakfast, and encouraged attendees to spend their money outside of the security zone to benefit more local businesses.
“The bigger benefit is to not only the city, but to the region … The number one thing I’ve found when conferences came to this community, was most people didn’t have a negative impression of Milwaukee, they just didn’t have one,” he said. “So having a convention … is just so remarkably important for this region.”
See more event coverage at WisPolitics.
Source link
