Family required to obtain permit for Christmas light display, others not

A Cathedral City family is canceling its annual holiday lights display this year, after the city requested a special use permit. Some neighbors say they want the light show back, arguing that a block of homes nearby puts on a similar Christmas display without a permit.

Mike Kennelley has lived in Cathedral City for more than 15 years. He wants to see equal treatment from the city.

“I don’t think it’s fair to Mr. Simmons, for him to be segregated from Candy Cane Lane. He should be able to display his lights and raise money for FIND food bank like he has been. Candy Cane Lane doesn’t raise money for anybody,” Kennelley said.

The city manager of Cathedral City, Charlie McClendon, says the separate Christmas displays are two different cases.

“Regarding Candy Cane Lane, unless and until something comes to our attention that indicates that there’s the need to go through the special use permit, then we won’t be involved in it. And that’s the primary difference with what has occurred at the other address…We did have a substantial history of complaints and problems,” McClendon said.

I asked if last year’s shooting near Candy Cane Lane gave the city a reason to look into permits. The city said they couldn’t comment.