Reports recently revealed that Melania Trump will not be moving into the White House, and New York residents have responded in outrage over the significant cost it will incur on taxpayers.
CNN reports that it will cost New York City more than $1 million (USD) a day to keep Melania Trump and her son Barron safe in Trump Tower.
The cost is also associated with the rest of the Trump family before the presidential handover occurs. However the cost will continue once Donald Trump has moved into the White House and Melania and Barron remain in Trump Tower.
New York residents have taken action by putting forward a petition refusing to pay “over $1million a day just so she [Mrs Trump] can stay”. The petition already has over 100,000 signatures.
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The petition suggests that the cost should be covered by the the Governor and Mayor of New York if they accept the cost from the Trumps, not New York tax payers.
“This petition is to request [New York] Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and [New York City] Mayor Bill de Blasio refuse the cost President-Elect Donald Trump is requesting so his wife can remain in New York.
“If this decision has been made, between the two of them they should be the ones to pay for it.
“Not New York taxpayer dollars that could be used on roads, schools, transit, sanitation, new jobs and other expenses that the city has.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that the city council will be seeking some federal reimbursement.
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“This is a very substantial undertaking. It will take substantial resources,” Mr de Blasio said. “We will begin the conversation with the federal government shortly on reimbursement for the NYPD for some of the costs that we are incurring.”
Though it is not unusual for local police to protect the families of the president-elect and their families, the dense population of the neighbourhood makes it a larger cost than usual.
