21 April 2024 , 21:09
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Residents of a luxury apartment building in New York State are engaged in a fierce battle over whether to remove Donald Trump's name from the building.
Residents at the Trump Plaza in Westchester County are scrambling to come to an agreement about their building’s name as condo votes have failed to quell the conflict. The condo board has been accused of being “political”, with some blaming the New Rochelle location for being anti-Donald Trump, whilst the condo board leader said there is a “silent majority” wanting to remove Trump’s tag from the luxury apartment block.
However, around 24 residents in the 194-unit building want Trump’s name to stay. Board president Gerg Root said in an email this week that “while it is correct that a vote on a name change was held in 2022” he should note that of “those who voted 70% were in favour of a name change and 30% opposed.”
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Some residents believe the decision to remove the name is too political (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Monserrate Fisher, 79, who wants to keep the name, thinks the board has betrayed her. She said: “They promised us that they would be an apolitical board, but they’re not. This is all political.”
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Al LePore, 65, who owns a unit with his wife Gina agreed with Ms Fisher that this was “political” saying: “They hate the man, and they’re on a mission to destroy him in New York .” Mr LePore added: “They won’t stop until they get their way. The board is hardcore. They won’t talk to us because we are Trump supporters. You have to keep your political views to yourself in something like this.”
Delva Domond, 65, a resident of New Rochelle, would like the Trump sign to be erased. She said: “That would be perfect. That would be great. Because we go to New Roc, the movie theatre, all the time.
Residents at Trump Plaza, New Rochelle are in a war over the building's name (Trump Plaza)
Residents are divided as to whether to rename the building or not (Trump Plaza)“When we come around, we have to pass his building. So I’m always like: ‘Man, why don’t they take his sign down? I’ve been saying that for a couple of years now. And so, you know, I’ll be glad if they take it down.”
Amidst a second proposed vote, Gerg Root added: “After carefully studying the issue, we believe it is financially in the best interest of unit owners’ property long-term values." Mr Root said the reason the trump name wasn’t taken down in 2022 is that not enough people turned up to exercise the suffrage, and he thinks this time that will change.
Some tenants, in favour of conserving the name, have accused board members of circulating letters and a Q&A throughout the building to garner support for redacting Trump’s name for good. It comes after the first criminal trial of any former US president kicked off last week.
Trump continued his bold campaign to reclaim the White House, spending his days in court while simultaneously campaigning for office around the country. Using this trial as a boost for his political campaign, he has framed himself as a victim of politically motivated prosecutions designed to derail his candidacy.