Wauwatosa Deputy City Administrator Melissa Cantarero Weiss discouraged employees from using “religious decorations” when decorating the city for Christmas.
The statement was found in an email sent by Weiss and obtained by Wisconsin News Now.
The email told employees to focus on creating a “welcoming and inclusive environment” for residents and visitors.
Instead of using traditional red and green-colored decorations, Weiss asked employees to “opt for more neutral and inclusive decorations that celebrate the season without favoring any particular faith belief system.”
She suggested employees use themes such as “winter wonderland,” “lights and greenery,” and “northern lights.”
“Above all, our goal is to foster inclusivity and respect,” Weiss wrote in the email, adding that by “embracing inclusive decorating practices, we can reinforce our commitment to being a more equitable and welcoming place for all people who live in Wauwatosa.”
Melissa Cantarero Weiss, the Deputy City Administrator of the City of Wauwatosa, WI, sent an email to city workers instructing them not to use red and green and religious Christmas decorations because it’s not “inclusive” and “equitable.”
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 12, 2023
She also refers to snowmen as “snow… pic.twitter.com/lJrNrmirZ8
Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride confirmed that Weiss’ request is legitimate.
“You may have heard that certain media outlets, especially Wisconsin Right Now and the Daily Mail (a United Kingdom tabloid), are stoking controversy over an email that our Deputy City Administrator, Melissa Weiss, sent a few days ago in which she urged city staff to avoid overly religious messages in their City Hall displays this holiday season,” McBride wrote in a message.
He noted that city administrators were “trying to minimize the discomfort that some people feel” when they see a religious holiday display in a governmental building.
The mayor of #Wauwatosa seems to be saying he's fine with calling snowmen snow people and urging city workers not to use red and green Christmas decorations, but it's a little hard to sort through the babble. He confirms the legitimacy of the deputy city admin's email. pic.twitter.com/oNd6cVs6fD
— Wisconsin Right Now (@wisconsin_now) November 12, 2023
