New York City is canceling Trump by ending its long-standing contracts for the iconic skating rinks in Central Park, the park carousel and Ferry Point Golf Course in the Bronx.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the move on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday. The city holds three contracts with the Trump Organization which de Blasio said gives them a $17million annual profit.
De Blasio said the Central Park contracts will be ended in a month but that the golf course contract may take longer to get out of.
Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization with his brother, said after de Blasio’s announcement that the city has no right to terminate the contracts and that it would owe the Trump Organization $30million if it did.
It comes after Trump was disowned by the PGA, banned by big tech and ex-communicated by business leaders, many of whom have stopped donations to the GoP, over the riot last week.
Deutsche Bank has vowed to stop doing business with the family after decades of controversial dealings, and on Wednesday the Professional Bank of Florida cut ties.
There are growing calls for the President to resign with just a week left in office.
Today, the House is expected to vote to impeach him over his role in the riot at the Capitol last week which resulted in five deaths and is expected to lead to hundreds of arrests.
Trump poses at the Wollman Rink in Central Park in 1986, the year he won the contract to manage it. After more than 30 years, the city of New York is ending its contract with his company to manage and maintain the rink
The Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park which the Trump Organization has managed since 1986
The Trump Organization also manages the carousel in Central Park
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday announcing that NYC was canceling the Trump Organization contracts
De Blasio, announcing his plan to end the contracts, said on Wednesday: ‘The city of NY is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization.
‘Our legal team has done an assessment and the contracts make very clear, if a company or the leadership of that company is engaged in criminal activity, we have the right to sever the contract.
‘Inciting an insurrection, let’s be clear I am going to say those words again, inciting an insurrection against the United States Government clearly constitutes criminal activity.
‘The City of New York will no longer have anything to do with the Trump Organization. They have profited from these contracts. They will profit no longer. ‘
‘Right now, the Trump Organization profits about $17 million a year from these contracts.
‘They cover four different sites, three in Manhattan, one in the Bronx, different entertainment sites. And look, it’s quite clear, the President of the United States directed a mob to attack the U. S. Congress during the Electoral College vote.
‘That’s – I mean, even saying the words, it’s almost impossible to believe.’
In a statement later, he said: ‘The President incited a rebellion against the United States government that killed five people and threatened to derail the constitutional transfer of power.
‘The City of New York will not be associated with those unforgivable acts in any shape, way or form, and we are immediately taking steps to terminate all Trump Organization contracts.’
He added that the Trump Organization would likely push back in court but that his legal team was ready to fight them.
‘Of course, we know the history of the Trump Organization. They’ll likely challenge us in court but we’re on strong legal ground. We’re very clear about that,’ he said.
Corporation Counsel James E. Johnson added: ‘Mr. Trump’s incitement of violence at our Capitol was an abomination.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 06: Donald Trump attends the 2015 Hank’s Yanks Golf Classic at Trump Golf Links Ferry Point on July 6, 2015 in New York City
Trump Golf Links in Ferry Point is in the public Ferry Point Park. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are shown in 2018 at an opening ceremony for the golf course clubhouse
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the move on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday
‘In light of last week’s attack on our Capitol and our democracy, we have concluded that it is in the best interests of New Yorkers for the City to commence the process of cancelling these contracts and terminating its business ties with the Trump Organization.’
The City holds three contracts with the Trump Organization; one for the Wollman and Laserk skating rinks at Central Park, one for the Central Park Carousel and one for Ferry Point Golf Course in the Bronx.
The Trump Organization took over management of the ice rinks in Central Park in 1986.
On its website, it says: ‘For over three decades, the Trump Organization has proudly managed both of Central Park’s Public Skating Rinks along with the iconic Central Park Carousel.’
The golf course is situated in the public NYC Ferry Point Park.
The Trump Organization won the contract to run it in 2015.
The course was designed by golf pro Jack Nicklaus and is described as one of the finest public courses in the world.
New York City residents play $185 to play 18 holes on weekend days, whereas non-NYC residents pay more than $200.
Trump himself stepped away from the Trump Organization when he was elected. He turned it over to be run entirely by his children.
Trump canceled by banks, big business, big tech and even the game of golf
Banks
Deutsche Bank, Signature Bank and the Professional Bank of Florida – which gave Trump an $11million loan in 2018 to buy his sister’s home in Palm Beach. The loan has a 4.5 percent interest rate and expires in 2048.
He also has between $5million and $25million with them in a revocable trust.
Deutsche Bank was the first to cut ties after years of controversial dealings. It was Deutsche Bank that continued giving Trump loans in the 1980s and 1990s as others cut him off.
Signature Bank in New York followed suit.
Citigroup has also paused all political donations until March.
‘We want you to be assured that we will not support candidates who do not respect the rule of law,’ Candi Wolff, the bank’s head of government affairs, wrote in an internal memo.
Visa, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have all suspended donations through their PACS.
Big tech
Social media giants Facebook and Twitter have been censoring Trump throughout his presidency whenever they say he breaches their rules.
In the past, they have merely flagged his tweets or posts as fake or accused him of spreading misinformation.
After the riot last week, they blocked his accounts.
Facebook says it stands by the decision not to let him use either his Facebook page or Instagram page indefinitely.
Twitter – which Trump used to communicate with his followers – says it has permanently banned him.
YouTube has also now suspended his account for a week.
Parler, the website where many of his supporters openly discussed their plot to storm the Capitol, was scrubbed from Amazon Web Services which in essence, banished it from the internet.
Parler sued Amazon for anti-trust violations. Amazon hit back, accusing the website of inciting violent behavior.
Big business
Businesses that have suspended political contributions in response to the riot include;
- AT&T
- Amazon
- Comcast
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Ford
- Best Buy
- Marriott International
Golf
The PGA has canceled plans to host its 2022 tournament at Trump’s Bedminster New Jersey club.
‘It’s become clear that conducting the PGA championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand,’ PGA President Jim Richerson said.
The Trump Organization raged against the move, calling it a ‘disappointing decision’.
‘This is a breach of a binding contract and they have no right to terminate the agreement,’ the organization said in a statement.
The British Open golf championship is no longer being held at Trump Turnberry in Scotland.
Bryson DeChambeau also got rid of the Trump logo that was on his bag.