All eyes will be on Cleveland when the Republican National Convention comes to town this summer.
While a new report finds local residents are looking forward to the event, the findings also point out a majority of Northeast Ohioans also believe strengthening security should be the city’s greatest priority in the weeks leading up to the RNC.
In a Baldwin Wallace poll released Monday, roughly 73 percent of 530 surveyed voters from Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties said the city of Cleveland should focus on its security efforts before the event.
“The Convention is likely to bring upwards of 50,000 visitors to Northeast Ohio this summer, and while the region may benefit from some $200 million in direct spending, the event also raises a lot of security concerns,” Baldwin Wallace’s Community Research Institute associate director Lauren Copeland said in an online statement.
“Residents are also nervous about protests that may result from the growing anti-Trump movement and the possibility of a brokered convention.”
Sixty-three percent of respondents also recommended the city should zero on its “general ability” to handle the expected large crowds. Improvements to roads, public transportation, Public Square, and the airport also topped residents’ lists, along with making sure there are enough lodging options.
The poll also reports that 82 percent of respondents felt like the RNC will help bolster the region’s economy, and 65 percent said the event will boost people’s thoughts and opinions on the city.
Check out the group’s full RNC-related findings by clicking here.
