'A great inconvenience': RNC is about a month away, residents and business owners are not thrilled

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- All eyes will soon be on Milwaukee as the city will host the Republican National Convention this summer. It's been the talk of the town for months now, and yet many people say they still don't know a whole lot. 

"This is like a political Summerfest that's happening," said Emilio de Torre. "A lot of folks have concerns over what's going to happen and what many are viewing as a great inconvenience for probably two weeks."

Milwaukee is about a month away from being the political center of attention on a national level. The city has spent years planning the RNC (set to take place July 15-18) and yet few dos and don'ts have been revealed to the public.

"There's going to be massive traffic here, there's going to be a lot of delays, there's a big element of anticipation and expectation," added Emilio de Torre.

The public has been told there is some sort of "hard zone" and "soft zone" parameters in place. Though guns will be prohibited inside the "hard zone," they will be allowed in the larger 'soft zone' area.

De Torre is the executive director of Milwaukee Turners, and he told CBS 58 News he feels responsible for the safety of their historic Turner Hall - a city landmark that's located in front of Fiserv Forum and has stood there since the 1880s.

"I do have some concerns over the logistics of how demonstrations and protests will occur down here," he said, adding that his main concern is what protests may look like primarily on the north and south sides of Milwaukee.

Even just a few blocks down from Fiserv Forum, CBS 58 News spoke to a resident who didn't want to go on camera but told us he is planning a family trip away from the city because his home is located near security checkpoints.

A delivery driver at Ian's Pizza in downtown Milwaukee said deliveries during the week of the RNC will not be an option.

In addition, boat companies were told by the Secret Service the river will be shutting down.

"Without being melodramatic about it, we, we get wiped out from, you know, a coastal week in the middle of our season. I've had virtually zero outreach from the city, which is deeply frustrating and a bit insulting, with the exception of the Milwaukee Police Department," said Jacob Chianelli.

Chianelli is the owner and captain of Milwaukee Boat Line, a family-owned business with a small crew that relies on its prime summer season. He said he knows they will be losing significant revenue.

"It's in, you know, it's tens of thousands of dollars," he said. "Not a lot for some people, a lot for us."

That's why Edelweiss Cruises told CBS 58 News over the phone they will send some of their boats roughly 45 minutes north to Port Washington, in hopes of minimizing losses.

But for Chianelli's business, there's not much he can do until he gets more answers from RNC organizers in terms of what security measures will look like and what its limitations entail.

"Maybe hosting a few events here, but, you know, we're waiting until the last minute on that too cause, just like everybody else, we have a lot of open questions and don't want to make any commitments," he said.