A sign which proclaimed that Donald J. Trump sponsored the beautification on part of the Henry Hudson Parkway was removed earlier this week.
The sign, which was located just north of the West 79th Street exit, could be seen by drivers heading south on the highway for years—and it has been defaced repeatedly. A petition, started in 2020 by Richard Robbins, pointed out that NYC Department of Transportation's own policy as stated on its website said that, "'Highways can be adopted by individuals, companies, or organizations (but not political candidates and campaigns).' This sign should have been removed in 2015 and, according to DOT’s policy should not be in place now, as Trump has stated an intention to run again in 2024."
The city's DOT told West Side Rag that the sign was paid for not by a political candidate or campaign but by Trump's company, and therefore was authorized.
Over the summer, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat who represents the Upper West Side, had asked the DOT to remove the sign, citing Trump's divisive presidency. "His methodical efforts to dismantle the building blocks of our democratic institutions culminated in the violent and deadly attack on our nation's Capital in January 2021," she said. "Public officials who encourage people to commit acts of violence, are not entitled to have their name forever enshrined on signage in our community."
The DOT's Manhattan borough commissioner, Edward Pincar, let Rosenthal know on Monday that the sign had been taken down, because the agreement between the Trump organization and the contractor "expired on November 7th and will not be renewed."
A new sign has been installed, with Fisher Capital Investments as the new sponsor.
Robbins, who originated the petition, told West Side Rag he was thrilled with the news: "For years, this sign has been an affront to people on the Upper West Side who are offended by Trump’s racism and misogyny, and more recently his promotion of the insurrection. We are outraged that a president who helped destroy our environment would be credited as a sponsor of a highway ‘beautification’ initiative."
After the January 6th insurrection, Mayor Bill de Blasio moved to end all of NYC's contracts with Trump, including operating ice rinks in Central Park and a golf course in the Bronx. There is still Donald Trump State Park in Westchester and Putnam Counties, which is a 436-acre piece of land that the former president donated only after he failed to develop a golf course there; state lawmakers have been trying to figure out how to rename it.
