Philly takes the first step toward a 2016 DNC bid

U.S. REP. BOB Brady convened a "working group" of political, tourism and labor leaders yesterday to launch his push for Philadelphia to host the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

A big question to work on: Who pays for what, if the city hosts the big show?

Brady, who spoke with the media after the private meeting, seemed to take seriously Mayor Nutter's concern about the effort's cost.

Four times, Brady said the city would not have to spend tax dollars to host the convention.

"We don't think the city has to put up anything," Brady said after the group heard a presentation from the team that produced the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. "We have to guarantee that."

Nutter, who did not attend the meeting at the Union League in Center City or send anyone from his staff, expressed interest 11 months ago when Brady floated the idea of a Philadelphia bid for 2016. Nutter did so again this week, saying the city has the capacity to serve as host for the event, but reiterated a long list of concerns about fundraising and organizing.

One major cost is security.

Montgomery County Commission Chairman Josh Shapiro said "the dynamics of where those dollars come from have shifted dramatically to the federal government and away from the local and municipal and county governments" since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Brady, who plans to brief Nutter on the meeting, said the economic impact in the region from hosting a convention would be "astoundingly on the upside" to any money spent on the effort.

A nonprofit established to run the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia in 2000 raised $66 million for the effort, including $39 million from taxpayers in the Philadelphia region.

A report compiled by the city later said the convention resulted in $345 million in economic impact for the region.

The Democratic National Committee is issuing a request for bids next month to cities interested in hosting the 2016 convention.

Minneapolis, Cleveland, St. Louis, Dallas, Columbus, Ohio, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex in northern New Jersey are rumored to be interested in bidding.