San Jacinto Plaza Lights

6 months away – but planning for the holiday season has already began. city council approved a quarter of a million dollar budget to decorate san jacinto plaza for the ‘celebration of lights’ but some ideas didn’t sit well with council members. abc-7’s evan folan is live with that story … today’s vote passed unanimously – but there’s something about the decorations city council wants changed. and now the race is on to meet deadline. 1:02-1:08 “happy holidays.. ” a tradition reborn… “i guess everyone missed th lights during christmas here at the plaza” after thre years the celebration of lights is coming back to san jacinto plaza. “i hope that it looks the same” but it came with a cost! “the budget woul be $258,424” more than a hundred thousand for the decorations. and about another hundred thousand for installation and maintenance. but that didn’t faze council… “the motion passes with 7 affirmative votes – svarbein not present” the designs was a concern. “when i first saw this i wa like very disappointed” “i don’t want victorian lightin because we are not a victorian culture” “we want something that is more representative of the southwest” but what does that mean to el pasoans? “since we have the mexica traditions here.. colorful, bright!” red and white lots of lights, santa clause, the slays and the nativity.” council mebers chimming in… “its pinatas banners its thos kind of things that make it a festive enviroment which reflects the culture of our enviroment.” “i want a first class experienc for our community” now the countdow begins. do you have high hopes for this year. yes and i think a lot of people will come out! the unveiling of the decorations will be on thanksgiving. meaning parks and rec must have the plans finalized by august to give them enough time to order and install all the lights and decorations. we will be sure to keep track of their progress. but what about the old lights and decorations that have been used in years past? why don’t they reuse those? estela, i am told that the older decorations are no longer compatible with the new plaza or have deteriorated over time – making them unuseable/ today the el paso city council awarded