Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a house party...

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a house party Tuesday, June 30, 2015, in Bedford, N.H. Credit: AP / Jim Cole

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that his administration is reviewing the city's business relationships with billionaire developer Donald Trump, who is under sustained fire for his presidential campaign speech suggesting criminals were rife among Mexicans who enter the country.

"We are reviewing Trump contracts with the city. Donald Trump's remarks were disgusting and offensive, and this hateful language has no place in our city," de Blasio, who is vacationing in New Mexico, said in a statement.

"Our Mexican brothers and sisters make up an essential part of this city's vibrant and diverse community, and we will continue to celebrate and support New Yorkers of every background," the statement said. Karen Hinton, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said she could not provide details of the review.

In April, a $260 million Trump golf course, the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, opened on the site of a former city dump in the Bronx under a Bloomberg-era deal with the city's parks department.

The Trump Organization also manages two skating rinks and a carousel in Central Park.

Both the golf course and a 1980s renovation of the Wollman ice rink represent instances in which Trump stepped in to complete city projects that had previously foundered.

Told of the city's review, Trump executive vice president Ronald C. Lieberman said, "That's news to us." He called the company's relationship with the city "an incredible, incredible success story" and added: "We have binding contracts."

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who played at the golf course on its first day, said it "should be a monument to the transformation of our borough and the great things happening in the Bronx, and Mr. Trump's hurtful, insensitive remarks have made that difficult." Diaz took no position on the city's business links to Trump but praised NBC and Macy's for their moves to "send a strong message" by severing ties with him.

On June 16, announcing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump said: "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best . . . They're sending people that have lots of problems . . . They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

Lieberman said his boss' remarks were taken out of context -- "he's referring to illegal immigrants" Lieberman said -- and added that Trump employs thousands of Mexican workers.

"I know first hand, Donald loves Mexicans," Lieberman said. "We have them at all our properties all over the place."

A winemaker. A jockey. An astronaut. We’re celebrating Women’s History month with a look at these and more female changemakers and trailblazers with ties to long Island. 

Celebrating Women's History Month at Newsday A winemaker. A jockey. An astronaut. We're celebrating Women's History month with a look at these and more female changemakers and trailblazers with ties to long Island. 

A winemaker. A jockey. An astronaut. We’re celebrating Women’s History month with a look at these and more female changemakers and trailblazers with ties to long Island. 

Celebrating Women's History Month at Newsday A winemaker. A jockey. An astronaut. We're celebrating Women's History month with a look at these and more female changemakers and trailblazers with ties to long Island. 

Latest Videos

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME