Convention head downplays concerns
Says rising cost won't hurt event
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, chairman of the Democratic National Convention, yesterday expressed confidence that rising costs will not prevent the party from putting on an event that can provide all the "pizzazz" needed to showcase John Kerry's presidential candidacy.
Richardson acknowledged that some "glitches" -- an apparent reference to the unexpected cost increases -- still need to be resolved. But he said Democratic leaders can raise the funds to cover any higher-than-expected costs involved for the production and construction to set up the four day event at the FleetCenter.
"I am not concerned about it," Richardson told reporters after a brief tour of the convention hall where Democrats will convene in July. "I wouldn't even call them cost overruns. These are projections."
The Globe reported yesterday that convention organizers are facing charges from contractors that are 40 percent higher than the $7.2 million budgeted for construction. The production costs, which include video and telecommunications, and other technical equipment, have risen 30 percent above the $5.9 million that was originally estimated.
"We want a first-rate convention," Richardson said. "If it means spending more resources to make a convention with pizzazz . . . we're going to do it. If it means more fund-raising, so be it."
Richardson toured the FleetCenter with O'Connor and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. Both Richardson and Vilsack have been mentioned by Democratic Party sources as potential vice presidential candidates for Kerry's campaign. Meanwhile, an association that represents contractors that use nonunion workers tweaked convention organizers by saying the party could save up to half, or about $1.4 million, of the extra costs for the construction work if it allowed nonunionized companies to bid on the work.
"Higher prices result from less competition and restricting construction to union-only firms cuts out the 80 percent of construction firms that choose not to sign with unions," said Greg Beeman, the president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts.
"I'm sure the DNC appreciates the $100,000 donation from Carpenters' Union and the other trade unions," Beeman said, referring to a recent contribution from the regional carpenters' union. "Unfortunately for them, it's not going to come close to offsetting the costs resulting from union-only construction at the convention site," he said.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino accused Beeman and the ABC of playing politics with the cost issues.
He said the convention will benefit by hiring union workers because they are "experts and properly licensed in their fields."
"We are a union city," Menino said. "I would rather pay to have to well-trained experts do the jobs and get the benefits. . . . They are part of the community. They do a lot of community benefits."
