Fund Raiser closes school in Boston

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fund Raiser closes school in Boston
11
Thu, 03-25-2004 - 6:12pm
Education is so important, but it seems fund raising is more important.

Link and part of story.


http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2004/03/25/visit_by_bush_to_snarl_roads_spur_protests/




Visit by Bush to snarl roads, spur protests

By Scott S. Greenberger and Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 3/25/2004

President Bush will swoop into Boston for a quick fund-raiser this afternoon that could net his campaign $1 million and also draw several thousand protesters, force the closure of a school, and disrupt traffic near the Park Plaza Hotel.



Tracey Ganiatsos, a spokeswoman for the Boston Transportation Department, said the US Secret Service told the city it intends to close several streets near the hotel "for a good portion of the day," but the streets involved will not be disclosed publicly for security reasons. Special parking restrictions will also be in effect.

The president's visit unexpectedly canceled classes for 1,425 children at the Boston Renaissance Charter School, a K-8 institution on Stuart Street a block away from the hotel. The Boston Public Schools system, which provides about 30 buses to transport Renaissance students, said it could not guarantee timely pick-up of students at dismissal time, said Dudley Blodget, chief operating officer of the Renaissance School's foundation. The school also feared that the 300 parents who pick up their children would not be able to reach the school.

"It's a sad situation that you have to close off school because of a fund-raising event," said Roger F. Harris, Renaissance headmaster.

Jonathan Palumbo, spokesman for the Boston Public Schools, said his transportation director only found out about the visit yesterday. The school department has few schools in the area, and they will not be directly affected, Palumbo said, although school officials anticipate delays at dismissal time.

The Bush campaign has invited about 500 people to the late afternoon event, all of whom are being asked to contribute $2,000, the individual maximum for the 2004 election cycle. The president will deliver a speech, but in order to hold down costs there will be no food or entertainment.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Fri, 03-26-2004 - 2:48pm

LOL!


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