NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Pictured here (http://www.nyccg.com/tree) is John Finan, Partner in New York City Consulting Group (NYCCG), decorating the Christmas tree he has donated to his building's lobby on Manhattan's East Side. While placing a miniature Menorah ornament on the tree, which compliments the others -- including ones for New York City, a moon and star, and the United Nations -- Finan states, "A Christmas tree is a beautiful decorative symbol of the holiday season that people of all faiths can enjoy and it is as American as apple pie."
"My recent attendance to houses of worship has been predominantly at St. Patrick's Cathedral as well as The Park Avenue and Central Synagogue," states Finan. "All of the fuss around the lighting of trees this season is, in proper British, complete rubbish. A tree can be decorated with whatever ornamentation one chooses, or none at all. It is a symbol of the season, not a religious icon. Growing up in a Catholic household with parents of Irish and Italian decent, we never were taught to kneel and pray before our Christmas trees. It is a beautiful decorative ornamentation that puts smiles on the faces of children and warms the hearts of adults. People need to embrace the symbols of each other's faiths and cultures and share in the positive aspects of them. Deriding and competing against one another's cultural richness is not what the USA is about, and only leads to animosity, conflict and hatred. So hang a dreidel on your Christmas tree, put a Christmas tree ornament on your Hanukkah bush and enjoy your neighbors Kwanza Shrubbery! Just please open your hearts and eyes and find a way to enjoy all of the various symbols of this wonderful holiday season. That's the way forward now, isn't it?"
NYCCG group has been active recently in the successful efforts in saving the Plaza Hotel, along side of Mayor Bloomberg and the Local 6 Union. In Addition to being the official "Last Guest" to check out of The Plaza Hotel, Finan has purchased for restoration the original bar from the Gramercy Park Hotel, upon which the likes of Cary Grant, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, and Uma Thurman, have rested an elbow in the past. These events have been chronicled in various publications including The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, CBS and ABC news, etc. NYCCG is also involved in Hotels and Real Estate Development in Manhattan, East Hampton, NY, and Cutchogue, NY.
Happy Holidays.
May the transit strike soon end.