A rabbi in Evergreen who has been able to display a menorah in front of a community building for almost six years, is no longer able to since the city's parks and recreation department turned down his request to continue the tradition this year.
UPDATE:
9News reports that local leaders met Tuesday night and changed course on the decision to prohibit a Chanukah menorah at Evergreen's Lake House. Evergreen Parks and Recreation came to an agreement with the city of Denver and he property will now not only allow the 8-foot-tall menorah but will also allow decorations of all faiths for this year.
EARLIER:
The Director of Evergreen's Parks and Recreation Department, Steve Robson, says he turned the request down this year because the land the rabbi wants to place the menorah on is actually owned by the city of Denver, and Denver forbids religious displays on public property.
"Unfortunately I had to deny that request as we would for any religious display, a nativity scene menorah or otherwise," Robson told 9News.
However, Executive Director of Judaism in the Foothills Rabbi Levi Brackman contests this rule for two big reasons: the building where the menorah is no longer allowed currently displays a tall Christmas tree, and in 2006 the Evergreen Park District Board made an exception for menorahs and holiday lights in their religious displays rule.
The exception however was described by Robson as "moot" because Evergreen is unincorporated and has no city council so usually defers to Denver policies. According to Denver Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Angela Casias, the only reason the menorah was able to stay in years past was because the previous parks and recreation manager didn't consult the city of Denver.
Still, Brackman tells the Denver Post that he feels the parks and recreation department could have handled the issue in a better way by asking Denver for some kind of understanding.
"Instead... it felt like 'What's the best language I can use to tell this rabbi to buzz off?'" Brackman said.
The decision is especially controversial because Denver's City and County Building currently displays a large nativity scene which is legal because city and county employees are exempt from the law and get to make that decision.