http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125369276347033435.html
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009, 6:57 A.M. ET Tent Installed on Trump Property for Gadhafi Use Now Dismantled By DIONNE SEARCEY and CHRISTINA S.N. LEWIS A tent erected by members of the Libyan government for use by Col. Moammar Gadhafi in Bedford, N.Y., was dismantled this afternoon, apparently at the urging of real estate mogul Donald Trump. AFP/Getty Images Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi visited the United Nations in New York Tuesday. More a.. Gadhafi Chastises U.N. 'Inequality' The tent had caused a kerfuffle in Bedford, 43 miles north of New York, as officials from Bedford and Westchester County learned of its presence on a sprawling estate owned by Mr. Trump. Mr. Gadhafi apparently was to use it for entertaining while in New York for his visit to address the United Nations Wednesday. Local government officials publicly decried Mr. Gadhafi, pronouncing that he was not welcome and complaining that the U.S. secret service sought law enforcement protection for him, should he arrive in Bedford. Late Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Trump released a statement that the situation had been resolved. "We have requested that the tenant occupying the property in Bedford, N.Y., remove the tent that was erected. They have complied with this request," according to the statement. The town of Bedford promptly publicly thanked Mr. Trump for his efforts. Tuesday, Mr. Trump initially denied that Mr. Gadhafi intended to stay at the property but subsequently clarified saying it had been rented on a short-term basis to "Middle Eastern partners." Mr. Gadhafi, who arrived in New York on Tuesday, has faced criticism over Scotland's recent release of Libyan Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 which killed 270 people. Mr. Gadhafi travels with a tent, which has drawn protests in many cities. In 2007, he pitched it in a Parisian garden of the Elysee Palace, the presidential residence. In Rome last June, he set it up inside Villa Doria Pamphili, a park, and protestors responded with "no camping" signs. Bedford town building inspectors had ordered the tent be dismantled Tuesday, saying the Libyans should have applied for a number of permits from the department as well as a special permit that can be granted only before a hearing of the town board. "This entire situation came as a total surprise to the town," Bedford town attorney Joel Sachs said. He said the town has received numerous calls from residents as well as people outside the town complaining about the situation. Mr. Trump is seeking to develop the Seven Springs property as high-end single-family homes. He had once considered creating an 18-hole golf course there but abandoned those plans, Mr. Sachs said. Yesterday, when inspectors arrived at the Seven Springs estate, several people were inside the tent, which was "arranged for human habitation," Mr. Sachs said. He said electricity had been strung inside, and outside there were several satellite dishes. For his New York visit, Mr. Gadhafi sought to set up his tent inside Central Park but city officials said no. He also wanted to pitch it in the town of Englewood, N.J., on property owned by the Libya's U.N. mission. Local opposition turned him away. Write to Dionne Searcey at [email protected] and Christina S.N. Lewis at [email protected] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
