DNC Donkeys Will Be Taken Off Streets Earlier Than Planned
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Fifty-seven fiberglass donkey statues placed in various locations in Philadelphia for the DNC will soon be taken off the streets.
The giant art installation is ending sooner than planned.
"The donkeys were a great success, even beyond our wildest imagination," said Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee chair Ed Rendell at the press conference at 18th and Cherry Streets, in front of the popular ruby slipper wearing Kansas donkey.
"We said at the beginning that the donkeys would be offered at the end of the convention to any of the state delegations that wanted to pay the cost of shipping and take them home. Remarkably, well beyond what I thought, 52 of the 57 delegations have signed up to take their donkeys home. The donkeys will be taken off the street on August 23. That's about 10 days sooner than we have said."
The reason? The volunteers who maintained the statues, known as the donkey doctors, have gone along with DNC.
The remaining donkeys not claimed by delegations will be auctioned off.
Proceeds will be split among the 28 local artists who painted donkeys.