When Laura Santucci isn’t serving as chief of staff to Mayor Bill de Blasio, she’s helping run the city’s bid to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The California native is a natural fit for the job: She served as chief of staff and interim executive director of the 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C., and was chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee for two years before that.
To bring next year’s convention to Brooklyn, Ms. Santucci is going against the grain of the inequality-focused de Blasio administration by highlighting the city’s deep pockets. Past conventions have ended in the red. Ms. Santucci believes wealthy New Yorkers will rise to the occasion to make a hometown convention a debt-free success.
What’s the argument for New York?
Financial resources. We announced in December that we already had $6.5 million in the bank and $20 million raised, total. And we said we didn’t need to wait to win this to begin raising money. We’re ready. We’re ready to host now.
$20 million is just commitments? Or actual money?
$6.5 million in the bank. $20 million in commitments, total. The goal is $100 million.
What are the costs to the city in overtime and traffic control?
There is a cost to the city. I believe the mayor cited approximately $10 million.
The host committee includes some of the city’s top business leaders and executives. What are their expectations?
We hosted a breakfast at Gracie Mansion shortly before the holidays. [Goldman Sachs CEO] Lloyd Blankfein made remarks at that breakfast [that] to me captured why these folks were coming to the table to support this. They see it as a civic duty, as a chance to lift up our city, to highlight all of its great assets. They know and understand that they benefit so much from the resources of New York City and see this as an opportunity to give back.
How do you avoid the mass arrests of the 2004 Republican convention? That was bad PR.
Any host city has to contend with that, no question. There were protesters in Charlotte. It’s not a concern. I think another reason our bid is so strong is we’ve demonstrated the ability to manage peaceful demonstrations.
How has the animosity between the police unions and the mayor affected the city’s bid?
Nobody from the DNC has expressed any concerns or questions about that issue. They are focused on who has the experience and the capacity. Whatever has transpired over the last weeks doesn’t take away from the fact that we have the largest and most experienced police force. And that, by the way, crime is at an all-time record low.
There must be some concern?
There’s no concern at all. [Mr. de Blasio] is focused on moving the city forward. He’s always come to the table in the spirit of cooperation and communication.
Are the Clintons in support of the city’s bid, as has been reported?
I can’t speak to that.
You don’t hang out with Bill and Hillary?
I don’t hang out with the Clintons. This is for whoever the nominee is, regardless if it’s Hillary. Unfortunately, we are in a day when to run a presidential campaign now costs $1 billion. I’m not here to talk about campaign-finance reform, but what we do know is that campaigns are expensive and that the nominee shouldn’t even have to worry about the convention. There was a debt left over from Charlotte, and the president’s campaign team had to fix it. You need to be focused on putting your resources in the field and winning your voters, not worried about the costs of the convention. Any nominee should be secure knowing that [he or she] will have a successful convention that is well funded and managed by experienced professionals in a city that knows how to put on an event.
Which industries would see a boost?
The 2004 convention generated about $250 million in economic activity. It’s too early in the process to be specific, but we all know there is a benefit to using local businesses, to using minority- and women-owned businesses. That is a specific priority of the party.
How do you do that?
That will be managed by the convention team in the host city. We certainly have those resources. But industries will include local food and beverage retailers. A lot of those are right there in Brooklyn. Even Barclays as a venue, all their concessions are locally owned restaurants.
Hotels would benefit, I assume.
Hotels, no question. There’s a lot of production that goes into what happens in and around Barclays. Those are going to be union jobs. And the hotels will be huge. And it’s all here. You’re not going to have to get on a bus and drive 45 minutes, which is the case in Charlotte and Denver.
What about Airbnb?
I’m not going to comment on Airbnb. I will say as part of our bid we are going to be pushing very competitive rates with the hotels so it will be affordable for delegates.
How has your experience working for the DNC given you an advantage?
We are coming to this bid as partners, and that is exactly what they’re looking for. I know that because I sat in that building and worked on the last convention and understand what they need out of a partnership. You want to deliver a well-funded convention to your nominee. That’s hugely important.
What about the mayor? Any concern he’ll steal the spotlight from the nominee?
Not at all. The nominee is the nominee.
Which of the city’s highlights will be a draw for delegates and convention goers?
This is a five-borough convention. We would tailor packages to specific neighborhoods to allow delegates to explore beyond Times Square. Restaurant Week is that week. That was founded during the 1992 convention. It was a legacy of that convention. In 2004, the Republicans did a big thing for delegates to attend Broadway shows. So that’s something we’re looking at.
How do you persuade delegates to visit Staten Island or the Bronx?
The great thing about New York is we have unlimited options. We’re proud of Staten Island and the Bronx and what they have to offer. It’s up to the delegates to go where they want to go. Would someone be interested in jumping on the ferry and hopping over to Staten Island and taste their best pizza?
What measures will you be looking at to see if the convention was successful?
Security and logistics. The nuts and bolts of the convention have to be executed flawlessly. We’re going to promote a “come early, stay late” experience for delegates through NYC Company. So a definition of a successful convention would also be knowing that we have upwards of 15,000 visitors to the city who tasted Roberta’s pizza in Bushwick or saw a great Broadway show. We also know that those folks are likely to come back.
A version of this article appears in the February 9, 2015, print issue of Crain’s New York Business.
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