The Trump Organization recently filed a lawsuit against New York City over a decision by city leadership to cancel the company’s lucrative contract to operate the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, a public 18-hole golf course in the Bronx borough.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, alleges that the city’s decision had no legal basis and was politically motivated as the ceased partnership allegedly had no other purpose than to punish the former commander-in-chief following the Capitol riot.
Aside from accusing the city, blame for the severed business contact was also specifically placed on Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is cited as having an “animosity” against Trump. The suit claims de Blasio “had a pre-existing, politically-based predisposition to terminate Trump-related contracts, and the city used the events of January 6, 2021 as a pretext to do so.”
At the time, the Trump Organization was in its sixth year of running the golf course, which first opened in 2015. The long-term contract was not due to expire until 2032.
The organization further noted in the Monday filing that de Blasio used his role as city mayor to denounce Trump and the Trump Organization while also urging “others to terminate business with Trump-related entities.”
Early on after the deadly January riot, the New York City mayor announced that the city would be severing all ties with the Trump group, explaining that contracts between the entities stipulated that business dealings would come to an end if the Trump Organization were involved in any criminal activity.
"Inciting an insurrection against the United States government clearly constitutes criminal activity," de Blasio remarked at the time, during an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. The Trump camp subsequently vowed to fight the de Blasio-headed effort.
Despite de Blasio’s “criminal activity” statements at the time, the official conclusion for the broken partnership later came down to the Trump Organization reportedly defaulting on the agreement by failing to attract a major tournament.
The 18-page complaint outlines that the company was never obligated to hold tournaments, explaining that the deal only required officials to ensure that the grounds provided a “first class, tournament quality daily fee golf course.” Included along the suit are testimonies from professional golfers Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.
Incidentally, the ability to confirm a tournament at the grounds earlier this year were slim-to-none, as the PGA of America Board of Directors canceled its own plans to hold one of its major golf tournaments at a Trump Organization course.
The filing also notes that as the contract was terminated by the city, the agreement between the parties stipulates that a termination payment must be given to the organization for “capital improvement costs and grow-in costs,” among other fees. It’s estimated in the lawsuit that those fees amount to roughly $30 million.
Overall, the Trump Organization pocketed about $17 million each year through contracts with the city that saw it also operate two Central Park ice skating rinks, as well as the Central Park Carousel.
Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city’s Law Department, told Bloomberg that officials followed the proper protocols when the Trump Organization contracts were terminated earlier this year. He noted that the city would “vigorously” defend their decision, and that a process is ongoing in selecting a new vendor for the Ferry Point site.
