The city of Tampa isn't certain when they'll receive the $50 million plus in taxpayer money for security that they've requested from the feds for the Republican National Convention, but that doesn't mean they're going to wait to start spending on security for the event, still more than 54 weeks from happening.
The Tampa Tribune's Christian Wade reports that the city has begun soliciting bids from private security companies to install a certain number of cameras at yet-to-be-disclosed locations in the downtown area - in all probability near the St. Pete Times Forum and Tampa Convention Center. Those cameras would be used primarily to search for potential protest activity, though it's doubtful activists will be able to get that close to the actual convention site (the Secret Service has yet to announce a perimeter which will permit only those credentialed to attend the convention to be allowed inside).
Greg Spearman, the city's purchasing director, tells CL that it's a bit of a conundrum for city officials planning for the convention when it comes to purchasing technology, because the lead time for such equipment is so extensive that they have to begin the process now, before the federal funds come in.
