After the convention, David Gilbert will be well overdue for a vacation. But first, we cornered the president and CEO of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee to talk about what the RNC’s legacy will mean for Cleveland.
It feels like exactly the right time for Cleveland to be hosting it. There are 50,000 credentialed people coming here. Some of these media are going to be taking a look under the hood of our city. It’s the right time for that, because you know, four years ago, we weren’t ready for it.
Not everything is perfect. For a big city, and a healthy city, there are problems. But there is so much to be proud of. There is no doubt that the story is going to be one that is far different than the narrative that most people are hearing. It’s very exciting.
I also think that we have this extremely detrimental “woe is us” attitude, and I think that’s something that’s really started to change. This convention can play an enormous role in finally making us sustainable, in us getting over the hump of this collective sense of self-doubt.
I think there’s no doubt, many people will feel that we accomplished something. But I also believe that what we can’t afford to do is stand back and pat ourselves on the back. Having the convention means that we have to work harder. It gives this community a big tool in its tool belt to elevate our future. If we don’t take advantage of it, it will not have been worth hosting. — as told to Sheehan Hannan