POSTED: 5:14 pm MDT July 11, 2006
UPDATED: 8:00 pm MDT July 11, 2006
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Fort Collins is tackling a dispute over which Christmas and Hanukah displays will be allowed in December.
A Christmas tree with no religious symbols is displayed every year in Old Street Plaza. Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik with the Chabad Jewish Center said he wants to see a public menorah displayed by the city of Fort Collins in December. Gorelik put up a menorah last year in Old Town Fort Collins on private property.
"I belong to an organization that is responsible for 11,000 public menorahs throughout the world," said Gorelik.
Currently the city displays a tree with lights during the holiday season. The city has spent seven months taking public comments on the issue. The public has presented seven different options about displays including various religious or secular symbols.
The city of Fort Collins cannot discriminate against any group or religion, so the decision will likely be one that includes everyone or will keep the displays the same as they have been in the past.
"They range from doing away with the holiday display to leaving it the way it currently is," said Wendy Williams, the Fort Collins assistant city manager.
The Fort Collins City Council held a study session Tuesday night to discuss all the ideas. One of the options being considered is to charge people to allow private displays on public property. This will allow the city to issue permits to groups that want to put up displays.
Copyright 2006 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
UPDATED: 8:00 pm MDT July 11, 2006
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Fort Collins is tackling a dispute over which Christmas and Hanukah displays will be allowed in December.
A Christmas tree with no religious symbols is displayed every year in Old Street Plaza. Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik with the Chabad Jewish Center said he wants to see a public menorah displayed by the city of Fort Collins in December. Gorelik put up a menorah last year in Old Town Fort Collins on private property.
"I belong to an organization that is responsible for 11,000 public menorahs throughout the world," said Gorelik.
Currently the city displays a tree with lights during the holiday season. The city has spent seven months taking public comments on the issue. The public has presented seven different options about displays including various religious or secular symbols.
The city of Fort Collins cannot discriminate against any group or religion, so the decision will likely be one that includes everyone or will keep the displays the same as they have been in the past.
"They range from doing away with the holiday display to leaving it the way it currently is," said Wendy Williams, the Fort Collins assistant city manager.
The Fort Collins City Council held a study session Tuesday night to discuss all the ideas. One of the options being considered is to charge people to allow private displays on public property. This will allow the city to issue permits to groups that want to put up displays.
Copyright 2006 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No comments:
Post a Comment