Shameful ‘display’ at City Hall
Editor’s note: This letter was addressed to Jersey City Council representatives.
I have written a few times over the last five or so years regarding the disrespectful positioning of the Christmas display at City Hall during the holidays, and yet Jersey City keeps disparaging the true meaning of Christmas — the birth celebration of Jesus Christ.
It’s absolutely beautiful that the Jewish menorah for Hanukkah, the Kwanzaa sign (and EID and Diwali) religious decorations are displayed front-and-center at City Hall for the people of Jersey City to enjoy while strolling or driving by. I support these respectable decorations and religious celebration items 100%.
However, it is obvious to many constituents that the positioning of the Nativity set for Christmas is purposely and disrespectfully angled away from front public view (to the extreme left side corner of City Hall lawn — with the least visibility), and hidden behind the CitiBike installation.
Also, the creche/Nativity display itself is old and weathered-looking, including the “stable” encasement. Many of us have witnessed residents walking their dogs through the Christmas display.
Kindly look into getting a new display and/or paint and upgrade this old one. And place “CURB YOUR DOG” or “KEEP DOGS OFF GRASS” signs on the City Hall lawn.
Please rectify this immediately for Christmas 2024 and be attentive to this issue next year, as the vast majority of religious people in Jersey City happen to be Christian.
Erik-Anders Nilsson, Jersey City, Arts and Culture Council President
Booker let down Muslim Americans
Throughout the past year and two months, we have witnessed some of the most atrocious attacks on humanity, during this genocide of the Palestinian people.
It has been going on for far too long, with no sight of a resolution in the near future. Many Muslim Americans from NJ, including Palestinian Americans have been lobbying members of Congress to halt weapons to Israel and impose a permanent and lasting ceasefire.
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Senate voted on withholding offensive weapons to Israel through Joint Resolutions of Disapproval. These included S.J.Res.111, S.J.Res.113, S.J.Res.115, which consist of 120mm tank cartridges, high explosive mortar rounds, and joint direct attack munitions, respectively.
I commend Sen. George Helmy for voting yes for S.J.Res.113, to block the transfer of high explosive mortar rounds, and the rest of the 19 senators who voted yes on at least one resolution, upholding International and U.S. law.
However, I was shocked to see Sen. Cory Booker, someone who has called for a ceasefire, openly condemned Netanyahu’s actions, and called for immediate humanitarian aid restoration in Gaza, vote no on all three of these resolutions.
The Muslim American community is disappointed in Sen. Booker’s actions, which further put this community in the state he represents, at risk. There are around 20,000 Palestinian Americans, residing in “little Palestine” (Paterson), the most concentrated community of Palestinian Americans.
Sen. Booker has been known as someone “for the people,” yet many Muslim Americans in New Jersey that I know do not share this sentiment. I was also appalled at Booker’s recent meeting with Yoav Gallant, former defense minister and an accused war criminal, wanted for violent crimes against humanity.
I call on Sen. Cory Booker to simply uphold International law and U.S., acknowledge the Palestinian and Muslim community in New Jersey, and take steps to protect us by following through with his statements made in support of an end to this war.
Scarlett Guajala, West New York, Friends Committee on National Legislation advocacy corps organizer for NJ
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