A proxy war against Trump’s anti-New York agenda has come to our city’s parkland, and we must not allow Trump to win it.
For generations, Wollman Rink, at the heart of Central Park, has been more than just an ice-skating venue; it’s been a place of joy, community, and accessibility for all. Every year, New Yorkers from across the city, children, parents, visitors and more flock to Wollman for the opportunity to skate in the iconic setting. It belongs to the people of this city, not to private interests that fail to represent our values.
And yet, the city is now considering giving Wollman Rink to the Trump Organization in what would amount to a betrayal of New Yorkers and yet another example of City Hall cozying up to the Trump agenda.
That must not happen.
The damage Donald Trump and his administration are doing to New York is already apparent. He is attacking our budget, threatening to cut money from vital programs like Medicaid, Head Start, and school meals. He is attacking our neighbors, attempting to take away the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. He is attacking our educational institutions, trying to close the Department of Education and withholding money from our universities. And he is attacking our most vulnerable, from immigrants and asylum seekers to SNAP and housing voucher recipients.
By potentially welcoming the Trump Organization into our public spaces, we aren’t just making a bureaucratic decision—we’re sending a message that our city’s values can be compromised, that the suffering of our most marginalized communities is negotiable. City Hall must reject this bid and make it clear that Trump and his Organization are not welcome in our cherished public space.
This wouldn’t be the first time the City rightfully rejected Trump and his message of hate. In 2021, in the wake of the January 6 insurrection, the City determined that doing business with an organization so closely tied to an attack on our democracy was unacceptable and the Trump Organization lost its right to operate city concessions. The company’s track record—marked by financial misconduct, fraud, and self-serving business practices—only underscores why it should not be entrusted with stewarding public assets again, and should disqualify it from consideration.
Thankfully, New York has alternatives that actually align with our City’s interests and values. The Central Park Conservancy, a respected and long-standing steward of the park, has put forward its own ambitious proposal to ensure that Wollman Rink remains a world-class space for all New Yorkers.
New Yorkers deserve leadership that stands firm in its commitments and stands up to Trump – whether it’s in our parks, in our schools, or in our budget. And New Yorkers want to know, will City Hall defend our values and the integrity of our public space? Or will the City hand over Wollman Rink to people who are hell-bent on inflicting pain on our communities?
If our Mayor is not willing to say it, I will: Donald Trump is diametrically opposed to everything New York City Parks stand for and is waging a lawless assault on our city and our values. We must do everything we can to keep his name, policies, and presence out of the city and off Wollman Rink.
