Urges incoming administration to pledge federal funding for security measures

Additional NYPD presence and measures cost an estimated $1 million each day

City Hall – Today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Dan Garodnick launched an online petition calling on President-elect Donald Trump to commit necessary federal funds to reimburse the City of New York City for expenses incurred providing security protections to Trump Tower. Council Member Garodnick is the City Council representative for District 4, which includes the area of Midtown that is home to the President-elect’s residence and office.

The petition is available HERE.

Trump Tower has been the central staging location of the President-elect’s transition team. Since Election Day, New York City has been spending an estimated $1 million each day in City funds on protections for the building. As noted in the petition, this represents an extraordinary financial burden for city taxpayers, and one that should instead be borne by the federal government.

An excerpt from the petition is below:

Let’s end the suspense: We ask you to commit the necessary federal funds to reimburse New York for all costs of protecting you and your family — both before and after your inauguration as President of the United States of America.

As a lifelong New Yorker, you understand the importance of a vibrant local economy, and one that has the resources to operate.  Make it clear today that New York City is not going to get stuck with the bill.

“Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the values that represent New York City, while simultaneously drawing upon its resources without appreciation or acknowledgement,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “His refusal to base transition operations out of the nation’s capital has placed an unprecedented financial and logistical strain on our city and its first responders, and it is simply unsustainable. I commend the NYPD for their professionalism, but it is time for a guarantee from the President-elect that their work is not being performed at the expense of City safety elsewhere and in the future.”

“Donald Trump’s protection is creating a huge headache for everyone in Midtown, and must not come at the expense of New York City taxpayers,”  said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “Just as he has a job to do, we have a city to run, and we cannot continue to foot the bill for this.  We are not going to compromise the security of the President-elect, but the feds need to step in and pick up the tab.”

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