The city is doing a full “180” on its plan to close Trump-operated ice rinks.
City hall on Sunday reversed Mayor de Blasio’s decision to close Lasker and Wollman rinks in Central Park six weeks before their typical April closing dates, in an effort to freeze his political rival.
“New York City kids deserve all the time on the ice they can get this year. The Wollman and Lasker ice rinks will remain open under current management for the next few weeks, ”Bill Neidhardt, City Hall press secretary, told The Post.
“But make no mistake, we will not be doing business with the Trump organization in the future. Inciting a rebellion will never be forgotten or forgiven.”
Hizzoner announced last month that he was scrapping the city’s contracts with the Trump Organization, claiming that then-President Trump had provoked a riot in the Capitol. The ice rinks would be closed on both Sundays.
The stunning policy reversal came after devastated skaters outraged over the weekend that they shouldn’t be kept off the ice over Hizzoner’s beef with the Trump administration.
“The real people they hurt are the 2,500 kids who benefited from the skating program this season and 250 innocent employees who kept this up for us,” said Lee Klausner, 49, who looked at her two daughters.
On Sunday, Eric Trump applauded City Hall’s decision to keep the ice rinks open.
“@NYCMayor Mr. Mayor – Thank you for keeping Wollman and Lasker Rinks open – you have just made countless families in NYC (along with our 250 employees) incredibly happy. Now is a good time for New York and please, we appreciate it. I look forward to saying ‘thank you’ personally, ” He wrote on Twitter.
It was not immediately clear whether the ice rinks would remain open until April, as in previous years.
Trump’s business group, run by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, has managed the ice rinks for more than three decades.