Trump Organization says de Blasio’s comments bolster golf course suit
The Trump Organization says public comments from Mayor Bill de Blasio this week prove its claims that the city nixed a lucrative contract for a Bronx golf course because of a long-running political agenda.
When pressed by media about whether he used taxpayer money to settle a political score in canceling Trump Organization city contracts, de Blasio said Monday, “I am absolutely certain each of those sites will be well run by the new concessionaires. We had to move forward, and it was within our rights to move forward.”
“I mean, that’s why I made the decision and I’m comfortable with it,” the mayor added.
Trump Organization operator Trump Ferry Point LLC in June filed suit against the city claiming the Department of Parks and Recreation used the Jan. 6 Capitol riots as an excuse to end their business deal, carrying out de Blasio’s long-time desire to end Trump-related contracts.
The city responded in the case claiming that the parks and recreation commissioner — rather than the mayor — made the decision to end the golf course contract roughly 14 years early “and that the mayor’s bias did not taint the commissioner,” Kenneth Caruso, a lawyer for Trump Ferry Point LLC, said in an earlier filing.
But in court papers filed Wednesday, Caruso threw de Blasio’s remarks back at the city, saying they “directly [contradict] the city’s position [in the lawsuit] that the commissioner, and not the mayor” ended the contract and prove that the decision was “pre-determined.”
Caruso told The Post, “The mayor’s statement on Monday confirms his bias and confirms that the mayor was the person who terminated Trump’s license.
“This shows that a biased decision maker made the decision to terminate and that violates our rights.”
The city canceled several concessions that the Trump Organization had throughout the Big Apple — including the Bronx’s Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, the famed Central Park Carousel, the Wollman Rink and the Lasker Rink.
A spokesperson with the city Law Department said, “The decision by the Parks Department to cancel the Trump Org. contracts was proper and done in accordance with all the provisions laid out in the agreements.
“This latest filing is a desperate and improper attempt to alter the case record currently being deliberated by the court.”
