Trenton Politicians Draw Battle Lines In Plans For Holiday Parade
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - A political battle is brewing between city leaders in Trenton over whether to hold a Thanksgiving parade, and if so, how to pay for it.
On one side is Mayor Tony Mack, who's soliciting online for participants for the march on the preceding Saturday. On the other side is city council, who shot down Mack's request for $15,000 to pay for it.
"A Thanksgiving Day parade is wonderful if you're able to fund it properly. At this point we just can't afford it," Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said.
Holly-Ward says the budget won't allow it, but says Mack won't back down:
"If he's defiant, it will just be taken from another location in the budget when we submit it back to him."
She says Mack agreed to cancel the last couple annual marches in the name of economy, but not this time.
Mack's office sent council a letter this week, a copy of which they also sent to KYW Newsradio, indicating the administration will seek private donations to pay for the parade.
