A coalition of business and faith leaders are coming together this week to oppose calls for San Antonio to host the Republican National Convention, pointing out that it could negatively effect the economy long term, Newsradio 1200 WOAI reports.
The group, led by Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, says there is three billion reasons to oppose the event, pointing to money spent overall in the San Antonio area by Mexican Nationals.
"The $644 million spent annually by Mexican Nationals on travel and leisure and $3 billion spent overall in the San Antonio area economy would be in peril of San Antonio were to host the convention re-nominating President Donald Trump," a statement reads.
The group also expresses concern over violent protests and feels hosting the event does not fit with San Antonio's imagine as a city of the future.
Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, who has not taken a position on whether to host the convention or not, says that public opinion needs to be part of the debate.
"Its taxpayer dollars and we need to be very mindful of that," she tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI. "How they want their money to be spent, how they want their city to look."
The city would need to give the RNC somewhere between $25 and $60 million dollars to host the event. On top of that, there would need to be beefed up security, as well as the use of the Alamodome and the Convention Center.
If San Antonio were to bid, and be selected, the event would rival the recent College Basketball Championship in terms of size and scope. More than 50 thousand people are expected to attend, and that's not counting the 15 thousand members of the media from all over the world.
City Council will meet this week in executive session to start the debate over hosting the event.