Photo Courtesy of Edwin Torres/Mayoral Photography Office
Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill (at lectern) and Mayor de Blasio last month detailed the City’s security and traffic plan for the area around Trump Tower.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Two Queens elected officials have ripped Congressional Republicans for pushing to pass a continuing resolution that would include a paltry fraction of the funds needed to fully reimburse New York City for providing round-the-clock security to President-elect Donald Trump.
“Due to their inability to pass a budget, Congressional Republicans are now pushing through a continuing resolution. While the proposed CR contains prudent public policy, it also has a major shortcoming: of the $35 million it will have [cost] NYC to protect PEOTUS Trump, the CR reimburses the city for only $7 million,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica). “Before they take off for the holiday break, Republicans are sticking New Yorkers with 80 percent of the bill for PEOTUS’ security. The Republicans are deserting established precedent in allowing a city’s local tax revenue to be spent—without reimbursement—on protecting an incoming federal official. For example, when then President-elect Barack Obama was protected by the Chicago Police Department, the federal government reimbursed the city.
“The people of NYC have paid their city taxes to help keep our streets safe and our emergency services intact,” Meeks continued. “The $28 million tab the city is forced to pick up could be used for things that would benefit taxpayers, like community policing, drug rehabilitation programs, and counterterrorism efforts. In future funding bill negotiations, I will partner with my colleagues in the New York City delegation to adequately reimburse the city for fulfilling what is ultimately the federal government’s responsibility.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) called the GOP move “baffling but not surprising.”
“It’s just more of the GOP-led Congress’ bias against New York. However, this is more than just federal dollars for our city. It’s funding to help safeguard the incoming President of the United States!” Meng noted. “After Donald Trump was elected, one of my hopes was that New York would have a shot at obtaining a greater share of resources from Washington. I urge the President-elect to help secure the money needed to keep him safe in his hometown. We all recognize the importance of protecting the area around Trump Tower. But it should not be done on the backs of New Yorkers.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio demanded the City be paid in full.
“New York City taxpayers should not be on the hook for 80 percent of the national bill to protect our President-elect and his family’s residence,” he said. “We are counting on Congress to step up in the coming months to pay back what it owes our city. This is a national responsibility and the burden cannot fall alone on our city and police department.”
Earlier this month, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan) set up a petition on change.org titled “Federal Government—Not NYC—Must Cover Trump Tower Security Costs.”
“As a lifelong New Yorker, you understand the importance of a vibrant local economy, and one that has the resources to operate,” Mark-Viverito and Garodnick wrote to Trump, a native of Jamaica Estates. “Make it clear today that New York City is not going to get stuck with the bill.”
As of Wednesday evening, the petition had nearly 51,000 signatures.
