Two popular ice rinks in New York City's Central Park will stay open through the end of the winter season after city officials decided to let the Trump Organization finish out its contract.
Sunday was supposed to be the last day of operations for both rinks -- Wollman and Lasker -- after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City would end current contracts with the Trump Organization. The company previously had a contract to run both ice rinks as well as the carousel in the park and a golf course in the Bronx.
"New York City kids deserve all the time on the ice they can get this year. The Wollman and Lasker rinks will stay open under current management for the few weeks left in this season," Bill Neidhardt, press secretary for the mayor, said late Sunday.
"But make no mistake, we will not be doing business with the Trump Organization going forward. Inciting an insurrection will never be forgotten or forgiven," he added.
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Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, thanked the mayor in a tweet Sunday, saying that he looked forward to thanking de Blasio in person.
The mayor doubled down on not allowing the Trump Organization continue managing it during an interview Monday night, saying after the season it will be passed to a company not "associated with such treacherous, treasonous acts as what we saw at the Capitol." De Blasio also said that despite what Eric Trump may have hinted at in his tweet, he has no plans to meet with any members of the Trump family.
"That meeting won't be happening...I don't know if it's sarcastic or not, but it sure is academic because I am not meeting with him or any member of that family after what they did to this country," the mayor said during the interview on NY1.
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The Trump Organization made a public appeal of the mayor's decision, pleading that an early season closure would leave people out of jobs and end a number of public skating programs.
Parents were initially frustrated and sadden by the news Saturday when they heard the skating season would be cut short. Abar Salam, who brought her daughter to the rink on Saturday, was shocked by the news.
"We've been here for five years and we count on this program, not only does she love the sport, but also for emotional health and well being," she said.
