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| The Scene at the Democratic Convention: Hunger, Heat and Storms | The Scene at the Democratic Convention: Hunger, Heat and Storms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| PHILADELPHIA — With email leaks, jeering delegates and the chairwoman’s resignation, the Democratic National Convention was chaotic even before the first prime time speech. | PHILADELPHIA — With email leaks, jeering delegates and the chairwoman’s resignation, the Democratic National Convention was chaotic even before the first prime time speech. |
| But it was a walk in a leafy park compared with the scene outside the Wells Fargo Center on Monday. | But it was a walk in a leafy park compared with the scene outside the Wells Fargo Center on Monday. |
| Highways leading to the convention site were backed up with cars waiting for their security sweeps. Delegates and journalists had to walk a mile across treeless asphalt and concrete in nearly 100-degree heat after the closest subway stop was closed because of protests. | Highways leading to the convention site were backed up with cars waiting for their security sweeps. Delegates and journalists had to walk a mile across treeless asphalt and concrete in nearly 100-degree heat after the closest subway stop was closed because of protests. |
| Lines for food during dinnertime in the arena ran over an hour, and menu items were often sold out. And the media tents scattered around the parking lot sprung leaks and shook violently during a thunderstorm charging in from the west, forcing evacuations and damaging equipment. | Lines for food during dinnertime in the arena ran over an hour, and menu items were often sold out. And the media tents scattered around the parking lot sprung leaks and shook violently during a thunderstorm charging in from the west, forcing evacuations and damaging equipment. |
| Another storm rolled in from four miles away, in the form of mostly pro-Sanders protesters who marched from City Hall to the arena. | Another storm rolled in from four miles away, in the form of mostly pro-Sanders protesters who marched from City Hall to the arena. |
| The demonstrators, loud and boisterous, were stopped at the gate that delegates and journalists entered to reach the security stations. They berated passers-by with shouts of “Shut it Down!” and “Hell No, D.N.C., we won’t vote for Hillary!” The police issued 54 citations during the protest, according to the information center for the Democratic National Convention Committee. | The demonstrators, loud and boisterous, were stopped at the gate that delegates and journalists entered to reach the security stations. They berated passers-by with shouts of “Shut it Down!” and “Hell No, D.N.C., we won’t vote for Hillary!” The police issued 54 citations during the protest, according to the information center for the Democratic National Convention Committee. |
| Because of the growing tensions near the subway stop, officials closed the station, and anyone arriving by train had to get off at the next closest station and walk. But in the blistering heat, some fell ill. The Philadelphia Fire Department said that it did not keep specific numbers for heat-related illness but that it made 41 “contacts” for first aid. Seventeen people were taken to medical facilities. | Because of the growing tensions near the subway stop, officials closed the station, and anyone arriving by train had to get off at the next closest station and walk. But in the blistering heat, some fell ill. The Philadelphia Fire Department said that it did not keep specific numbers for heat-related illness but that it made 41 “contacts” for first aid. Seventeen people were taken to medical facilities. |
| The thunderstorm sent delegates and members of the media running for cover. The Uber tent, designed to more efficiently ferry conventiongoers between downtown and the arena, became an impromptu shelter and evacuation hub, as dripping guests waited patiently, and then tearfully impatiently, in the crowded tent for their rides. | The thunderstorm sent delegates and members of the media running for cover. The Uber tent, designed to more efficiently ferry conventiongoers between downtown and the arena, became an impromptu shelter and evacuation hub, as dripping guests waited patiently, and then tearfully impatiently, in the crowded tent for their rides. |
| With the subway stop closed, protesters had to dash to the next one. But when they got there, the line to buy tokens wrapped around the block as the rain continued to pour. (The subway station closest to the arena had reopened by Tuesday morning.) | With the subway stop closed, protesters had to dash to the next one. But when they got there, the line to buy tokens wrapped around the block as the rain continued to pour. (The subway station closest to the arena had reopened by Tuesday morning.) |
| By contrast, the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week went relatively smoothly. Walks from bus and car drop-off points were far shorter. Roads were traffic-free. Food was not hard to get. | By contrast, the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week went relatively smoothly. Walks from bus and car drop-off points were far shorter. Roads were traffic-free. Food was not hard to get. |
| Lee Whack, a spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, said Tuesday, “We have welcomed nearly 50,000 people to Philadelphia for our Democratic National Convention and our first day was a success.” | Lee Whack, a spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, said Tuesday, “We have welcomed nearly 50,000 people to Philadelphia for our Democratic National Convention and our first day was a success.” |
| “Every convention of this magnitude has some logistical complexities,” he said. “However, we are working and will continue working closely throughout the week with all our volunteers and our local and national partners to make adjustments so that transportation, traffic flow in the Wells Fargo Center and other issues are streamlined to improve the convention experience for all in attendance.” | “Every convention of this magnitude has some logistical complexities,” he said. “However, we are working and will continue working closely throughout the week with all our volunteers and our local and national partners to make adjustments so that transportation, traffic flow in the Wells Fargo Center and other issues are streamlined to improve the convention experience for all in attendance.” |
| By Tuesday, most of the long food lines had dissipated as orderly queues three or four deep formed around the arena toward the end of the roll call vote. Road traffic remained heavy but the subway station closest to the arena was open, though only for those with the proper credentials. Protesters were still a mile or two away at dinnertime. | |
| None of the problems the night before were apparent on prime-time television, where polished speeches by Michelle Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders were met with euphoric cheers. But delegates scrambling to get to their seats were often stuck for minutes at a time in one spot, packed tight like a punk concert, as single-file lines squeezed behind the Virginia and New York delegations in the middle. | |
| At one point, congestion was so bad that Secret Service agents began directing people wanting to cross to the other side of the floor to turn around, walk up the stairs, and take the long way around. | At one point, congestion was so bad that Secret Service agents began directing people wanting to cross to the other side of the floor to turn around, walk up the stairs, and take the long way around. |
| “Secret Service recommendations, sorry,” a manager on the floor said. | “Secret Service recommendations, sorry,” a manager on the floor said. |
| Lines for concessions were nearly as congested, as many complained of waiting an hour or more in line for food, only to find that nearly everything had been sold out. | Lines for concessions were nearly as congested, as many complained of waiting an hour or more in line for food, only to find that nearly everything had been sold out. |
| As Demi Lovato took the stage to sing “Confident,” one delegate who had already waited 45 minutes for pizza for dinner considered leaving the line because she was such a fan of Ms. Lovato. | As Demi Lovato took the stage to sing “Confident,” one delegate who had already waited 45 minutes for pizza for dinner considered leaving the line because she was such a fan of Ms. Lovato. |
| Resolute to eat, she watched Ms. Lovato on the televisions above the pizza stand, as the chorus reverberated throughout the arena halls. Moments after the music ended, — while the delegate was still in line — the cashier announced: The stand was out of pizza. | Resolute to eat, she watched Ms. Lovato on the televisions above the pizza stand, as the chorus reverberated throughout the arena halls. Moments after the music ended, — while the delegate was still in line — the cashier announced: The stand was out of pizza. |