Council Asks if Chamber’s New Holidays Lights are Nonsectarian
In what might have been just another ho-hum agenda item in front of the City Council, the Rye Chamber of Commerce presented its plan to purchase and install new holiday lights for downtown Purchase Street. The current holiday lights are about 20 years old and in disrepair. The Chamber (not the City’s taxpayers) is planning to foot the $54,530 bill for the new lighting. The details were presented by Rye Chamber of Commerce President Brian Jackson and Dan Casterella, the CEO of American Christmas, a commercial holiday decoration company based in Mount Vernon.
“We had a rough patch last Christmas, with concerns about religious references tied on phone poles,” said Rye Mayor Josh Cohn, referring to the blue ribbons tied in various public places to demonstrate support for Israel.
“I believe a part of this project – Brian – was trying to come up with something that was very much secular Christmas,” Cohn continued. “So I got a call this afternoon from someone who had taken a look and said, well stars, we’ve got stars and are they star of Bethlehem are they the star on top of a Christmas tree? Are they Christian iconography where stars are representative of angels? I don’t know quite how to frame this, but I’m not sure with that question asked, that with this design as beautiful as it is, that we’re achieving that part of our mission.”
Jackson and Casterella both said the intention was for the design to be a holiday celebration only and nonsectarian. “There’s nothing that screams holiday or Christmas or Hanukkah or anything about this,” said Casterella.
In the ensuing discussion, the Council agreed to approve the new lights on the condition the Rye Chamber of Commerce reach out to Jewish and Muslim groups in the area and report back to Council at their May 15th meeting. If there are concerns expressed, the Council asked the Chamber to consider these in the design of any project.
“What I find most fascinating is that for his city that has been staunchly opposed to any sort of religious symbols on the town green, be that a Christmas tree, a creche, a menorah, or some other religious symbol that they would potentially choose symbols for the downtown area that are highly reminiscent of Christmas trees,” said Rabbi Daniel Gropper of the Community Synagogue of Rye when reached by MyRye.com on Thursday afternoon.
At that time, he had not heard from anyone from the Chamber or City in regards to the topic.
See the holiday lights presentation slides.
Watch the Council discussion:
The real question is, could the lights be any uglier? Rye has always had a restrained holiday light tradition of simple wreaths. If wreaths are too sectarian, fine. But can’t we keep the restraint that has been a hallmark of our City? These lights look like they belong in a shopping center. Please reconsider!!!
Well said Mary Julian. These lights are ugly and we have always had conservative holiday decorations. What about some simple white mini lights and holiday greenery (I prefer wreaths but if they are too religious…they are actually from pagan tradition…then just some sprays of green (artificial of course) with white lights. Virtually every major faith celebrates with lights during the dark months of the year, so it should not be controversial.