Breaking News from City Hall:
Christmas is back.
Mayor Nutter, after sustaining two days of controversy, wants "Christmas" back up on the signs at the entrance to the German Christmas Village at City Hall. Nutter told PhillyClout he spoke with the village organizer and the sign should be back up by tomorrow.
Nutter said the decision came after "personal reflection" on the matter.
"We are an international, multi-ethnic, multi-faith city," Nutter said. "I took some time to step back from all of this to think about it in a larger context."
Nutter, who said he had nothing to do with the orignal conversations with the organizer that lead to the letters being removed, downplayed how much impact the national news coverage had on the decision. Nutter said that he felt the village was not necessarily a religious site.
"The Christmas Village is not a religious service. It's an outdoor fair. It's a very commercial enterprise," Nutter said.
The tempest in a holiday teapot kicked off Monday when workers were spotted taking the word Christmas off the archways into the traditional German Christmas Village outside City Hall in Dilworth Plaza. The organizer took down the word after Managing Director Richard Negrin told him the city had received complaints.
In a statement yesterday, Thomas Bauer of the German American Marketing, Inc., said the move was in "response to what the Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia asked for."
Negrin said that he never specifically asked for the word to be removed, but talked with Bauer about the complaints.
"He's a great guy who saw a problem, who was trying to help me," Negrin said.
Good job, glad to see common sense win.— AreaMan- YAY!!!!!!!!!
I was going to suggest that there be a Flash Mob when he lights the Holiday Tree that breaks into singing "O Christmas Tree"— Lil Bobby - Great! Good job Nutter. Wow, I never thought I'd say that!— sam_i_am
- Has Nutter been feeling well???— cubalaw
- Bravo!— icantbelieveit
- The stupidity of the whole thing! I support the Mayor on this one.— DameB
- I totally agree with this decision but as a leader Nutter looks like a complete idiot. He needs to be voted out but thank GOD I do not live in Philly so I do not get one of those votes.
- Enjoy this one. Common sense doesn't win that often these days. MERRY CHRISTMAS Michael Nutter... and thanks!— Catch22
- If mayor neuter were really in charge then this would never have happened. I want to know what the costs will be to pay city employees to put the letters back up. I think Negrin should pay the cost out of his own pocket just for being an idiot.... I can only pray that in the future he engages his brain before running his mouth.— nebulus
- And in a shocking move, common sense wins!— roguefiftyone
Comment removed.- Common Sense Spotted at City Hall. Will it become contagious?? MERRY CHRISTMAS, Mayor Nutter.— retroguy419
- (Waiting for the atheists and the miserable, not necessarily the same people, to pee on this parade!)— Catch22
- As a non Christian it doesn't bother me at all to have the word Christmas is displayed. It's a nice holiday for everyone and of course our economy depends on people going out and spending lots of money during this season. In fact many businesses depend on this holiday season to either make or break their business. I'm sure Jesus would just be thrilled to see his birthday used for the sale of every product under the sun. After all isn't that what Christmas is all about?— mindstorms
- Glad the Mayor stepped up and said "enough" with this, it's shameful that this was even news this week.— Cyberflyer
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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