A landowner faces a hefty fine after erecting an 80ft ‘Trump Tower’ banner on his land – sparking a row between locals and their council.
Dan Rittenhouse, 60, and brother Francis, 73, hung the 12-foot-wide sign over their smokestack in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
But the council claims the brothers’ “creative project” violates the local sign ordinance that says signs larger than 900 square feet require a permit.
Local reports said this led to a heated meeting in the town, where more than 100 people came out in support of Dan and Francis.
Reports say that under the fine structure, a first-day offense is $100, a second-day offense is $300, and each day thereafter is $500.
It is estimated that Francis and Dan have collected over $3,000 in fines.
Despite the fine, Dan and Francis are determined to keep the sign up to “protect” their First Amendment rights and freedom of speech.
Dan, a consultant and retired business owner from Howell, Michigan, said: “I can’t believe America is so divided that people have to be so hateful.
“When we started putting it out, we didn’t realize that so many people were going to support it.
“We just thought it was our property and we wanted to show our support for Trump.
“Basically people will see the tower and get excited about it.
“My family is deeply saddened that this country is so divided.
“I don’t know where the country is going but I don’t like it.”
Dan and his brother put up the red and white banner on October 9.
Dan said: “In the beginning we talked about the fact that we have a big structure – it’s the tallest in the city and we pay taxes on it.
“We thought it was just the tower and it would be really cool if we named it Trump Tower.
“It didn’t start politically, it was creative – we’re fans of Donald Trump.
“We just wanted to celebrate Donald Trump.”
In the days that followed, people stopped taking pictures and word spread.
One resident, Angela Hall, 45, said: “I got excited when I saw Trump Tower – I thought it was beautiful.
“I thought it was a good way to use the structure, to use your First Amendment right to show who you support for president.”
Dan then received news that the local mayor was unhappy with Banner and the first fine was imposed on Francis on October 18, 2024.
On October 21, more than 100 people gathered at the council meeting in support of Dan and Francis.
Dan said: “We don’t know when the fines started or if they ever started.
“We are in the process of seeking review on this case, we are going to prosecute and defend our rights under the First Amendment.
“We didn’t know we would need a permit to do this on our property.”
(TagstoTranslate)Politics(T)US News(T)2024 Presidential Election(T)Donald Trump(T)Michigan
