Seattle’s WTO Costs Put at $9 Million
Five days of rioting during the World Trade Organization meeting raised the city’s cost of hosting the conference to $9 million, surpassing worst-case projections.
Broken windows, graffiti and trash littered streets after violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and police. Police overtime was more costly than planned.
The city had hoped the federal government and the private group that arranged the conference would help pay the tab, but most of that funding dried up.
The Seattle Host Committee had planned to reimburse the city up to $1.5 million, but Director Ray Waldmann said the city will be lucky to get $100,000.
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