MIDTOWN — The city ordered Donald Trump to pay a $10,000 fine for removing a bench from the public lobby of his tower to sell campaign merchandise instead.
At an Aug. 11 hearing, the city found that the tower's owner, Trump Tower Commercial, LLC, had violated its agreement to keep the lobby as a privately owned public space, or POPS, by putting in an unapproved kiosk and pulling out the bench.
The Department of Building issued a summons for the violation in March. The agency had first cited Trump Tower in July 2015 for the missing bench and kiosks.
Although the decision can be appealed, the fine must be paid before the process starts, according to Office of Administrative of Trials and Hearings spokeswoman Marisa Senigo.
Owen Reidy, Trump's lawyer at the OATH hearing, and Trump's spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment.
At a hearing over the matter in June, Trump's lawyers failed to show up and he was slapped with a $10,000 default penalty for the no-show.
When Trump reopened the case, that fine was waived, Senigo wrote in an email.
Meanwhile, the bench is back in the tower's lobby and British tourists Sara Hawes and Julia Mason, both 27, were grateful for a cool place to sit after a trek in Central Park.
"We've been in Central Park and it is hot outside," said Mason. "A nice comfy bench is much appreciated."
