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New York company unveils 100-foot-tall “Vote for Trump” sign and is sued by Democratic mayor

New York company unveils 100-foot-tall “Vote for Trump” sign and is sued by Democratic mayor

A 100-foot-wide “Vote for Trump” sign in New York state is causing controversy after the city of Amsterdam claimed it was a major, blatant code violation.

Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino told Fox News Digital he placed the sign on the roof of the old Fownes Glove Factory to celebrate the return of American manufacturing and what he calls “the triumph of the underdog against insurmountable odds.” to symbolize.

“I think that’s exactly what President Trump did. He triumphed despite massive odds. He’s still doing this with bullets flying past his head,” Constantino said. “And we triumph too. Nobody thought we could build a huge sticker company or a huge technology company in upstate New York.”

But his company is now facing trouble in the form of legal action by the city of Amsterdam to prevent the “display” and “illumination” of the pro-Trump sign visible from the New York State Thruway.

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"Vote for Trump" Sign in Amsterdam, New York

Sticker Mule installed a 100-foot-tall “Vote for Trump” sign on the tallest building in Amsterdam, NY (Sticker Mule)

According to court documents, the sign violates city code because it “creates a dangerous distraction and affects the flow of traffic,” especially at night when it is illuminated. Local officials claim that Sticker Mule was informed in August that a permit and several variances were required to install the sign, but the company never responded before the sign was installed on October 1.

Constantino and his legal team dispute the city's claims. The CEO believes the Democratic Party-backed independent mayor of Amsterdam is anti-Trump and has vowed to fight an injunction requiring the sign to be covered up. Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti did not respond to requests for comment.

Wearing a black T-shirt that reads “Trump For Peace,” Constantino describes Sticker Mule as “the fastest-growing print company on the Internet,” with 1,200 employees in 39 countries. His online business started with making stickers, but has now expanded to printing t-shirts, buttons, magnets and even runs his own online store platform, Sticker Mule Stores. He is proud to report that Sticker Mule has created nearly 1,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. in recent years.

“I like to move fast and do interesting things,” Constantino told Fox News Digital. Business success gave him the opportunity to reinvest in his hometown of Amsterdam, and the Fownes factory was one of several buildings he purchased and restored, filling them with machines and workers.

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Anthony Constantino

Anthony Constantino, CEO of Sticker Mule, speaks at an event in New York. (Paul Antonelli)

“Fownes was a glove manufacturer that left my hometown in 1984 when I was two years old,” he said, explaining that Amsterdam was “decimated” by job losses when the factory with its iconic “Fownes” sign closed its doors lock.

“For years, that Fownes sign symbolized the relocation of American manufacturing to China,” Constantino said. Now in its place stands the $150,000 sign reading “Vote for Trump,” ushering in a new era of American manufacturing jobs.

According to Constantino, the conspicuous sign attracted “a lot of interest.” To celebrate the installation, his political action committee StickerPAC plans to host a “Trump Sign Lighting Party” on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. A press release about the event states that UFC superstars Henry Cejudo, Kelvin Gastelum and Tracy Cortez will join Constantino in speaking and supporting the “historic event.”

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is also expected to speak at the event, according to a representative for Constantino. Stefanik's office did not respond to a request for comment.

“The enthusiasm was just through the roof. We have three UFC superstars who wanted to see it. We have people wanting to come from all over New York state, people wanting to fly in or drive in from all over the country to see the sign lit up,” Constantino said.

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The "Vote for Trump" Sign in Amsterdam, New York is covered.

The “Vote for Trump” sign in Amsterdam, New York has been covered following a court injunction. (Paul Antonelli)

But the celebrations could be canceled by legal action from Amsterdam. On Oct. 3, the city code enforcement agency sent a notice of violation to Sticker Mule, giving the company two days to remove the “Vote for Trump” sign. The city also sought an injunction from the New York State Supreme Court to prevent the sign from being posted.

“The affidavit alleges, without evidence, that the city will suffer irreparable harm because the sign's novelty creates a dangerous distraction for drivers and there is a fear that people will stop to take photos of it,” Sal Ferlazzo said , General Counsel of Sticker Maultier. “The court, based solely on the city’s representation and without the opportunity for me to comment, initially issued a preliminary injunction and a preliminary injunction.”

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. Until that time, the court ordered Sticker Mule to refrain from “posting signs and/or lighting signs on the roof of 26 Elk Street.”

On the advice of legal counsel, Sticker Mule temporarily covered the pro-Trump sign to comply with the court order.

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Pro-Trump sign at the old Fownes factory in Amsterdam, New York

The illuminated “Vote for Trump” sign at 26 Elk St., Amsterdam, NY (@stickermule | Instagram)

“I find it deeply disturbing,” Constantino said of the city’s action. “I brought almost a thousand jobs to my hometown that were decimated by the departure of Fownes and other companies. And I’m trying to do something positive and exciting for the community.”

He suggested that Mayor Cinquanti suffers from “TDS” – Trump Derangement Syndrome – and is fighting the sign for political reasons.

“They know they are in violation,” Cinquanti told the Daily Gazette. “They've been cited and we're just letting this play out as we would with any code violation.”

The mayor, who the newspaper said had previously called Trump his least popular president in American history, insisted the city's objections to the sign were about safety, not politics.

“I don't care what the sign says, but distracting drivers' attention on the highway is something to think about and that's what we're doing,” he told the outlet.

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“Any sign that poses a threat to the safety of motorists concerns me,” he added. “Anyone violating city codes is an issue that we are dealing with and we are in the process of dealing with it and trying to mitigate what I see as a danger.”

Despite the city's objections, Constantino said Monday's event would go on as planned, “with UFC superstars, free fish fillets, Cybertrucks and a beautiful Trump sign.”

“The sign is a beautiful symbol whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. The sign is a big win for Upstate New York, a big win for Amsterdam, New York. It is a beautiful and uplifting sign. And I think it will be.” “A big tourist attraction, especially if Trump wins,” Constantino said.

“It will be a unifying event. I invite Democrats and Republicans alike to watch me unveil the sign. We don’t want all the division in this country to continue.”

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