Town fines resident who projected Trump sign onto municipal water tower

A city in Massachusetts has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a property owner who projected a “Trump 2024” sign onto the side of a municipal water tower.

Officials said the city of Hanson does not endorse candidates or allow political signs to be displayed on municipal property.

Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green said the town first became aware that a resident projected the image of a political sign supporting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from their property onto the Hanson Municipal Water Tower on Oct. 11. Officials have declined to identify the person.

“This misleads the public into believing that this activity is sanctioned or condoned by the city,” Green said in a statement Saturday.

The city said it is issuing a $100 fine per day until the activity is stopped. The fines are mounting, city officials say.

Highway Department workers have placed a spotlight on the tower, making it more difficult to see the projection at night. Officials said the resident’s actions could cost a significant amount of taxpayer money, including attorney fees, overtime to pay employees to turn the floodlights on and off each day, and the possibility that they will have to rent or purchase stronger lighting equipment.

The $100 per day fine likely won’t cover those costs, officials said.