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Donald Trump skyscraper sign 'tasteless' | Donald Trump skyscraper sign 'tasteless' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Businessman Donald Trump is fighting with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over a sign affixed to Mr Trump's downtown skyscraper. | Businessman Donald Trump is fighting with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over a sign affixed to Mr Trump's downtown skyscraper. |
The 20ft (6m) tall T-R-U-M-P sign was placed 200ft above the Chicago river and is backlit by bright lights. | The 20ft (6m) tall T-R-U-M-P sign was placed 200ft above the Chicago river and is backlit by bright lights. |
Mr Emanuel's office said the mayor believed the "architecturally tasteful building" was "scarred" by the sign. | Mr Emanuel's office said the mayor believed the "architecturally tasteful building" was "scarred" by the sign. |
But Mr Trump has said the sign is "magnificent" and "popular" and argued the city previously signed off on it. | But Mr Trump has said the sign is "magnificent" and "popular" and argued the city previously signed off on it. |
It enhances the building, he told NBC News, and the building itself is "a great piece of architecture, great for Chicago". | It enhances the building, he told NBC News, and the building itself is "a great piece of architecture, great for Chicago". |
"Cities love the [Trump] brand and we are getting tweets, letters and phone calls from people who just love it [the sign]." | "Cities love the [Trump] brand and we are getting tweets, letters and phone calls from people who just love it [the sign]." |
The real estate magnate and prolific tweeter blamed Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune's architecture critic, for stirring up controversy with his harsh criticism during the sign's recent installation. | The real estate magnate and prolific tweeter blamed Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune's architecture critic, for stirring up controversy with his harsh criticism during the sign's recent installation. |
"If this sign was in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, nobody would care - but it is in Chicago, and in a part of Chicago full of great buildings from the 1920s to the 1960s and onward," Mr Kamin, a Pulitzer Prize-winner said. | "If this sign was in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, nobody would care - but it is in Chicago, and in a part of Chicago full of great buildings from the 1920s to the 1960s and onward," Mr Kamin, a Pulitzer Prize-winner said. |
None of the other towers have signs on them, he added, calling the Trump sign an "egotistical overstatement". | None of the other towers have signs on them, he added, calling the Trump sign an "egotistical overstatement". |
Mr Trump built the Trump International Hotel and Tower six years ago to replace an ageing Chicago Sun-Times building with its own sign. It is now the second-tallest building in the city. | Mr Trump built the Trump International Hotel and Tower six years ago to replace an ageing Chicago Sun-Times building with its own sign. It is now the second-tallest building in the city. |
The former tenants of the site agree with Mr Kamin. | The former tenants of the site agree with Mr Kamin. |
"It is, rather, an obnoxious New York interloper, not unlike The Donald himself," said the Sun Times newspaper, which described the sign on its current building as "sociable but not loud". | |
Kelly Quinn, Mr Emanuel's spokeswoman, told the New York Times the mayor instructed Mr Trump's office to look into "options available for further changes". | Kelly Quinn, Mr Emanuel's spokeswoman, told the New York Times the mayor instructed Mr Trump's office to look into "options available for further changes". |
But passers-by who were asked by NBC News on Friday to share their thoughts generally liked the sign. |