Aid sought for businesses affected by Trump visits

A South Florida congresswoman is continuing her push to provide federal dollars to businesses adversely affected by President Donald Trump’s travels to Mara-Lago.

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, DWest Palm Beach, introduced a measure Tuesday that would create a $7 million fund to help aviation operations in New Jersey and Florida hurt by presidential flight restrictions

“These businesses should not be punished because [President Donald Trump] wants to play golf & socialize at Mar-a-Lago,” Frankel tweeted.

Trump has made 17 visits to Mar-a-Lago since becoming president, most recently this past week when he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Flight restrictions imposed when Trump visits have cost businesses at the Lantana Airport $1 million in revenue, the congresswoman said. Flight training, banner-towing services and other aviation-related businesses are based at the small airport only a few miles from Trump’s Palm Beach estate.

When Trump is in town, planes are grounded at the airport, and Secret Service officials have denied requests to modify the flight restrictions because of safety concerns.

The measure, which Frankel introduced with U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance, RN.J., would also be available to aviation businesses in New Jersey, where Trump visits his Bedminster golf club in the summer.

Frankel, local officials and business owners held a roundtable discussion shortly after Trump took office to highlight how his trips affect their operations.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner, who represents the airport, said businesses received some rent rebates from the county, but he’s not aware of any direct financial assistance being offered.

“They have adapted,” he said. “They have had to learn to deal with it.”

Other airports have seen an increase in business because of the president’s travels. Officials at the Boca Raton Airport say landings spike when Trump is in town because pilots divert there.

Frankel and other South Florida congressional members have secured more than $4 million in federal funds to offset police overtime costs incurred by local agencies protecting the president.