Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore is taking a tough stance on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, considering the potential closure of the renowned property as local residents reportedly express increasing concerns about their safety.
Palm Beach Daily News reports that residents of the upscale town have become more outspoken, expressing that they “don’t feel safe” because of the increased security measures surrounding Mar-a-Lago.
South Ocean Boulevard, which runs alongside former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate, has been closed by the Secret Service since July 13, after an assassination attempt on the former president.
Security has also been ramped up around other Trump properties, including Trump Tower in Manhattan and his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
At a recent town council meeting, Council Member Julie Araskog revealed that she had received complaints from residents struggling to reach their caregivers because of the new checkpoints.
There are also worries that these checkpoints could delay emergency response times. Additionally, some residents have expressed concerns about their safety in light of recent threats against Trump.
“Our residents don’t feel safe right now,” Araskog said.
Council Member Ted Cooney also voiced his concerns about the impact of the road closure on traffic in the town. He was quoted as saying, “I’m terrified about what life will be like in town with this road closure.”
Despite the road closure and heightened security, Mar-a-Lago has remained operational, hosting events and welcoming hundreds of guests. This situation has led Mayor Moore to instruct the Town Council to explore the possibility of closing the beach club until the road is reopened.
“In my mind, if the road is closed, the Mar-a-Lago Club is closed,” Mayor Danielle Moore said.
“There’s no way in God’s green earth that they can bring 350 people into that club. It’s completely illogical that you’ve got a road closed and then you’re going to let 350 strangers into your club.”
“No one wants anything to happen to Trump,” Moore said, echoing the concerns of her fellow council members and town staff. “However, you can’t have it both ways, boys and girls. Either the club’s open or not.”
As reported by Newsmax:
Palm Beach’s decision to research legal options came during a discussion in which Town Manager Kirk Blouin said it is possible Palm Beach will not receive a reply from the Secret Service to a July 22 letter in which Town Attorney Joanne O’Connor asked the agency to “provide the legal authority authorizing it to implement the road closure for the specified duration and even when protectee(s) are not in residence in the Town,” the Palm Beach Daily News reported.
The town seeks action based on two previous agreements with Mar-a-Lago.
The resort was allowed to open in 1993 as a private social club and a special exception use in a Palm Beach residential zoning district after the then-developer agreed to a declaration-of-use agreement.
In 2021, some neighbors cited that agreement as part of an effort to prevent Trump from using Mar-a-Lago as his primary legal residence. However, the then-town attorney said the agreement did not specifically bar Trump from living at the club.
Trump, a lifelong New Yorker, officially became a Florida resident in October 2019, citing dissatisfaction with how he was being treated by New York’s leaders.
Donald Trump moved into his South Florida club on January 20 after leaving the White House.
The town of Palm Beach reviewed whether Trump is allowed to permanently reside at his beach club.
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization previously told the Miami Herald that “There is no document or agreement in place that prohibits President Trump from using Mar-a-Lago as his residence.”
After a legal review and extensive scrutiny of Donald Trump’s situation, the Palm Beach city attorney determined that Trump is permitted to reside at Mar-a-Lago.
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