Reisman: 'Mr. Trump, tear down those signs!'

A reader who is not a fan of The Donald writes:

"Your column deriding Donald Trump and his 'candidacy' inspired me to contact you regarding another Trump problem. Signage on the Taconic State Parkway proclaiming DONALD TRUMP STATE PARK has been displayed since 2006, when the land was first donated and some sort of park was planned.

"This park did not exist in 2006 and it does not exist now — never has. Anyone attempting to follow the signs and access a park would find nothing, drive in circles, and eventually make his way back to the parkway."

The Trump-on-the-Taconic saga has been well documented. It started when Trump was foiled in a plan to create a golf course on 436 acres of vacant land in Yorktown and Putnam Valley. Instead of selling the property, which he valued at $100 million, Trump decided to donate it to the state of New York to be used as a park.

This was hailed as a generous contribution — and Trump, of course, received a tax write-off.

Courtesy of the state Department of Transportation, the bumptious billionaire also got large, green signs with white lettering that directed parkway motorists to an exit where they could presumably find an accessible park, complete with well-marked hiking trails and picnic tables.

But those appurtenances were never added. In 2010, the state closed the phantom park and 57 other sites because of budget cuts. It was reported that the annual cost of maintaining the property was no more than $2,500.

Trump was incensed and insulted, and threatened to sue the state to get his land back. Blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, he never sued. The land is still owned by the state. No one goes there, except local dog walkers.

And all these years later, those huge Trump signs remain. In a way they are indicative of the Trump strategy, which is to loudly tout the brand and give little of actual value in return.

The Trump signs are a comic oddity. But the aforementioned reader, who signed his (her?) email as "A Westchester Resident Who Wants the Signs Gone" has raised an interesting point — and that is the fact that Trump is running for president of the United States.

"Now that Trump has declared his candidacy," the Trump critic writes, "this is a good time to revisit the 'signs to nowhere' problem since it amounts to signage promoting a political candidate, which is strictly forbidden on the Taconic."

There's logic to what the person says.

Trump announced the parkland donation in Putnam Valley nine years ago at an elaborate event, which included a catering tent, bottles of Trump Ice-brand water and a TV crew. Also on hand was George Pataki, who was governor then, and now, along with Trump, is among a field of 14 Republicans seeking to become commander-in-chief.

This time, Trump seems serious — at least a lot more serious than he has been in the past when he used his tiresome flirtations for political office as a means to hype his TV show, "Celebrity Apprentice."

He appears to be in deep — thanks largely to his announcement for president on June 17 when he crudely alluded to illegal immigrants from Mexico as "killers and rapists." The comments cost him his lucrative TV gigs and a marketing deal with Macy's where he sold Trump neckties made in China.

Trump recently said on CNN that his comments were misinterpreted. "I love the Mexican people," he said. "I've had a great relationship with Mexico and the Mexican people."

Yeah, right!

Well, they may hate him south of the border, but Trump is doing quite well in the Iowa polls. In a recent Quinnipiac University survey, he was tied for second behind only Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

This means he's for real, or almost for real. Close enough. Until Trump changes his mind, he's a candidate.

In the meantime, those parkway signs ought to be scrapped. But don't count on it.

Gina M. DiSarro, public information officer for the state DOT, told me in effect that the chances of taking down the Trump signs are about as good as naming the new Tappan Zee Bridge after Chris Christie.

"The sign indicates the name of the adjacent park, and will remain in place," she said.

Email: preisman@lohud.com Twitter: @philreisman