RNC fatigue being felt in downtown Milwaukee

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Between the protestors, the local residents, and businesses in downtown Milwaukee, there are more than a few people that will be much happier once the RNC finally wraps up Thursday.

In addition to a fairly confusing perimeter when it comes to vehicle traffic closures downtown, a maze of steel and concrete barriers restricts foot traffic, leading pedestrians at times even into a dead end on the sidewalk. Many are left scratching their heads and pleading with the posted law enforcement for any help in reaching their destinations.

One local in particular was heard shouting through the barriers, “The city can’t just shut down the whole downtown for a week.”

This has had an impact on local shops and restaurants, the city had promised leading up to the RNC a boost to the downtown economy, but the only restaurants or bars seeing any substantial traffic seem to be the ones attached to hotel lobbies.

At night, just two or three blocks from the main RNC plaza, places like High Note, the city’s oldest Karaoke Bar, typically filled with locals and out-of-towners, is occupied by just a handful of die hard and admittedly very talented regulars.

As for enthusiasm for the RNC event itself, WBBM asked the bartender of a dive bar adjacent to a steel barricade, if they would be airing the former president's acceptance speech on their big screens.

“So let me put it this way. This is a regulars bar. The regulars that live here would probably not want to hear the Donald Trump speech.”

Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok