Donald Trump's vulgarity and divisiveness at a recent rally in Minneapolis, Minn. garnered extensive media coverage.
Yet another aspect of Trump's first rally since House Democrats opened an impeachment inquiry getting little coverage is how Minneapolis is preventing winding up on the list of cities left footing unpaid security bills.
Defending his demand the Trump campaign pay for its half-a-million dollarsecurity costs in advance, Mayor Jacob Frey said:
"Cities are already stretched extremely thin, so to force us to pay all of the associated costs when president trump comes to town for a campaign rally, I think plainly it is unfair and so I believe that the President of the United States should pay his bills, even if he really doesn't like paying his bills."
According to Dave Levinthal at Public Integrity, the Trump campaign still owes ten cites security costs totaling $841,000.
At a MAGA rally on Oct. 12, 2018, in Lebanon, Ohio, Trump shouted out his support for the police officers, whom he hailed as "heroes. "
But the city is still waiting for the $16,191 it shelled out for those heroes--enough to fund the department for nearly two days.
Mayor Amy Brewer explained:
"There's a lot of benefit when a president comes here: economic benefits, more visibility for our community. But I would hope and believe the Trump campaign would pay its bills. It's our taxpayer dollars."
Richard Myers, a former police chief and executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, told the Center for Public Integrity:
"The fiscal impact on local governments, especially during campaign seasons in critical vote states or communities, can be significant. When one considers how much money campaigns raise and spend, it does not seem unreasonable to expect some degree of reimbursement for such demands for service."
Mesa, Ariz. Deputy City Manager Scott Butler added:
"It is our hope that [Trump's campaign] will do right by the taxpayers of Mesa and provide payment."
Some municipalities are not so sanguine, however.
Kate Burke, Spokane, Wash. city council member, commented:
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