In an attempt to “keep it clean,” Tampa police recently conducted a sweep of the city’s strip clubs ahead of this week’s Republican National Convention, busting dancers aged 18 to 61 who were suspected of working as prostitutes.
What these cops don’t know is that no amount of whitewash can hide the dirty fact that in a time of recession, more than $50 million in federal taxpayer funds are being used to establish a virtual police state in downtown Tampa so that a few lucky Republicans, their corporate friends and courtiers can engage in what amounts to a giant pep rally and diamond-cuff-linked influence exchange at the expense of paralyzing the rest of the city, diverting local, state and even federal emergency services from real demands elsewhere.
In other words, these ladies of the night are the least their hygiene problem.
We’re told of course that the security risks involved in holding a major political convention require marshaling the expanse of our federal law enforcement and emergency resources via the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service, which is ultimately in command. This week, the Secret Service — which has plenty of recent experience with prostitutes — will oversee a convoluted web of state and local authorities, including up to 1,700 Florida National Guard troops, half of whom will be tasked with security and crowd control, according to reports.
They will work with a team of 4,000 law enforcement and emergency personnel from Tampa and the surrounding jurisdictions. The police have been outfitted with millions of dollars in new communications equipment, “non-lethal” weapons, mountain bikes, SWAT gear, armored vehicles and uniforms. Some $2 million worth of new security cameras have been strategically placed throughout downtown Tampa. Afterwards, another $250,000 was spent on more cameras (thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice) for Sunday night’s “welcome” party at Tropicana Field. A nifty map of where all the cameras are can be found here.
BATR 2020 Election News
