Hello everyone! Let’s talk about something that’s been causing quite a stir in Palm Beach— the closure of South Ocean Boulevard. This road runs right by Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s famous residence, and has become a hot topic since it was shut down on July 20.
Now, this isn’t just a random closure; it’s a direct response to the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier in July. The aim is to beef up security around Mar-a-Lago, but as you might imagine, it’s causing some headaches for the locals.
Here’s the deal: the Palm Beach Council is now looking into how this closure is affecting residents and what they can do about it. They’re even considering some pretty drastic measures, like potentially closing Mar-a-Lago itself, to keep everyone safe.
You see, while the Secret Service has stepped up security and closed off the road, Mar-a-Lago is still hosting big events with hundreds of attendees. This is raising some serious concerns.
Mayor Danielle Moore voiced her frustration, saying it doesn’t make sense to close the road for security reasons and then allow large crowds into the club. She pointed out that you can’t have it both ways—either the club should be open, or it should be closed if safety is the priority. And she’s not alone; other council members, town staff, and residents share this sentiment, stressing that their concerns aren’t political but purely about safety.
The Secret Service has been notified of the town’s concerns. Although they haven’t given a clear response yet, they’ve expressed a commitment to working with the community to keep Trump and his family safe while also addressing local concerns.
But with South Ocean Boulevard closed indefinitely, there’s a new problem: traffic. The Royal Park Bridge, which connects Palm Beach to West Palm Beach, is seeing a lot more congestion, making life even more challenging for locals. There’s also worry about the necessity of keeping the road closed when Trump isn’t even at Mar-a-Lago.
Adding to the tension, on July 31, a Chinese national was caught trying to enter Mar-a-Lago multiple times, claiming to have documents linking China to the assassination attempt. This incident only adds to the urgency of finding a solution that balances security with the community’s needs.
The town is pushing for answers, and only time will tell how this all plays out, especially with the added scrutiny of the Secret Service’s actions following the July assassination attempt.
