Staten Island is one of the few relatively GOP areas in NYC because it’s populated by a lot of retired cops and firefighters.
Via NY Post:
A Donald Trump supporter walked out of his Staten Island home early Sunday to find his giant sign dedicated to the Republican presidential candidate in flames on his front lawn.
Angry homeowner Sam Pirozzolo blamed the blaze on liberal haters of Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric.
“It’s a shame this generation that is around now, these kids, feel it’s fine to block my First Amendment speech — including almost setting my house on fire. To them, that makes sense,” Pirozzolo griped to The Post.
The NYPD said it is investigating the fire as an arson. Pirozzolo said an FDNY fire marshal told him the sign apparently was doused with gasoline before being ignited.
But Pirozzolo, 52, was left fuming after cops visited his home Sunday afternoon and told him the incident didn’t meet the official criteria to be considered a hate crime.
Under New York’s Penal Law, an offense can be prosecuted as a hate crime only if it targets a victim’s “race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation.”
“If this was about my religion or if I was gay, this would be a hate crime,” he said. “That someone can walk up, set a fire, burn my property and put my family in danger — it’s crazy not to make this a hate crime.”