Three days after a Secret Service-initiated indefinite road closure took effect on South Ocean Boulevard next to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach officials have asked the agency for an explanation.
In a letter sent Monday to Thomas F. Huse, chief counsel for the U.S. Secret Service, the town asked the agency to confirm that it had ordered the closure of South Ocean Boulevard from the Southern Boulevard traffic circle north to South County Road.
The town also requested that the Secret Service "provide the legal authority authorizing it to implement the road closure for the specified duration and even when protectee(s) are not in residence in the Town."
More: Trump assassination attempt: Town officials want changes to road closure near Mar-a-Lago
The latter "represents a significant departure from prior actions by the USSS," according to the letter, which was signed by Town Attorney Joanne O’Connor. Town officials and residents have expressed frustration with the road closure, which is aimed at improving security for Trump in the wake of the July 13 assassination attempt.
A gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of suburban Pittsburgh, shot at Trump as the Republican nominee for president spoke at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Trump's right ear was grazed, and three other people were shot, one fatally. Crooks was shot and killed by the Secret Service.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday, one day after she was heavily criticized by bipartisan lawmakers at a House Oversight Committee hearing at which she admitted the July 13 incident was the biggest security failure in decades for the protective agency, according to USA Today .
"I certainly understand why the Secret Service has reacted that way after the tragedy," Mayor Danielle Moore told the Daily News Friday after the road closure was announced. "That being said, just speaking of logistics, I have some questions about what the purpose is of closing South Ocean Boulevard when there's nothing out there but water. I have more concerns coming from the west side of Mar-a-Lago. The chief of police has obviously been working very closely with the Secret Service, and I think the plan may change. There may be an alternative down the line. But at the moment, it would be considered, in my mind, making an already bad traffic situation a thousand times worse."
The closure will continue through at least Nov. 5, regardless of whether Trump or other "protected person(s)" are in residence, the Secret Service said.
It applies to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Those who live between South County and Woodbridge roads are only be able to access their properties from the north. Law enforcement and fire rescue vehicles will be able to access from both the south and north.
In its letter to the Secret Service, the town said the closure "effectively cuts the Town in two."
"The Town of Palm Beach is a barrier island with limited ingress and egress points (four bridges and one causeway to the south)," the letter read. "South Ocean Boulevard/SR A1A is a two-lane, two-way, undivided major collector that runs north to south through a significant portion of the Town."
Town Manager Kirk Blouin told the Daily News on Monday that the town is awaiting the Secret Service's response.
Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock told the Daily News that essential services are getting through the road closure with no issues, while the department is working with Public Works on making signal adjustments.
Town Police also have noted an increase in eastbound traffic on the Royal Park Bridge, Rothrock said.
Trump announced later Tuesday that he planned to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel Friday at Mar-a-Lago.
The meeting will follow Netanyahu’s address to Congress in Washington Wednesday and his meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House Thursday.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com . Help support our journalism. Subscribe today .
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Cuts town 'in two': Palm Beach asks Secret Service to explain road closure near Mar-a-Lago
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