Who Should Pay for Security Costs from Bush Visit?

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune video

Anderson’s Book Shop owner Becky Anderson had less than a week to prepare for a visit by President George W. Bush who drew 1,200 fans inside her downtown store this past Monday, the Daily Herald reports.

The president visited the book store at 123 W. Jefferson St. where he signed copies of his book, “A Portrait of My Father.”

The store contracted with the Naperville Police Department to have three officers on duty at the event for a total cost of $840 to the store, according to the Daily Herald.

Naperville councilmen this past week expressed disdain over the costs shelled out by the city for extra security at the event, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Naperville Police Department worked with the secret service to provide five officers and two sergeants at a total cost of of $2,154.

Naperville’s typical special events policy requires advance approval and payment for city and police services but city councilman Paul Hinterlong said this event did not follow that process, according to the Daily Herald.

The visit also ended up closing down Paw Paw parking lot northwest of the store and a block of Jefferson Avenue, the Daily Herald reports.

Other councilors said some businesses downtown were inconvenienced by the visit but Anderson said that overall, her book shop has helped to draw business to the downtown area, according to the Daily Herald.

“We feel that the economic boost that gives to restaurants and other businesses in the downtown area is a huge impact,” said Anderson in the Daily Herald article. “We heard from some of our neighbors that they got a lot of business while people were in line.”