City leaders are basking in what's been mostly good reviews for how they hosted the RNC. However, there's been criticism regarding the extreme security measures, which chilled some protesters, and prevented others from walking through Downtown Tampa or frequenting local businesses.
NewsChannel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson asked Buckhorn if the jewelry store located on the same floor of the Tampa Police Department is eligible for financial redress since the owners were unable to welcome customers because of the security fencing.
Buckhorn said it could taken be into consideration, but indicated that it wasn't something he expected to happen.
"We knew the folks immediately close to the perimeter would be impacted," he said. "We told them not to set their expectations very high."
When asked if there was too much security near the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the Tampa Convention Center and downtown, the mayor said absolutely not, vowing to do it the same way if given the opportunity.
Invoking the Powell Doctrine named after former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Buckhorn said, "We deployed overwhelming force." He added that he'd rather have complaints about too much security, than have injuries or serious property damage — a statement that Host Committee CEO Ken Jones seconded in his press conference a few hours later.
When asked if he thought it was worth $50 million in taxpayer funds to secure the city, Buckhorn said city officials had to plan for the same number of protesters that have been in attendance at other major events in U.S. cities.
Jones said the biggest surprise of the week was the lack of protesters. But he bristled when reporters questioned him about the "overwhelming security," a term he employed.
He admitted that he had no idea that the fencing was scheduled to be installed at CAMLS, the new medical training facility.
There have already been reports about local restaurants and other companies complaining about the lack of business they received during the RNC.
Jones said businesses that did well included tent companies, event planners, limo companies, and caterers.
