Last week, Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced the city would be canceling 45 million dollar contracts with former President Donald Trump’s eponymous Trump Organization, thereby punishing the children of New York City and closing ice skating rinks six weeks early.
Sunday night, DeBlasio’s office backtracked, stating that the rinks would remain open.
The background:
The Trump Organization paid to rebuild the Wollman Rink in 1986 and has been maintaining it for the people of New York City since. Other properties managed by the organization include the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Lasker Rink, and the famous Central Park Carousel.
DeBlasio’s plan to close the rinks six weeks early, Sunday the 21st, would have forced 250 employees into unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
300 children in Harlem and thousands of other children who take skating lessons would also be affected by the early closure.
What they’re saying:
DeBlasio cited the legal action by the city of New York as retaliation for the January 6th Capitol Insurrection.
- He said, “The city can legally terminate a contract if the leadership of a company is engaged in criminal activity… inciting an insurrection against the United States government clearly constitutes criminal activity.” Former President Trump, a regular citizen at the time of his second impeachment hearing, was acquitted 57-43 on February the 13th.
- Spokesperson Bill Neidhart said, “Trump has been impeached from operating the ice rink. The RFP will determine who will take over Wollman Rink.”
- Eric Trump, the Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization responded to the action, saying, “[DeBlasio] has no legal right to end our contracts and if they elect to proceed, they will owe The Trump Org. [sic] over $30 million dollars. This is nothing more than political discrimination, an attempt to infringe on the first amendment and we plan to fight vigorously.”
Eric Trump questioned the motivations of DeBlasio:
“Why? To get back at a person who sits on the other side of the political aisle and now lives in Florida? Let’s cancel kids’ programs six weeks early, that will show Trump.”
