Donald Trump sues Miami suburb over noise ordinance

DORAL, Fla. (AP) – Just weeks after city officials in suburban Miami decided Donald Trump was worthy of having a key to the city, he’s accusing them of having an unconstitutional noise ordinance.

Trump told the Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/1AW4F9L) on Wednesday that Doral needs a noise ordinance with “specific rules and regulations.” Records show that since August, the city’s code compliance department has issued more than 100 violations to Trump’s resort, Trump National Doral. Most violations are for the resort’s lawn maintenance crews making “unreasonably loud noise.”

In a lawsuit filed Feb. 12, Trump said the ordinance “is vague and ambiguous in its definition of prohibited activity, and provides the city’s Code Enforcement Department with unfettered discretion for determining whether a violation exists.”

The city has yet to be served the paperwork, but City Attorney Daniel Espino told the Herald on Wednesday that he’s disappointed a lawsuit was filed.

“Instead of striving to resolve the residents’ noise concerns, the Trump resort has escalated this situation unnecessarily,” Espino wrote in an email. Espino says he will defend the city, its code and the public welfare.

“It is, however, my continued hope that the Resort will look to be a good neighbor and resolve this situation amicably,” Espino said.

Trump rejects the accusations against his resort.

“This is the finest resort in the world and you have to cut the grass,” Trump said. “Why is it that we have brand new equipment and get fined, when the people who had the property before me didn’t get any citations?” he said. “Maybe it’s because I have money.”

Trump’s lawyers say each violation carries a $1,500 fine and he’s already spent $50,000 in legal fees to fight the citations. They say since buying the property out of bankruptcy in 2012, Trump has pushed the city to amend the noise ordinance.

The resort recently hosted the Miss Universe pageant.

Trump says he’s not sure whether the lawsuit will interfere with the plan to award him a key to Doral.

“If it does, this is much more important,” he said. “They may be giving me the key to the city, but I have not been treated right.”