Trump Organization sues NYC, alleging wrongful termination of contracts


The Trump Organization on Monday sued New York City, claiming it had "no right" to terminate the company's contracts to operate several city facilities.
After the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said former President Donald Trump "incited a rebellion against the United States government that killed five people and threatened to derail the constitutional transfer of power. The city of New York will not be associated with those unforgivable acts in any shape, way, or form, and we are immediately taking steps to terminate all Trump Organization contracts."
The Trump Organization operated the Central Park Carousel, two Central Park ice skating rinks, and the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, bringing in about $17 million a year for the company. The Central Park contracts were set to expire in early 2021, but the Trump Organization's contract to operate the city-owned Ferry Point golf course wasn't due to expire until 2032.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"There can be no dispute that we are not just meeting, but exceeding our obligation to operate a first class, tournament quality daily fee golf course," the Trump Organization said in a statement. The company called de Blasio's actions "purely politically motivated," and accused him of advancing "his own partisan agenda" and interfering "with free enterprise."
A spokesman for the New York City Law Department vowed to "vigorously defend the city's decision to terminate the contract," and City Hall spokesman Bill Neidhardt told ABC News the whole situation was sparked by Trump's behavior. "It was Donald Trump who interfered with basic democracy when he incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol," he said. "You do that, and you lose the privilege of doing business with the city of New York. It's as simple as that."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate change
In the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off