Council Pokes Fun At 'Christmas' Controversy

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This week's City Hall controversy over the removal of the "Christmas Village" sign may be dying down a bit, but it prompted some good-natured joking at City Council's meeting on Thursday.

Mayor Nutter's quick about-face on removing the Christmas Village sign at shops outside City Hall was clearly fresh on the minds of Council members. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell said the reversal was good news to her legislative assistant:

"We're also glad that we can continue to call John Christmas from my staff 'John Christmas' and not 'John Holiday'."

And Councilman Darrell Clarke somewhat carefully introduced a plan to rehabilitate Dilworth Plaza:

"We will make sure that there will be room for the Holiday Village, the Christmas Village, the Hanukkah Village -- whatever village we choose to call it -- we will make sure there's room for it."

Because, of course, it takes a village.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio