Palm Beach residents ask town council to block plans for a "presidential helipad" at Mar-a-Lago

[Miles Archer]

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/17/515753028/trumps-frequent-visits-disrupt-palm-beach-life-and-businesses

Trump's Frequent Visits Disrupt Palm Beach Life And Businesses



At a meeting this week, residents asked the town council to block plans for a presidential helipad at Mar-a-Lago. Jose Flores said the noise and downdraft of the massive Marine helicopters would be a major inconvenience for people who live near the club.

"This is a flying tank," Flores said. "If you're having three to five flying tanks going over you, it's going to stop your enjoyment of your property, of your environment, of this town."

It's not that Palm Beachers aren't proud that the president likes to spend time on the island. Some just worry he will come every weekend.

When Trump is there, the Secret Service shuts down a major thoroughfare, making it difficult to get anywhere in Palm Beach. In the town's tony shopping district, sales are down.

[Lindsay]

1. And Trump sez,

"Sucks not to be me."

[struggle4progress]

2. "If we play right, property values will fall and we'll grab Palm Beach at bargain basement prices"

[riversedge]

3. Businesses are losing money--lots.....

...The weekend restrictions are especially a problem for Jorge Gonzalez.

His company, SkyWords, owns four planes that tow advertising banners targeting beachgoers in Palm Beach County.

Jorge Gonzalez, whose planes tow advertising banners, says the flight restrictions in place while President Trump is at Mar-a-Lago may put him out of business.
Greg Allen/NPR

"For our banner towing, 97 percent of our business is done on Saturdays and Sundays and on holidays," Gonzalez says.

Recently, he says, Trump "comes every weekend, so basically we aren't able to work."

It's a similar story for nearly every business at Lantana, one of the busiest small airports in the country. Flight schools, sightseeing flights and the company that operates the airport say if Trump's visits and the current restrictions continue, they may lose millions of dollars this year.

[Kingofalldems]

4. We have important baseball spring training going on in Palm Beach.

Stay the hell out Trump!

[no_hypocrisy]

5. FFS, the airport is merely 6 miles from Mal-A-Lago.

Drive and endure the sole traffic light.