(Editor's note: This article was published first at Illinois Policy Institute)
Illinois Democrats are asking Congress for $25 million more than the $50 million host cities typically receive ahead of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
A letter distributed by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, asked for $150 million, which would be evenly split between the DNC in Chicago and the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Quigley said the added funding is “due to inflation, potential supply chain issues, increased public safety personnel and equipment needs and increased insurance costs because of potential security threats.”
Host cities have received $50 million since 2004, mainly to defray the cost of security for the large public events.
Chicago security is a concern as crime has been driving businesses out of the city and April unrest downtown again left residents traumatized. Despite the decrease in homicides last year, there were only three other years since 2000 in which Chicago had more homicides than it did in 2022 – and all three of those years took place recently, in 2016, 2020 and 2021.
Chicago won the DNC over bids from Atlanta and New York. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, now President Biden’s ambassador to Japan, had a hand in the pitch for Chicago, as did U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who serves as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC will take place on Aug. 19-22, 2024.