The Trump administration is investigating a Missouri management company’s ban on Christmas lights and displays at a 55-and-older housing development.
Residents at the complex received a letter from Maco on Nov. 12 informing them that they could only decorate the inside of their homes but “nothing” outside, including their porches, saying that the decorations would violate the government fair housing rules as the complex was funded, in part, by government funds, according to Liberty Counsel.
The organization also argued that any federal law that prohibits religious decoration is made in contravention of the First Amendment’s freedom to exercise religion clause.
“We have never in the past or will in the future hamper a resident from decorating to their desire on the inside of their residence as they choose,” the regional manager wrote. “We do however have rules and regulations for the outside and the structures themselves.”
Liberty Counsel then responded to Maco in another letter arguing that the lease agreement did not prohibit temporary Christmas lights while noting that Grandview Estates management had allowed Christmas lights and seasonal yard decorations in previous years.
The letter also noted that Maco’s ban had also prohibited residents from putting up wreaths outside their doors but had allowed the estate manager to hold a “Holiday Wreath contest.”
“We as a management company look for a policy which appropriately balanced the beliefs of all while ensuring we are not perceived to favor one religion over another,” Maco stated, adding that the wreath decorating activity would have included all residents and allowed them to participate with their religious beliefs as they see fit.
In their press release, Liberty Counsel said Maco’s position “conflates the private speech of residents with the speech of the management company.”
Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel chairman, said he welcomed the HUD’s decision to investigate the alleged discriminatory practices.
“MACO’s banning Grandview Estates residents from their longstanding traditions of displaying Christmas or other religious holiday decorations constitutes discrimination based on religion,” Staver said in a statement. “Nothing in Federal regulations, the lease agreement or residential regulations supports such a ban. MACO Management Company must allow residents to decorate their duplexes, just like they have in the past.”
Maco did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request to comment.
Friends Read Free