Embattled SantaCon gets leg up from infamous local civil rights attorney

SantaCon got itself a little helper days before its scheduled to take over of a New York City neighborhood.

Famed New York civil rights attorney Norman Siegel signed up to help the much-maligned revelers get their act together in time for Saturday’s planned SantaCon gathering.

“People have a right to express themselves as long as they’re in the confines of the First Amendment,” Siegel told Metro.

Santacon’s organizers describe the yearly event as “a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year for absolutely no reason.”

Opponents see it as a drunken bar crawl.

Seigel – approached by two of the event’s organizers last week – said he was giving the group the benefit of the doubt to show him that SantaCon is worth whatever troubles critics say they bring to neighborhoods.

Siegel said he took the case free of charge, and is consulting with organizers about what they should and must do to keep the peace on Saturday.

The attorney will join the party as an observer on Saturday. He won’t be dressed up in red and white, despite his new clients’ offer for a suit.

“Lawyers don’t dress in Santa outfits,” Siegel said.

Organizers released no details as to where the bar hopping party will take place, but the list of neighborhoods unwilling to host thousands of imbibing St. Nicks and elves keeps growing.

Business groups in Bushwick, the Lower East Side and Chinatown say they won’t play nice with SantaCon’s naughty reputation.

The yearly gathering used to meet in Midtown Manhattan until a local police commander warned bars in the area to deny service to the daylong bar crawl last year.

Siegel said the organizers have been in touch with police ahead of their party this weekend, and are working to legitimize the event further – possibly into a march.

The MTA is bracing for the worst. On Wednesday, a spokesman said Metro-North and LIRR would impose a strict alcohol ban.

No alcohol will be allowed on the LIRR from 11 p.m. Friday through noon Sunday, or on Metro-North for 24 hours from 9 a.m. Saturday.

Anyone caught with booze are subject to summonses carrying fines of up to $50, up to 30-day imprisonment or both.

Representatives from SantaCon did not respond to requests for comment.