You've got to be kidding me ...

Read this article and draw your own conclusions. Let me just say that the City of Fairfax allows displays of religious celebration during this festive season.

Leesburg reins in its holiday display
New policy bans all decorations on courthouse lawn

By Derek Kravitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Carrying coal and wearing Christmas red, dozens of Loudoun residents stormed into a county meeting Monday night to protest a new policy barring structures, religious or otherwise, from the lawn of the century-old courthouse in Leesburg. The county's new rule, residents say, is a big-time Scrooge -- one that could kill the community's holiday spirit.

The rule, enacted last week by a resident-led committee, bans displays from the courthouse. Residents say it does little but push out family-friendly holiday displays, such as the decorated Christmas tree that has been a fixture in front of the 19th-century brick courthouse for almost 50 years. During Leesburg's annual holiday parade, Santa Claus greets children on the lawn, which has served as Loudoun's public square and a popular meeting place for civic groups, churches and schools.

But Loudoun has a policy banning structures on public property, and, last week, the nine-person residents' committee that handles issues related to grounds and facilities unanimously approved a similar policy for the courthouse.

"This is just Grinch-like," said Ken Reid, a Leesburg council member whose petition drive against the rule was signed by 850 people. "It's a terrible thing to do when we have the worst economy in decades and the gloomiest holiday season since 9/11."

At Monday night's meeting, Loudoun residents -- some in holiday garb and carrying signs that read "Keep Christ in Christmas" -- argued that the new rule would curtail religious speech. "We don't care if the courthouse lawn looks like a cafeteria of different religious symbols. We don't want to lose our holiday," said Barbara Curtis, 61, of Bluemont, who runs a parenting blog, Mommy Life.

Each December, confusion reigns in communities as officials grapple with which holiday decorations can be displayed and in what combinations.

The Supreme Court in the 1980s made two rulings on such issues. In 1984, it allowed a Nativity scene with other secular Christmas decorations in a display sponsored by Pawtucket, R.I., saying the display did not violate the separation of church and state because the scene's religious message was balanced by the secular symbols.

Then, in 1989, it narrowly rejected a creche in Allegheny County, Pa., noting that it stood alone at a county courthouse. At the same time, it permitted a menorah at a public building one block away that was part of a larger grouping of holiday symbols. The justices said that, unlike the creche, the menorah's message was not exclusively religious.

Loudoun's proposed policy does not deal exclusively with religious displays, but its most notable impact is on creches. Members of the county facilities committee started working on a new courthouse-display policy about a year ago, said Ben Lawrence, a Leesburg native and committee chairman. For years, requests have poured in from residents wanting to use the lawn and other public areas for meeting space. Over time, the growing numbers have deluged volunteers and staff. One school group asked to use the courthouse lawn for a 45-band music competition, a request that was ultimately denied, Lawrence said.

"Our decision has nothing to do with Christmas or the holidays," Lawrence said. "The lawn is open to everyone, and we're charged with protecting it. Once it's open for all, it has to be allowed to be used by all."

Still, the proposed change has left many residents feeling as if the county is out to get Christmas. Phil Rusciolelli, a retired Army colonel and a member of the Leesburg Rotary Club, said the town's annual holiday parade, which is set for Dec. 12, draws hundreds of families who look forward to the decorated 20-foot tall tree and the creche display. Without Santa Claus and the Nativity scene, the festivities could be thrown out of whack, Rusciolelli said.

"We're a small town. People know each other, and we have traditions. All of a sudden, there are these new rules, and it's going to be very different," he said. "People might not understand what's going on until we get out here for the Christmas parade."

Neighboring Warren County allows courthouse Nativity displays, but only after a 1994 legal fight by a group founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson forced the county's hand. Now, Warren officials are asked to approve a Nativity scene display and an opposing secular display for the courthouse lawn. Both are usually accepted without much opposition, said Warren County Attorney Blair D. Mitchell. "They sort of balance each other out," Mitchell said.

Similar policies exist in other Washington area jurisdictions, such as Fairfax County.

Several Loudoun supervisors said Monday night that they did not intend to outlaw all displays on the courthouse lawn and that they would seek an outside opinion on whether the rule -- as crafted by the resident-led committee -- is binding. "This was more of an issue of what the grounds there can handle and not so much church and state, but it has become a religious issue to a lot of people," said Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg). "We need to see what we can do to mitigate those concerns."

The nine-member Loudoun Board of Supervisors is expected to address the policy at its meeting Tuesday.

City Budget - At this point

Reading the newspaper or watching the news one knows that government budgets (local, state, federal) are strapped. The City of Fairfax is no exception. The latest numbers from the City Manager indicate that our current budget is in a $2 million deficit and next year's budget is projected to be about $11 million in the red. This is due to a number of factors including:

- A $2 million payment to our retirement fund
- Increased City children enrollment in City schools
- Increase costs in materials

This is does not include any pay raises, additional hiring or any additional discretionary items. On top of this, I think we will see an additional decrease in state aid by about $1 to $2 million, further compounding our problems.

In other words, when the City Council starts to look at the budget we will have to make some hard decisions about what services City residents both truly want and absolutely need.

We all want a fair and low property tax rate. We still maintain the lowest in Northern Virginia at 88 cents per $100 assessed. At this point, I actually think we can achieve the tax equalization rate and ensure that services residents want are maintained. We will have to cut in areas that they may not see necessarily and find innovative ways to streamline City government.

We live in a great City with services even County residents envy. But we also must face fiscal reality. It will certainly be a balancing act for the Council.

Thanksgiving for all our blessings

As the band Poi Dog Pondering sang, "Thanksgiviing for all our misgivings, let's do it right." Yes, it is that season when we remind ourselves how blessed we are to have what to have and wish for nothing more than the health and happiness of our family and loved ones.

For this Thanksgiving weekend, I can say without a doubt that I'm one of the luckiest people in the world. I'm in Williamsburg right now taking a much needed weekend vacation with my family - just Kerry and the kids.

Right now they are all snuggled up watching the "Curious George" movie, eating pop-corn and relaxing after a busy day where they saw their new cousin McKenzie Grace Mannion, played with their other cousins, ate a huge dinner and swam at the hotel's indoor pool.

Tomorrow we're off to Colonial Williamsburg where history will come alive for them. I will be thinking of two things: First, is my grandfather who took me to Williamsburg, Jamestown and so many other places, instilling in me a love for history that lasts to this day. Second, is my love for this country. We are so fortunate to not only live here, but to relive our history and understand from our past.

This Thanksgiving isn't without sadness though. We remember our veterans as I and other members of Council did on Veterans' Day, which the City observed for the first time in its history (as far as I know).

We also remember the passing of so many of our City's leaders, with this week seeing the passing of Gene Moore, a former School Board member, City Councilman, dedicated public servant and always smiling at the morning breakfasts at McDonalds. He will be truly missed by so many.

This Thanksgiving we will certainly have had our fill of turkey. Let us also have our fill of hope, too, as we look forward to brighter days ahead.