NJ braces for Trump rally: Campaign payments to town revealed

🔴 Upwards of 40,000 people could attend the Trump rally on May 11

🔴 The Trump campaign has already given money to Wildwood

🔴 Supporters can still register for free tickets

WILDWOOD — The Trump campaign has already paid this municipality for the campaign rally on May 11.

Mayor Ernie Troiano said that the rally will be held on the beach in the same area as the Barefoot Country Music Festival between Schellenger and Spicer avenues. The area will have a capacity of 20,000 for the event.

According to a document obtained by New Jersey 101.5 under the state Open Public Records Act, the campaign paid a $200 application fee for the event and wired the city $54,000 which is the contracted amount owed by the campaign, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Fagan. An application fee of $150 is about to be deposited.

Fagan said it won't be known how the funds will be spent until after the event.

The campaign did not make any payment to the city for its 2020 rally and the city never billed them.

The Trump campaign has been known to run up bills for public safety and not pay them, according to the Center for Public Integrity, which reported in 2019 that the campaign had $841,219 in unpaid bills from 10 cities. The amounts range from $470,000 in El Paso, Texas to $8,464 in Burlington, Vermont.

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Can you still get tickets?

As of Monday afternoon, a Trump campaign website was still accepting registrations for free tickets.  The campaign did not respond to New Jersey 101.5's inquiry about how tickets have been claimed.

Fagan said that there is not much preparation taking place yet. Social media reports that some bleachers had been set up already were inaccurate.

"Commissioner Steve Mikulkski confirmed they're always on the beach because they're so big and that's where they are stored," Fagan said, adding that there are other events before the Trump rally. The Trump campaign is planning the event with some help from the city.

Alicia DeLuca, Director of Special Events for the city said there are some logistics that need to be worked out before the the physical build on the beach.

“In the interest of public safety, there are strict guidelines and ordinances that all events must adhere to," DeLuca said. Fagan said the city hosts hundreds of events every year. All groups must follow the same protocol beginning with the application process.

Fagan said the Trump event is rain or shine but in the event of extreme weather circumstances both parties agreed to work on a rain date.

An event in North Carolina was canceled because of thunderstorms that prevented Trump from flying in.

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