Monterey Still Working On Cross Donation Fund

Why should a Cross that has been there for years even be called "controversial"? Why label it that? And why should the City pay for it? Go after the "Vandals" and have them pay to replace it. What they did was criminal and need to be held accountable.

Whether or not the cross is defined as a religous symbol, or a historical landmark, it was publc property that was maliciously vandalized and regardless of the classification it should be repaired or replaced for the public to appreciate in any way one desires to view it. We are tha "people", we pay taxes for upkeep of the unique and "historically significant" icons. If any other landmark, such as a building, or monument that is significant to our history were vandalized or, as in this case, destroyed, the local governing body would be all over the vandals and wouldn't hesitate to restore the landmark, why shouldn't we be able to do the same for a cross, which holds more than one meaning to the residents and tourists alike, without being, basically, blackmailed by the ACLU and local government for $50,000 to be a defense fund for the "possibility" of a lawsuit by a "civil rights" organization. Our Civil rights are being violated by the same entity that claims to protect all of our civic rights by saying they will sue if the landmark were to be re-erected. If the Carmel Mission were vandalized in the same way, would there not be a public outcry for justice and restoration of it, or would that be considered a religous landmark, which would be a compromise of the State and Religeon seperation?

Are we all so hypnotized by our government, that we will stand for the option of giving $50,000 to them, or not have the monument restored. This is something akin to the racketeering of past "gangsters", who would demand money from citizens because they could not stand up to the organized, strong armed tactics, such as "extortion"?

What happened to government for the "people"?