A reveler dressed as Santa Claus takes a nap during the annual Santacon event in 2010. Police think the event is too naughty for some Manhattan neighborhoods.
Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images
NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly might support SantaCon, but not everyone is happy that thousands of jolly, rum-soaked Santas will be roaming the streets of the Lower East Side this year. L.E.S. Dwellers, a group of residents dedicated to making the nightlife-filled neighborhood more livable, balanced, diverse and sustainable,” is declaring the neighborhood a “SantaCon Free Zone.” The group has posted fliers around the neighborhood with photos of drunken shenanigans from previous events.
The fliers state:
“Alcohol-soaked father Christmas-themed flash mob not welcome here.
Take your body fluids and public intoxication elsewhere (and off this island, preferably)
We do not apologize for any inconvenience.”
Unfortunately for the L.E.S. Dwellers, the show will go on. Kelly said in the past, “This is an event that we support. It’s what makes New York New York.” Though he conceded that it can get rowdy, he added, “generally, it’s a peaceful event and one that we want to support and facilitate.”
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