Cleveland is spending $20 million in federal money on riot and security gear for the GOP convention

[KamaAina]

http://www.vox.com/2016/4/13/11387910/cleveland-republican-convention-security

As Cleveland prepares to host the Republican National Convention this summer, it's bidding on millions of dollars of security equipment and tactical gear for its police.

Cleveland and Philadelphia, which will host the convention, each received $50 million in federal money to cover the security costs associated with the conventions. Cleveland projects to spend $20 million of that on security equipment and supplies and $30 million on "personnel-related expenditures." Philadelphia has not yet announced how it will use the money.

In March, Cleveland opened its bids for various security supplies. And the sheer quantity of equipment is staggering.

Based on public documents, Cleveland is asking for a wide range of things from hay for police horses to riot gear, both of which aren’t out of the norm for a city hosting a political convention.

[branford]

1. As the article indicates, there's nothing surprising about the expenditures?

It's not like there's never been widespread violence at political conventions or that there aren't significant risk factors this year.

Should the cities be unprepared?

[doc03]

2. Trump should be billed since he has incited a riot if he doesn't get his way n/t

[KamaAina]

3. Ha! He keeps that much in checking.

[linuxman]

4. Seems reasonable, based on the event and past needs.

Not sure what I'm supposed to take away from this.