Fingers crossed, Charlotte. Here comes Donald Trump’s convention

Cross your fingers, Charlotte.

That’s what our City Council did Monday when it voted to move forward on bringing the 2020 Republican National Convention here. The vote was close - 6-5 after some Democrats reluctantly nodded yes - a reflection of the hesitancy surrounding the event and the president it will celebrate.

To be sure, the convention will bring money to Charlotte, and it’s a chance for our city to again show off to a national and world audience. But the reality is that Charlotte largely won’t be judged on how we act two years from now, but on how others behave when they’re here. That’s an uncomfortable notion, but it’s a risk the City Council and Mayor Vi Lyles are willing to take.

Why? Supporters of the convention offer a couple reasons. The GOP convention, they say, is an opportunity to show how Charlotte is welcoming to all, including those who might not share the city’s leftward leanings. Mostly it’s just good for the bottom line, with millions of dollars expected for Charlotte businesses and their workers.

But there’s a very real risk our city - and its brand - can get burned two years from now. Yes, Charlotte will be friendly and welcoming, but if a local business puts an ugly anti-Trump sign in the window or more Uber drivers get feisty with Republicans, the resulting swarm of attention could wipe out whatever goodwill the city accumulates. More seriously - if the intensity surrounding Trump’s presidency brings unrest, property damage or violence, our city’s brand will be among the casualties.

Let’s be clear: This is not a preemptive indictment of Republicans or conservatives. As we’ve learned in recent years, violent protest can come from the extreme right or extreme left. Our City Council didn’t just cross its fingers Monday. It placed a significant burden on Charlotte’s law enforcement leaders.

As for the politics, we don’t expect that the convention issue is settled in Democratic circles. Unhappy liberals are already talking about finding primary opponents for Democrats on the council who gave the thumbs up to Trump’s GOP. The next council election will come before the convention, which means that those who voted yes - at-large members James Mitchell and Julie Eiselt along with District 1’s Larken Egleston and District 4’s Greg Phipps - won’t have the luxury of saying everything turned out fine.

One thing both Democrats and Republicans can cheer: Although we didn’t agree with Mayor Vi Lyles about pursuing this convention, Charlotteans should be pleased with how Lyles has handled this early test of leadership. The mayor hasn’t shrunk from her convention invitation nor been defensive about it. She’s stood up to explain her rationale, been gracious about those who disagree, and she even posted her daughter’s social media dissent. That’s encouraging - and it comes after a string of mayors who’ve been either prickly about criticism or reluctant to put themselves in a position to face it.

But now, Lyles surely might face it. RNC 2020 is coming to town. It’s an unpredictable event for an unpredictable president, and Charlotte is taking a chance that most every other city passed on. Cross your fingers. Our city’s leaders just did.

This story was originally published July 17, 2018 at 9:23 AM.