NJ Councilwoman Resigns Over ‘Christmas’ Tree Lighting Ceremony

Hokanson will create a new committee on diversity in the borough and Storey will chair it, the two said.

Hundreds of Nashvillians gathered on Public Square downtown Friday night to welcome in the Christmas season in Music City with the lighting of the city’s tree.

Barry said she thought the story of the tree and the family who donated it was important because Christmas is a time many families come together and cherish their blessings. “This year, Tammie and her mother started talking about the possibility of donating the tree to Metro”. The ceremony will be called a Christmas tree lighting on December 11th, and this point forward, but Councilwoman Storey says this needs to be a topic of conversation, a discussion she will have with the committee moving forward. Storey then submitted her letter of resignation the very next morning. This video illustrates the dramatic affects of fire when it ignites a maintained (wet) cut Christmas tree versus a dry tree.

After Thursday’s 4-2 Council vote, Storey announced her intention to quit effective January 7, according to an NJ.com report.

When she handed in her resignation, Storey said she regretted her decision but called the issue a matter of principle. After rescinding her resignation, Storey said she still disagreed with the renaming and would not attend the event, according to NJ.com.

She says Mayor Carl Hokanson mentioned the change several days ago, but says it wasn’t listed on the meeting agenda.

“It’s not a street, it’s not a building, it’s a Christmas tree”, Hokanson added.