Harp's Blog

 

 Officials Won't Let Santa Hand Out Candy Canes On City Street

Friday, November 21, 2008 – updated: 5:39 pm EST November 21, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- So long Santa! The jolly old elf has been banned from a Daytona Beach street.

 

Daytona Beach code enforcement officials are kicking Santa off a city sidewalk and have sent the store owner who put him there a warning.

 

The live Santa Claus has been a fixture on Beach Street for several years. He hands out candy canes outside of Sheila LaBosco's store. He bellowed, "Hoho, Hoho, Hoho" but code enforcement said, "No, No, No."

 

"They came in and said, 'We're gonna cite you for having Santa on the street,'" said LaBosco.

 

"That's unacceptable," said shopper Leslie Neese. "Santa is part of Christmas and he's been out there for seven years now taking pictures with children."

 

A city spokesperson says a review of article 18 of the city code considers Santa an animated sign and officials say LaBosco is "exploiting Santa Clause."

 

LaBosco has been told that Santa is okay to wave his way through the weekend but come Monday, she'll likely be fined if he's still out there.

 

City code officials say making an exception for Santa would not be fair to other businesses as officials consider Santa a form of solicitation, just like someone waving a sign.