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City raises $15m to secure DNC in Brooklyn – Metro US

City raises $15m to secure DNC in Brooklyn

City raises $15m to secure DNC in Brooklyn
Bess Adler/Metro

The de Blasio administration announced Friday that it fundraised $15 million to bring the 2016 Democratic convention to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

A coalition of 112 political, business and community leaders already helped bring in $5 million of cash on hand and another $10 million in commitments in its bid to host the gathering of delegates nominating a new Democratic candidate for president.

News of the total came as Mayor Bill de Blasio and first lady Chirlane McCray met with the convention host committee met for breakfast in Manhattan Friday morning.

The gathering boasts key players in the city, including labor leaders, corporate executives, bank heads and real estate magnates.

“We are proud to have the backing of a diverse group of community, business, labor and faith leaders that have helped us to get the necessary framework in place to host a fully-funded convention that will help to propel the Democratic nominee into the White House,” de Blasio said in a statement.

Brooklyn is one of three finalists for the convention, still up against Columbus, Ohio and Philadelphia.

New York City last hosted a convention in 2004, when the Republican National Convention came to town during then mayor Michael Bloomberg tenure.

At the time, the convention cost the city $154 million to stage, and an additional $18 million to settle suits for wrongful arrests at subsequent protests.