Coral Springs candidates debate why City Hall displays a Christmas tree but no menorah
Coral Springs, Florida – A Christmas tree stands on the lawn at Coral Springs City Hall each December, but no menorah stands beside it. That difference became a point of debate at an October 11 candidate forum, where candidates discussed religious representation and concerns about which other displays the city might have to allow.
Rabbi Yankie Denburg of Chabad Jewish Center led the Sunday evening forum, held three weeks before voters choose a mayor and two city commissioners. He raised the issue ahead of this year’s Downtown in December celebration, which he said falls during Hanukkah.
Thousands of people will gather on the lawn for the Christmas tree, Denburg said, but “there will not be a menorah next to that Christmas tree.”
Denburg told the candidates that Jewish residents make up 15% to 20% of Coral Springs’ population. He also said almost every city in Broward County includes a menorah in its holiday display.
The discussion soon moved beyond whether a menorah belonged on the lawn. Candidates addressed concerns that allowing a religious display could require the city to make room for other groups, including a satanic display. Denburg identified activist Chaz Stevens as the person behind that request.
Commissioner Joshua Simmons, who is running for mayor, said he understood the importance of a menorah to Jewish residents. He also said he would like to see a nativity scene at City Hall. His concern, however, was the possibility of opening the lawn to other groups, including one associated with the devil.
When asked directly whether he would vote to allow a menorah, Simmons answered, “I would not.”
Every other candidate who answered the question expressed support for adding one. Their responses focused on welcoming residents and giving Jewish families a place in the city’s holiday celebrations.
“I would have no issue whatsoever with a menorah on the lawn of City Hall,” said Bill Capplis, a candidate for Seat 3 who spent 26 years with the Coral Springs Police Department.
Jennifer Levi, who is running for Seat 4, described the issue through her daughter’s experience. Levi said it upsets her when her daughter does not want to attend the holiday parade “because there’s nothing that represents us up there. That’s not fair. That’s not right.”
Fellow Seat 4 candidate Jeff Adelman also supported a menorah and objected to letting the prospect of controversy determine whether residents could celebrate.
“I don’t believe in dimming people’s joy just because somebody wants to cause trouble.”
Seat 3 candidates Kohy Holmes, Marly Metayer and Terry Ann Williams Edden likewise said they would support placing a menorah on the lawn.
Denburg then proposed a way to address the concern about other displays. Under his suggestion, only groups with a house of worship in Coral Springs would qualify for space on the City Hall lawn. He said Stevens has no address in the city.
“That would solve any problem,” Denburg said.
The proposal was presented as a possible answer to the candidates’ concerns, rather than an adopted city policy. Denburg said he had brought the idea to the mayor years earlier and intended to present it again.
The timing gives the discussion a direct connection to the upcoming election. Voters will select a mayor and two commissioners on November 3, and the winners will take office before Downtown in December.
For now, the forum showed a clear difference among those who answered. Simmons opposed voting for a menorah because of concerns about the other displays that could follow. The remaining respondents backed it, while Denburg urged the city to consider a rule based on a group’s local house of worship.
