“From just one point of view, when I look at that billboard, I think it’s speaking for me and for millions of New Yorkers,” Mr. Haelman said.
But the importance of the billboard also speaks to the resilience of Times Square.
“They are still attracting attention, even if they are not in the number of tourists in the previous election cycle.”
They are not the first Times Square billboards linked to Trump, which has sparked controversy.
The 2019 announcement, paid for by the Athletic Wear Company, features a picture of President Trump in front of the White House.
Rick Wills, founder of the Lincoln Project, said the group’s advertising campaign – which was funded by an unnamed private donor – almost did not last.
On Friday evening, outsourced media executives who rented the Times Square billboard to the Lincoln Project for two weeks at a cost of about $ 100,000 were called to the group after learning of Mr. Casowitz’s letter.
“His response was overwhelming,‘ Oh, oh my God, we have to take it down, ’Mr Wilson said.
“We said, ‘Listen, can you side with Donald Trump as a big public business company right now,'” Mr. Wilson said. “But don’t expect us to be quiet if you take down this billboard. We will tell the truth about it. ‘”
A spokesman for Outfront Media did not respond to requests for comment.
Two days after the election, there will be billboards until at least November 5th.
