CASTLETON CORNERS — The Donald Trump fan whose love for the President-elect cost him $2,400 is trying to raise funds to pay his legal expenses.
Sam Pirozzolo, whose 16-foot "T" yard sign got him a $2,400 fine from the city, started an online campaign over the weekend to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of the fines, plus what he says are legal expenses needed to fight it.
"This is my private property, this is a work of art," Pirozzolo, 52, said.
"It was not endangering anyone, it was only temporary. Actions against me are arbitrary and capricious."
Since he started the GoFundMe campaign over the weekend, Pirozzolo has raised nearly $2,200 with donations coming from all over the country.
"I was kind of surprised, it's the holiday season and times are definitely tough," he said.
"It's just been very rewarding to me, not in monetary value but to see to the support."
The massive, illuminated "T" sign was designed by Republican artist Scott LoBaido and installed outside Prizzolo's Manor Road home in May after another sign, which was 12 feet tall, was burned by a vandal.
As soon as the new one went up, the city got five complaints from neighbors, records show.
Under city rules, property owners cannot put up signage larger than 12 square feet in a residential area. Investigators estimated Pirozzolo's to be 128 square feet, a spokesman for the Department of Building previously said.
A judge confirmed the violation after a hearing earlier this month and Pirozzolo was officially ordered to pay the $2,400 fine.
A local lawyer, Charles DeStefano, agreed to represent Pirozzolo pro-bono and they plan to appeal the violation in State Supreme Court, claiming an infringement of constitutional rights.
While the fine is only $2,400, Pirozzolo set the fundraiser at $10,000 to help cover legal expenses — like filing fees and travel to hearings — for DeStefano.
Any excess funds would go to charities and veterans' groups, Pirrozolo said. He also considered using some to make donations to local political candidates to try to end a recent run of uncontested elections on the island.
He plans to pay the fine this week then file an appeal. If successful, Pirrozolo said he would also donate the $2,400 from the fine.
