Video Story
Watch Video'Convention Conversations' comes to Colorado Springs
Story By: Susan Davies
Source: KOAA
Published Tue Apr 29, 2008, 09:38 PM MDT
Updated Wed Apr 30, 2008, 06:12 AM MDT
Members of the Democratic National Convention Committee spent Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs engaging fellow democrats. Their message to local business is that delegates will bring families to Denver and will be eager to see local tourist attractions.
The convention is expected to bring $160 million to the state's economy. Most of that money will be spent in the Denver area, but because the convention occurs just before Labor Day, some visitors are expected to stay for the weekend.
The committee has been astounded by the number of volunteers signing up to help. They hoped for at least 10,000 but had 27,000 back in October. That number has now dwindled to 21,000. Between 40,000 and 50,000 people are expected to attend the convention.
Several thousand security personnel will be hired to patrol the event. Local police departments including Colorado Springs have been asked to provide officers. Colorado Springs police spokesperson Lieutenant Skip Arms says the department hasn't determined how many police officers to supply, but says it will not affect the department's ability to handle local calls.
