It only had to be a matter of time before I started posting on the President-Elect's choices and actions. I have a whole list of things he's done, so you will not be disappointed. I will try and pepper it with happy blogs.
Since only the New York Times is reporting (all of the other news sites are reporting off of the New York Times story,) this is not something that is set in stone. Yet it's something to consider.
Donald Trump does not really want to stay at the White House. He's thinking maybe Monday-Friday with the weekends at Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, or perhaps a golf course home.
I wonder how many Trump supporters have thought about the implications of this. Trump campaigned on cutting taxes (mostly for the rich, but everyone bought it.) How much extra are they going to have to spend to secure these locations? Because he will be going back to these locations, they can't leave them unsecured either. All three locations are part of a larger public location.
Let's start with his home, Trump Tower. Often during the campaign, he would fly hours so he could wake up in his bed there. It is also the hardest to secure because it is a high rise tower in the middle of Manhatten. It is just about impossible, in my opinion, to properly secure this location for someone who will be, whether we like it or not, the Leader of the Free World.
It is a "58-story" mixed use tower on Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets in Midtown Manhatten. It has a ten-story (making it a 68-story building) atrium. The ground floors have room for 40 stores and restaurants. The next 26 floors are office space. The highest 38 stories are residential. The upper nine floors have penthouse duplexes and triplexes. The highest three floors are the Trumps' penthouse.
Usually, anyone entering or leaving an area where the President of the United States is vetted by the Secret Service. This is impossible for Trump Tower. How long would it take to vet the residents and office staff from companies that lease there? Add to that the staff of the Trump Tower (they offer maid service if you have an apartment there,) new staff, new residents, people who are visiting the offices and residents, nannies, etc. Now let's add in the stores and restaurants, and tourists. Is Trump Tower going to have to set up scanners like the have in airports??
Now let's talk about outside the building...on a famous street. How to handle that situation. Anyone can say they're going shopping or eating there and even people who have money can dress casually. Like Steve Bannon for instance. Maybe there is some new-fangled contraption that gives instant credit checks so authorities can see if that person can actually afford to shop or eat there. Then there are venues to hold special events. Are they going to block off the sidewalk in front of the building with huge concrete barriers? 56th Street is already closed to allow for Trump's motorcade. Secret Security wants traffic closed on 5th Avenue when the President is in town. As if traffic wasn't already a nightmare there. Currently, though, they have to deal with just pedestrians being restricted. Even if your destination isn't Trump Tower, you can't walk down Fifth Avenue past Trump Tower to go somewhere else.
Under ideal circumstances, the Secret Service and the NYPD can't effectively protect him in that tower. Barriers aren't going to keep people out of the public area. Nor will they keep out tenants. If someone lives there or works there, it would be easy enough to bring in anything one. piece. at. a. time. Not only do they have to deal with possible suicide bombers or truck bombers, but there is one more thing that could happen. One horrible thing that could happen. Airplanes. Is there going to be helicopters patrolling the airspace in Midtown Manhatten, and specifically around Trump Tower? If Secret Service has its way, 5th Avenue would be closed so it would be easy to tell when Trump was in town. Thinking logically, they should keep traffic stopped all the time.
And finally, on Trump trumping it up in Trump Tower...what if something happens in the building? A fire breaks out, innocently, not as an act of terror. Are they going to be able to get Trump out? How are they going to control thousands of people who are afraid they are going to die, or the building is going to fall over? They can't...not without enforcing it with weapons. If I were in a burning building with God, screw it, I'm thinking of me first. It's human nature. And that's what makes people that have the frame of mind to save someone else or a lot of someone elses during a time that death is more imminent so extraordinary. Trump and his family are at the very wee top, and that is 68-floors up. And he has to go down. There is no helicopter pad on the building.
Now take that into consideration. And think what it's going to cost us in taxpayer money.
God willing, no attempts will be made on his life in Trump Tower, but that protection still needs to be in place, and those security measures will be in place both when he is and when he isn't there.
And he will lose the vote of every. single. New. Yorker. that. has. to. deal. with. that. Suddenly, it won't be fun and wealthy in Manhatten anymore.
Mar-a-Lago...20-acres on a lake in Palm Beach, Florida. It is also relatively an exposed property immediately adjacent to Southern Boulevard bridge. There is a 600-foot seawall fronting an easily accessible Intracoastal waterway and some some oceanfront, where the Beach Club is located. Do you see any problems there??
Mar-a-Lago is underneath flight paths. This should be nothing new to anyone. Trump was suing to have the paths moved. He recently dropped the lawsuit, probably because the airspace around it will be closed. Not only for Air Force One to land, but it's a presidential residence. In addition to the usual road closings, Southern Boulevard bridge will be locked down as Trump is taken from the airport to Mar-a-Lago or one of his Golf Clubs in Jupiter and West Palm Beach.
Like Trump Tower, this is a "public" place. There are hundreds of members and guests who come for meals, meetings, afternoons at the Beach Club and to attend charity events, which are held in the two ballrooms. It is also a resort, meaning there are guestrooms, suites, and cottages. At least this would be easier than Trump Tower. To vet members and guests to vet. Or they can just close it when he's there. Again, that is a signal that he is there and that can be dangerous too. If the resort closes when he is there, business wise, it would hurt them. They will lose customers if their reservations are canceled due to a last minute Trump visit. However, it will be a boon to other swanky resorts in the area.
This is my first look at Trump's United States of America. Stay tuned...
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