The following statement was issued yesterday by Richard Negrin, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia:
Regarding the flap this week over Philadelphia’s Christmas Village. First, please know that at the City’s request “Christmas” was reinstalled on the market’s archway. However, I felt that you deserved all the information about how this controversy erupted. And I also wanted to dispel many of the inaccuracies that have been widely circulated.
At the outset of the Christmas Village and the installation of its large lighted arches across from the Municipal Services Building, I received numerous complaints from residents and employees. On the apron of a public building where thousands work and do business every day, they felt alienated by being forced to see the large sign directly outside their work place.
Some of us may not understand these feelings and concerns. However, as the official charged with serving the general public and responsible for the well being of 30,000 employees, it is my job to do what I can so that every resident, employee, business owner, and visitor is respected in our public buildings and to be responsive whenever we can.
I had the opportunity to raise these concerns with the sponsor of the event, German American Marketing. In their President’s words, “The whole concept of Christmas markets in Germany is about joy, fun and entertainment and not a place for religious conflicts. We want to invite everybody no matter what their culture believes to join our Winter Wonderland. We are proud to be a multicultural team with employees from all different cultural backgrounds as well as vendors from all over the world, and we are sure that our market benefits from this. Christmas Village in Philadelphia hosts Muslim, Jewish and Christian vendors. The purpose of Christmas markets in Germany is for everyone to come together and have a good time and not to feel excluded or insulted in any way.”
With this in mind, and with the best of intentions, German American Marketing, not the City, decided to remove the word “Christmas” from its sign and subsequently considered removing the lighted arch completely. Again, contrary to some reports, the City did not require the name “Christmas Village” be changed and I did not pressure the company to do so. The Village did not and was not asked to change its name, and “Christmas” was always to be used in its signage and marketing material. In fact, in an effort to still address the concerns but protect the village, my recommendation was that Christmas Village remain and that the organizer only consider moving the one sign in front of the MSB building but keeping all others. That would allow us to continue to celebrate the Christmas Village and also show some small consideration to others, the good being to minimize any discord. The organizer decided they preferred to keep the sign where it was and just change it.
As a Christian and a preacher’s son, Christmas is very important to me and my family. I would never act in a way that I felt denigrated the holiday in any way. I would never try to remove Christmas from the holiday season. This was an effort to unite all people in the joy and spirit of the season.
Moreover, the City was never going to remove religious icons from public property. Reports indicating such are just not accurate. A manger scene will be displayed at Love Park. A menorah will be placed in Rittenhouse Square. We will still light the City Hall Christmas Tree.
As this controversy developed, it is clear that it stirred the exact type of rancor that we had thought to avoid in the first place. Therefore, in that spirit and because it is clear that the Christmas Village is truly a commercial event and that this situation was causing more consternation, the Mayor and I phoned the sponsor and specifically asked the word “Christmas” be re-installed on the archway.
Philadelphia is a diverse and vibrant city. We must all be able to celebrate our religions in a respectful manner without alienating anyone. May we all find the spirit of the season, be conscious of how our actions affect others and be more tolerant of all perspectives.
Sincerely,
Richard Negrin, Esq.
Deputy Mayor and Managing Director
City of Philadelphia
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