New York City shutting down Trump Organization ice rinks
Ice Hockey in Harlem director Malik Garvin discusses the impact of the closures on his program. He is joined by Amya Hernandez, who participates in the program, and her mother Zoraida.
New York City is doing a full "180" on its plan to shutter two Trump Organization-operated ice skating rinks.
City Hall on Sunday reversed Mayor Bill de Blasio’s move to shutter Lasker and Wollman rinks, both located in Central Park, six weeks ahead of their typical April closing dates, in an apparent effort to freeze out his political rival.
"New York City kids deserve all the time on the ice they can get this year. The Wollman and Lasker rinks will stay open under current management for the few weeks left in this season," City Hall press secretary Bill Neidhardt told the New York Post.
"But make no mistake, we will not be doing business with the Trump Organization going forward. Inciting an insurrection will never be forgotten or forgiven."
Hizzoner announced last month he was nixing the city’s contracts with the Trump Organization, alleging then-President Trump had incited a riot at the Capitol. The rinks were both set to be shuttered at close on Sunday.
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The stunning policy reversal came after devastated skaters fumed over the weekend that they shouldn’t be kept off the ice due to the mayor's beef with the Trump administration.
"The real people they’re hurting are the 2,500 children that have been benefiting from the skating program this season and 250 innocent employees who have been keeping this going for us," said Lee Klausner, 49, who was watching her two daughters skate.
On Sunday, Eric Trump cheered city hall’s decision to keep the rinks open.
"@NYCMayor Mr. Mayor – Thank You for keeping Wollman and Lasker Rinks open — you’ve just made countless NYC families (along w our 250 employees) incredibly happy. This is a bright moment for New York and please know we ap preciate it. I look forward to saying ‘thanks’ in person," he wrote on Twitter.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the rinks would remain open until April, as they have in past years.
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