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A lesson for Toronto on what "world class" events not to host...
Yahoo News
Link to article
Sydney becomes APEC ghost town
By James Regan Fri Sep 7, 4:29 AM ET
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Welcome to ghost town Sydney.
Friday is normally a bustling day in Australia's major city, shops are full and bars bulge with drinkers celebrating the end of the working week and looking for romance in the harbour city.
But the arrival of 21 Asia-Pacific leaders and the biggest security operation in Australian history has seen Sydneysiders desert their city, which has been bisected by a security fence and had dozens of streets blocked for official motorcades.
On the secured streets around the hotel where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying, there are only snipers and police, while nearby tourist bars are empty except for bartenders.
"The city is completely dead," Naomi Graham said from behind the bar of the Paragon Hotel near the city's main ferry terminal.
Graham said she had received no tips since the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum hit town.
"Nothing mate, zilch (zero)," she complained.
Authorities estimated that APEC could bring hundreds of millions of dollars in extra revenue to Sydney, but many city shopkeepers and cafe operators have complained that business is down by up to 50 percent in the past week.
"I don't know why I bothered opening up today, I'm not selling a thing," said Jim Chao, owner of Ecoo Opal Jewellery.
"We thought we'd see a lot of heavyweights from APEC through the doors, but it's just been security guards and others not looking to spend," he said.
Authorities declared Friday a public holiday in Sydney to assist the security operation and told residents to stay out of the city, so many workers simply took a week's holiday.
"I'm off to a yoga resort in the mountains and not coming back until late Sunday," said Esther Lampert. "I love Sydney, but not with a fence around it."
Many shopkeepers have closed up until next week, with one flower seller posting a sign on his stall "Gone Bush" -- Australian slang for heading out of town.
"Friday's normally a good day for sales, but so far I'm lucky to have sold three copies," said Tom Delaney who is homeless and sells the Big Issue newspaper on usually traffic-clogged Elizabeth Street. "For me APEC's been a disaster," he said.
Around 5,000 police and troops are patrolling Sydney's centre to protect the 21 Asia-Pacific leaders from a terrorist attack and anti-Iraq war protests. Hundreds of motorcades have forced multiple street closures and major traffic jams during the week.
But not everyone's complaining. Beachside accommodation near the city has been snapped up by the well-heeled hoping to escape APEC altogether.
"Bring on more APEC, I couldn't be happier," said Brett Baker, who manages the Iluka Resort apartments in Palm Beach, 40 km (25 miles) outside the city. "Our guests on average will pay about A$700 (290 pounds) for the weekend," he said.
It seems the only people keen to come to the central business district are the anti-Iraq war protesters who plan a major protest march on Saturday, which police have been trying to stop.
Yahoo News
Link to article
Sydney becomes APEC ghost town
By James Regan Fri Sep 7, 4:29 AM ET
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Welcome to ghost town Sydney.
Friday is normally a bustling day in Australia's major city, shops are full and bars bulge with drinkers celebrating the end of the working week and looking for romance in the harbour city.
But the arrival of 21 Asia-Pacific leaders and the biggest security operation in Australian history has seen Sydneysiders desert their city, which has been bisected by a security fence and had dozens of streets blocked for official motorcades.
On the secured streets around the hotel where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying, there are only snipers and police, while nearby tourist bars are empty except for bartenders.
"The city is completely dead," Naomi Graham said from behind the bar of the Paragon Hotel near the city's main ferry terminal.
Graham said she had received no tips since the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum hit town.
"Nothing mate, zilch (zero)," she complained.
Authorities estimated that APEC could bring hundreds of millions of dollars in extra revenue to Sydney, but many city shopkeepers and cafe operators have complained that business is down by up to 50 percent in the past week.
"I don't know why I bothered opening up today, I'm not selling a thing," said Jim Chao, owner of Ecoo Opal Jewellery.
"We thought we'd see a lot of heavyweights from APEC through the doors, but it's just been security guards and others not looking to spend," he said.
Authorities declared Friday a public holiday in Sydney to assist the security operation and told residents to stay out of the city, so many workers simply took a week's holiday.
"I'm off to a yoga resort in the mountains and not coming back until late Sunday," said Esther Lampert. "I love Sydney, but not with a fence around it."
Many shopkeepers have closed up until next week, with one flower seller posting a sign on his stall "Gone Bush" -- Australian slang for heading out of town.
"Friday's normally a good day for sales, but so far I'm lucky to have sold three copies," said Tom Delaney who is homeless and sells the Big Issue newspaper on usually traffic-clogged Elizabeth Street. "For me APEC's been a disaster," he said.
Around 5,000 police and troops are patrolling Sydney's centre to protect the 21 Asia-Pacific leaders from a terrorist attack and anti-Iraq war protests. Hundreds of motorcades have forced multiple street closures and major traffic jams during the week.
But not everyone's complaining. Beachside accommodation near the city has been snapped up by the well-heeled hoping to escape APEC altogether.
"Bring on more APEC, I couldn't be happier," said Brett Baker, who manages the Iluka Resort apartments in Palm Beach, 40 km (25 miles) outside the city. "Our guests on average will pay about A$700 (290 pounds) for the weekend," he said.
It seems the only people keen to come to the central business district are the anti-Iraq war protesters who plan a major protest march on Saturday, which police have been trying to stop.
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