Thursday, October 14, 2021

Trump Golf Course Succession Passes NYC Board With Dissents


A New York City Board Panel Approved a New Operator Wednesday, to take over a Bronx Public Golf Course run by Trump’s Company, but Two Members cast “no” Votes, citing concerns about what one called a “rushed” process.

Also Objecting was a Lawyer for Trump, who told the Board that the Course’s Designer, golf legend, Jack Nicklaus, should ultimately gets to decide which Firm meets his Exacting Standards, ans Objected to a New No-Bid Deal, announced last month, of the Parks Department’s unusual choice of Concessionaire: a Homeless Shelter Operator with a blemished record.

While fighting in Court to Block the Parks Department from ending his 20-year contract, Trump’s Lawyers say their Client is entitled to $30 Million as a Cancellation Fee.

Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered Trump’s Concession to Run the Ferry Point Park Golf Course, Renewal Canceled, as a result of Trump’s role in fanning the Jan. 6 Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

An Atlanta Company, Bobby Jones Links, is now entitled to take over Starting Nov. 15, after Shelter Operator CORE Services Group, pulled out of their Partnership under Scrutiny. Members of the City’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee Voted 4 to 2 to grant Affiniti Ferry Point LLC, a 13-year Contract to oOerate the 18-hole golf course.

Franchise Board Representatives for Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. (D), and City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D), both Voted No, after Unsuccessfully requesting that the Vote be Delayed. The Representative for Diaz, Mirtha Camille Sabio, said that “concerns abound” and that the Borough President could Not “in good conscience” Vote for the Concession. Diaz’s Office cited Concerns about the Parks Department’s original choice of CORE Services Group and the fate of Jobs for current Staff, many of whom live in The Bronx. Sabio also encouraged Bobby Jones Links to engage more with Elected Officials.

The Comptroller’s Office, meanwhile, said a too-speedy process left little chance for Scrutiny. “Today this Committee finds itself reviewing, yet again, another rushed award of a concession agreement from the Department of Parks and Recreation without full transparency about how the agency made its determination to select the proposed concessionaire,” John Katsorhis, a Representative for Stringer, said at a Public-Hearing on the Vote Tuesday. “This shortened time frame is a situation created by the city when it terminated the prior agreement without having a proper plan in place for the concession’s continued operation.” He said the Parks Department didn’t provide all necessary Documentation about the future Concessionaire until Tuesday morning, leaving Insufficient time for Review.

A Representative from the Department of Parks and Recreation said at the Meeting, the New Operator would Retain most, if not All, of the Current Staff. And they said the Lawsuit filed in June by Trump’s Team looking to Block the New Concessionaire shouldn’t Impact anyone’s Vote. “The fact that this matter is in litigation should not impact our process to move forward,” the Representative said.

At a Hearing Tuesday ahead of the Vote, Lawyers for the Trump Organization said, that the Jan. 6 Insurrection didn’t Hurt Business at the Golf Course, a point they’re also pressing in Court. “Year after year, leading golf-industry publications have praised Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, and ranked it as one of the premier public courses in the country,” Lawyer Kenneth Caruso said in prepared Remarks. Calling de Blasio a “lame duck,” he asked the Committee to consider the Long-Term Impact and Cost of Switching Operators of the Golf Course.

Trump's Golf Cources across the World, have Lost many Professional Events for what happend on Jan. 6.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


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