The Daily Populous Thursday September 12nd, 2024 morning edition
Authored by kold.com and submitted by real_heathenly

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Before former President Donald Trump could appear in Tucson a second time, his campaign had to make a deposit of $145,222.70 upfront.

The required deposit came about because Trump failed to pay an $81,837 bill from a campaign event he held at the Tucson Convention Center in 2016.

The bill was for 180 police officers to patrol inside and outside of the TCC for 6 1/2 hours.

“You know, the former president is entitled to come to anywhere he wants in Arizona,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “It’s up to the Trump campaign to pay their bills.”

The last time Trump was here, it turned out to be a violent affair with a protestor being sucker punched during the former president’s speech .

But even with the violence, what’s been most memorable about that 2016 event is that the campaign skipped town without paying its bill.

Tucson is just one of many communities where the Trump campaign held events but failed to pay for the security provided by local police.

Mesa is still owed more than $64,000. In El Paso, Texas, the bill exceeds $400,000.

“It’s important to provide those services,” Romero said. “Bottom line, the most important thing that we need to provide, as a government, is the ability to protect the former president.”

“The city sent a letter to the campaign six months after the event saying “this letter serves as a demand for payment,” which was ignored.

Still, the city will roll out the police again on Thursday for another Trump event but in order not to be burned again, the city changed its rules.

It said all payments for use of city facilities must be made in advance. According to the city, the Trump campaign has done so. A copy of the agreement between the two sides can be read HERE and at the bottom of this storm.

“It is also fair that the taxpayers receive the payback that we need to provide those services,” Romero said. “It’s absolutely necessary to have those services but we need to make sure he pays his bills.”

The city issued this statement this afternoon:

“We now require users at the TCC to pay all costs associated with public safety response, so that taxpayers do not have to shoulder these expenses. Users must deposit the City’s estimated amount of public safety response and TCC usage expenses in advance of an event. The Trump campaign has paid the deposit for the estimated costs of $145,222.70 to use the Music Hall this Thursday.”

Trump was not the only reason the city changed its rules to require payment.

Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders skipped a $45,000 bill in 2016.

The city decided not to spend a ton of money on legal fees going after both campaigns for what they owed. The city felt it was easier to change the rules.

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OppositeDifference on September 11st, 2024 at 15:11 UTC »

The fact that ANYONE is willing to give him anything on credit considering his lifelong habit of running out on bills is amazing to me.

Up front with a substantial security deposit should be the norm for him.

Side note.... why does shit like this work for rich and powerful people? Go ahead as a normal person and try to rent a venue without any money down. See how it works out for you.

Entire_Helicopter_61 on September 11st, 2024 at 15:08 UTC »

As someone living there, fing thank you. He still owes us for the last rally. Hopefully he doesn't show. F this guy

Mike_Pences_Mother on September 11st, 2024 at 15:07 UTC »

Smart move Tucson