NYC to Review Trump Contracts After Controversial Remarks on Immigration

New York City officials are reviewing the city's contracts with Donald Trump after statements the GOP presidential hopeful made about Mexican immigrants.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that the review is ongoing. It follows controversial statements Trump made at his presidential kickoff event last week.

During the event, he said immigrants from Mexico are "bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some, I assume, are good people." He also said there should be a wall along the southern border of the U.S.

Trump's comments drew condemnation from the Mexican government, and some companies have been cutting ties to the real estate mogul.

"Donald Trump's remarks were disgusting and offensive, and this hateful language has no place in our city," de Blasio said in a statement Wednesday. "Trump's comments do not represent the values of inclusion and openness that define us as New Yorkers. Our Mexican brothers and sisters make up an essential part of this city's vibrant and diverse community, and we will continue to celebrate and support New Yorkers of every background."

De Blasio's spokeswoman did not provide any further details about the review. But other high-ranking city officials called for an end to associations with the former reality show star.

"He needs to become a pariah, people should not want to socialize with him, people should not want to do business with him," City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said Thursday in a radio interview.

The Trump Organization currently operates several city concessions, including a golf course, two ice skating rinks and a carousel.

The Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point Park opened in April in the Bronx and the Trump Organization has a 20-year concession agreement to operate the facility.

On Thursday, City Councilman Mark Levine, chairman of the council's parks committee, said the city should exercise "terminate-at-will clauses" that are written into the contracts for Trump's concessions.

"All of Mr. Trump's parks concessions include terminate-at-will clauses," he said in a statement. "The Parks Department should exercise this option to sever all ties with Mr. Trump immediately."

Ron Lieberman, Trump's executive vice president, said Thursday that he was surprised by de Blasio's call for a review of their contracts and believes the city has no legal ground to terminate them. He said Trump has had a "great public-private partnership" with the city after revitalizing the concessions.

"There's no right to terminate these contracts because of something that was said," Lieberman said. "These contracts are binding."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us