Trump rally in Sloatsburg draws hundreds

A Trump rally in Sloatsburg Sunday drew hundreds of supporters.

A party atmosphere filled Rhodes Tavern North on Rt. 17 as the pub/restaurant’s western lot filled with “bikers for Trump” and an overflow of cars caused the nearby municipal lot to fill up  back to the baseball fields.

Supporters said the Republican appealed to them for a variety of reasons, but his independence from politics as usual and success as a businessman was the most commonly cited.

Friends Debbie Stuhlweissenburg and Joyce McKenzie from Tappan both cited Trump’s experience as a businessman. Stuhlweissenburg said, “I like that he’s a businessman. I think he understands trade better than politicians because he’s a businessman.”

Stony Pointers Tim Schnittker and Susan Wright said the same. Schnittker said, “I like Trump because he’s not a politician, he’s a businessman.”

Wright said, “I like everything about him. His attitude, independence and policy.”

As for the scandals surrounding things he’s said in the past. She said he was not a politician at the time.

Anthony Mele of the Latino National Republican Committee of Rockland was one of the organizers of the event along with Elysa Taylor and Tom Lynch of the Orangetown Trump Center. “We endorsed Trump back in April and have taken a lot of pushback,” Mele said.

Mele also said that not all Latinos see the immigration issue the same and that Trump only was calling for the enforcement of the law. His number one reason for endorsing Trump? Mele said, “To restore vibrancy in the economy.

Stony Pointer Mike Garabo said he’s put up large wooden Trump signs all around his town. He was having a blast at the rally. “This is love. Go to a Trump rally and everybody loves everybody.”

Garabe said he likes Trump because he’s a New Yorker, tells it like it is promised to take care of the nation’s veterans and he believes he would make the country stronger.

Sloatsburg resident Adrian Hand said he thought Trump’s policy on immigration and trade would bring jobs back to the country and bolster the national economy.

Alfredo Castro also said he thought Trump could bring jobs back to the country and that American has been ripped off in trade. “We can’t have Hillary,” Castro said.

Another Trump rally is scheduled Sunday at Guilio’s in Tappan, while Rockland and Westchester Democrats will gather the same day in Elmsford in support of Hillary Clinton.  The Rhodes’ Tavern North event was the largest political rally in Rockland County this year.