MONROE - Alderman Jan Lefevre believes Monroe shouldn't have a Cinco de Mayo celebration because it puts focus on a controversial national topic, illegal immigration.
Lefevre was the lone dissenting vote when the City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to approve the celebration along with the city-wide garage sale and downtown sidewalk sales.
Lefevre wanted the two events to be voted on separately, because of concerns she had with the celebration: closing of the Square, a lack of public restrooms and nationwide concerns with immigration.
"Given the climate around the country, this is not the proper time to do this," she said after Tuesday's meeting.
In a follow-up conversation Wednesday morning, Lefevre re-iterated her concerns.
"Right now this is such a hot issue in such a big political year across the country that (this celebration) is not a good thing to do."
Lefevre said the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Monroe honors a Mexican holiday. Cinco de Mayo commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson said Cinco de Mayo and immigration are not connected.
"While the national spotlight has been on legalization of immigration, it has nothing to do with Cinco de Mayo," Nelson said. "It's a celebration of a battle that brought two countries together and saved them both, really."
Nelson said the Cinco de Mayo celebration is geared toward children, and is a way for children to learn about Hispanic culture through play and having fun.
The council approves of Cinco de Mayo, Lefevre said, because it's an event on the Square and it's a way to get people downtown. Lefevre said the city is not endorsing a certain political viewpoint.
But Lefevre said Monroe Main Street should not be hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration this year.
"Right now, we should be concentrating on doing events that are more for the flavor of Monroe," Lefevre said Wednesday morning. "This is a European, Old World community."
Nelson said she is aware of what Monroe's heritage is.
"I'm not discounting the heritage of the city, but you would be blind not to see the heritage of the community is becoming much more diverse," Nelson said.
Nelson said Hispanics are the "backbone of ag-related businesses" and also play a prominent role in the service industry.
"They're growing as a solid community of citizens that are calling Monroe home," Nelson said. "If they call Monroe home, that should be something we're celebrating."
Lefevre said Monroe has many people of questionable legal status, and until the national issue of immigration is resolved, maybe two or three years, Monroe shouldn't do anything, including holding festivals, to promote the issue.
"We're bringing a spotlight onto something right now that we shouldn't be celebrating or touching," Lefevre said in a second conversation Wednesday afternoon.
Is Lefevre saying Monroe shouldn't celebrate Hispanic heritage?
"No, I'm not going to go that far," Lefevre said. "We know what this community is, and we know what the background of this community is.
"This is the 150th birthday of Monroe, and we should be celebrating the heritage of the city."
Lefevre was the lone dissenting vote when the City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to approve the celebration along with the city-wide garage sale and downtown sidewalk sales.
Lefevre wanted the two events to be voted on separately, because of concerns she had with the celebration: closing of the Square, a lack of public restrooms and nationwide concerns with immigration.
"Given the climate around the country, this is not the proper time to do this," she said after Tuesday's meeting.
In a follow-up conversation Wednesday morning, Lefevre re-iterated her concerns.
"Right now this is such a hot issue in such a big political year across the country that (this celebration) is not a good thing to do."
Lefevre said the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Monroe honors a Mexican holiday. Cinco de Mayo commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson said Cinco de Mayo and immigration are not connected.
"While the national spotlight has been on legalization of immigration, it has nothing to do with Cinco de Mayo," Nelson said. "It's a celebration of a battle that brought two countries together and saved them both, really."
Nelson said the Cinco de Mayo celebration is geared toward children, and is a way for children to learn about Hispanic culture through play and having fun.
The council approves of Cinco de Mayo, Lefevre said, because it's an event on the Square and it's a way to get people downtown. Lefevre said the city is not endorsing a certain political viewpoint.
But Lefevre said Monroe Main Street should not be hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration this year.
"Right now, we should be concentrating on doing events that are more for the flavor of Monroe," Lefevre said Wednesday morning. "This is a European, Old World community."
Nelson said she is aware of what Monroe's heritage is.
"I'm not discounting the heritage of the city, but you would be blind not to see the heritage of the community is becoming much more diverse," Nelson said.
Nelson said Hispanics are the "backbone of ag-related businesses" and also play a prominent role in the service industry.
"They're growing as a solid community of citizens that are calling Monroe home," Nelson said. "If they call Monroe home, that should be something we're celebrating."
Lefevre said Monroe has many people of questionable legal status, and until the national issue of immigration is resolved, maybe two or three years, Monroe shouldn't do anything, including holding festivals, to promote the issue.
"We're bringing a spotlight onto something right now that we shouldn't be celebrating or touching," Lefevre said in a second conversation Wednesday afternoon.
Is Lefevre saying Monroe shouldn't celebrate Hispanic heritage?
"No, I'm not going to go that far," Lefevre said. "We know what this community is, and we know what the background of this community is.
"This is the 150th birthday of Monroe, and we should be celebrating the heritage of the city."