The Controversy About December Nights

December Nights is back. Of course it was not ever really gone, yet.

But when word came a couple of weeks ago that San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s original budget cutting plan included cutting off funding for the staff to run December Nights, there was outage with some residents calling the Mayor the Grinch who wanted to steal the huge Christmas time event in Balboa Park.

It’s not the first time there has been a controversy over December Nights.

When the name of it was changed back in early 2000’s when Dick Murphy was Mayor of San Diego, from Christmas on the Prado to the more secular name of December Nights, it was very controversial.

Lots of outcry and lots of unhappy San Diegans who didn’t like the name change and while the controversy died down after a few years, there are still many today who still say it was a bad idea and who make sure to mention it every December.

But one controversial thing about Balboa Park that doesn’t look like it’s going away is the paid parking. And it will be interesting to see how that could affect December Nights this year.

(Photo reporting partner 10News)