In the midst of a sea of supporters last week calling for the government to let Donald Trump build his Trump on the Ocean catering hall at Jones Beach, opposition activist Pat Friedman met Mr. Trump for the first time.

“He extended his hand to me and thanked me for publicly supporting him for president,” the Garden City South activist told The Citizen.

But then, shoulder-to-shoulder with him, she quickly turned the tables, telling him: “I beat you once…and I’m going to beat you again.”

She’s referring to her activism against Mr. Trump for doing what she sees as his running “rickshaw” over the government, and can cite precise days and times when Mr. Trump entered into what she calls an, illegal contract with the state government in 2006 when he wasn’t even a bidder for the contract.

She says Mr. Trump is the main proponent of stalling to get the project completed, and may not have the funds available to build it during these difficult economic times.

But Rafe Lieber, executive director of the Alliance to Revitalize Jones Beach – which had hundreds of supporters last week in favor of building the catering hall to create jobs and increase revenues for the state – told The Citizen she should be blaming the state, and not a private developer, for the protracted problem.

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Rafe Lieber spoke on behalf of the Alliance for the Revitalization of Jones Beach. Many residents are concerned about the Trump on the Ocean project and how it will affect the Jones Beach waterfront.

Berta Weinstein, SMCAA vice president, expressed her concern. “The footprint of that area is going to be so big that the beach front will be affected,” she said.

Flooding of a proposed enlarged basement at the Trump on the Ocean site is also a concern.

According to Lieber, the project will cost about $20 million dollars and the building has a lease with the State of New York. Joe Baker, SMCCA president, asked, “What do we do as a community to get this thing done?”

Many people are anxious to get the project completed so that tensions, rallies, etc. will end. Leiber suggested that residents reach out to Senator Fuschillo and Assemblyman McDonough.

“Look at the mess,” he said. “It’s a total mess disgrace.”

The Donald said he is totally frustrated but won’t give up on his plan to create a restaurant and catering hall on the site. He took time to shake hands at a rally set up by the Alliance to Revitalize Jones Beach.

But not everyone agrees. Some are outraged and concerned that the Trump restaurant would only cater to the elite.

Trump said he was ready to start digging when the state put on the brakes. He said he won a lawsuit against the state, but the state appealed. Now his gloves are coming off.

The state said it is ready to honor the existing contract. But the design must meet building safety requirements for new construction in flood-prone areas.

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