AMSTERDAM, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — A controversial political sign lights the Amsterdam skyline and will stay, for now. NEWS10 speaks with the man who spent a good chunk of change to create the sign and the mayor who’s against it. The sign encourages people to ‘Vote for Trump’ which violates the city code. So why is it allowed? Because a judge stepped in and dismissed the city’s restraining order.
Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Amsterdam Mayor, Michael Cinquanti says, “In the court decision she, the judge, who changed her mind said that it is in clear violation of city code.”
A violation that will now be allowed because, the sign is considered ‘political’ and one might note, expensive. “It’s over $100,000 into the sign between creative work and construction order. It was constructed by local builders too, handcrafted out of steel. It’s a beautiful sign. They said it was one of the most incredible projects they ever did,” said Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino.
The sign trouble began back on August 7th when the mayor sent a letter telling them it broke the rules. “Our codes department responded to their request for information by telling them that the sign did not meet the code qualifications and told them what they needed to do in order to get that sign into code,” said Cinquanti.
The mayor now says it can stay for 30 days, as a political ad. “He has every right to put election signs of his choosing on his building. All he has to do is comply with the code that regulates that.”
Constantino said he had his concerns about flipping the switch and turning the sign on. “Believe it or not, threatened to throw me in jail.”
Controversial “Vote for Trump” sign lights Amsterdam skyline The mayor says, “The way that the legal papers are written, it says if you do not comply, you can be arrested. And I didn’t, I would not have the guy arrested… I was looking for him to follow the rules.” Plus, there are safety concerns. “I was worried about people going like this and taking pictures as they’re passing by and rear ending a car in front of them.”
Constantino disagrees. “People know how to drive cars and people like beautiful signs and there’s beautiful signs all over the country. People love them and people know how to drive their cars.”
Unfortunately, this squabble is driving up costs for the city, putting extra police on this assignment. “When we have to devote 12 people to one thing, it’s not just expensive it’s a concern we have of the rest of our city as well,” says Mayor Cinquanti.
When Constantino was asked how long he intends to leave the sign up, he said he plans to leave it and let the lawyers sort it out. Living up to the inspiration for his company’s name, stubborn like a mule.
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