[imagesource:here]
Donald Trump and Atlantic City, in the state of New Jersy, have a chequered history.
In 1984, he opened Trump Plaza casino, and at one stage owned three casinos in the area.
However, as with many of his businesses, the wheels eventually came off and the casino was closed in 2014, subsequently falling into a state of disrepair.
Demolition work began earlier this year, and the remainder of the structure will be dynamited on January 29.
Fork out the right amount of cash, and you could be the one that pushes the big red button.
ABC News reports:
The demolition of the former Trump Plaza casino will become a fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City that the mayor hopes will raise in excess of $1 million…
“Some of Atlantic City’s iconic moments happened there, but on his way out, Donald Trump openly mocked Atlantic City, saying he made a lot of money and then got out,” said Mayor Marty Small.
“I wanted to use the demolition of this place to raise money for charity.”
As long as the charity isn’t run by any of Trump’s children, who don’t have a great track record when it comes to such matters.
The auction is being hosted by Live Auctioneers, which states that the button-pushing “will be done remotely and can be done anywhere in the world as well as close to the Plaza as we can safely get you there”.
On January 19, the top bids will be revealed, and then the live bidding process will begin:
Trump Plaza has sat empty for six years, and has been deteriorating. Earlier this year, large pieces of the facade broke loose from one of the hotel towers and came crashing to the ground. In one storm, additional debris fell from the structure onto the Boardwalk.
[Billionaire Carl] Icahn owns the former Trump Plaza building, and has agreed to the demolition. Small said he is eager to discuss potential uses for the land with Icahn once the casino is gone, including some sort of family attraction.
Trump also once opened the Trump Taj Mahal, which closed in 2016, and the Trump Marina, which closed in 2011.
Given how unpopular the current president is in New Jersey (Joe Biden won 57,3% of the vote in the US election), as well as in the neighbouring state of New York (Biden won 60,9% of the votes), it wouldn’t surprise me if someone wealthy forked out for the honour of the ceremonial blasting.
For a good cause, and all that.
[sources:abcnews&liveauctioneers]
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